As a friend and former colleague of Sandeep, you'd imagine my review won't be the most unbiased. But I've been known to speak my mind, as I hope you will see in this review too. Team Shreelancer, please don't delete, read on😉
I was pretty chuffed to be among the first to see Shreelancer several weeks ago when it premiered at an indie festival here in Chicago. After watching his last film 3 yrs ago, also in Chicago, we were looking forward to seeing this. Kind of the journey and growth, if you will, of Sandeep as a filmmaker too. And I was not disappointed.
The first 30-45 mins had the audience (and judges) in absolute splits as we are introduced to our 'hero' Shreepad, his situation and supporting crew. Sandeep will probably deny this as any good filmmaker might, but the start felt a bit autobiographical (not a bad thing at all!) Sandeep stays true to his South Indian roots - just like Shree, I imagine he sits cross legged on the floor at his own home for the occasional meal. As my colleague on the dark side (corporate life)😊, he always talked about pursuing his true calling and passion.
Anyway, the comedy and timing in those first 30-45 mins was fresh and bang on except for one awkward moment with a joke about Obama's favorite font (Americans clearly don't do well with that kind of humor I guess and something to think about for future international releases). But that's Sandeep for you - honest, brave, and very original.
At that point in the movie, I was thinking "wow what an epic start, how does one sustain this?" To his credit, the story moved along really nicely - without losing its light touch, it conveyed moments of gravitas for e.g. the complex dad-son relationship. Even with a lot of it conducted over the phone, the dad-son interplay for me were some of the best in the film. Salman Rushdie has said: "violence of the type that exists only between fathers and adult sons, with the possibility of actual, jaw-breaking fisticuffs." Some of us may relate to that😊 but thanks to Sandeep for showing it doesn't have to always be that way.
As the movie moves to a madcap adventure set in North India, more characters are introduced, some of them memorable and you continue to root for our hero Shree. Some of the visual cues such as the pink pajama and the lovely music will stay with you till long after. This is definitely a film not just for the young but also young at heart. The film's finale is very satisfying too, as if closure for you the viewer who was rooting for the freelancer.
And oh, it also has some of the best # social media references I've seen in a long time, so much so I'm stealing some of them Sandeep - payback for writing this review😀
Kudos to you and your crew Sandeep, proud to know you and have worked with you. Will be here, Chicago or otherwise, rooting for your next film. Cheers!
I was pretty chuffed to be among the first to see Shreelancer several weeks ago when it premiered at an indie festival here in Chicago. After watching his last film 3 yrs ago, also in Chicago, we were looking forward to seeing this. Kind of the journey and growth, if you will, of Sandeep as a filmmaker too. And I was not disappointed.
The first 30-45 mins had the audience (and judges) in absolute splits as we are introduced to our 'hero' Shreepad, his situation and supporting crew. Sandeep will probably deny this as any good filmmaker might, but the start felt a bit autobiographical (not a bad thing at all!) Sandeep stays true to his South Indian roots - just like Shree, I imagine he sits cross legged on the floor at his own home for the occasional meal. As my colleague on the dark side (corporate life)😊, he always talked about pursuing his true calling and passion.
Anyway, the comedy and timing in those first 30-45 mins was fresh and bang on except for one awkward moment with a joke about Obama's favorite font (Americans clearly don't do well with that kind of humor I guess and something to think about for future international releases). But that's Sandeep for you - honest, brave, and very original.
At that point in the movie, I was thinking "wow what an epic start, how does one sustain this?" To his credit, the story moved along really nicely - without losing its light touch, it conveyed moments of gravitas for e.g. the complex dad-son relationship. Even with a lot of it conducted over the phone, the dad-son interplay for me were some of the best in the film. Salman Rushdie has said: "violence of the type that exists only between fathers and adult sons, with the possibility of actual, jaw-breaking fisticuffs." Some of us may relate to that😊 but thanks to Sandeep for showing it doesn't have to always be that way.
As the movie moves to a madcap adventure set in North India, more characters are introduced, some of them memorable and you continue to root for our hero Shree. Some of the visual cues such as the pink pajama and the lovely music will stay with you till long after. This is definitely a film not just for the young but also young at heart. The film's finale is very satisfying too, as if closure for you the viewer who was rooting for the freelancer.
And oh, it also has some of the best # social media references I've seen in a long time, so much so I'm stealing some of them Sandeep - payback for writing this review😀
Kudos to you and your crew Sandeep, proud to know you and have worked with you. Will be here, Chicago or otherwise, rooting for your next film. Cheers!
