Synopsis
A story of two adolescent boys Sameer and
Nachiket (cousins who are best friends) standing on the crossroads of
life… to choose between the life that leads to petty worldly small
existence or the life of free existence that would let them spread their
wings and soar high in open skies.They play a game of hide and seek in a
rather unusual way. Where one cousin hides in death and the other is
looking for him in the life around him. . . . Samir’s search leads him
towards the experience of oneness where he can unite with Nachiket
again!
you haven't watched it. ***
The movie goes beyond conventional rating. It is probably THE most important movie to come out of Marathi/Hindi Cinema post 2000s.
Opening
This is how the movie opens, literally.
The camera follows the game of hide and seek. We don't really notice things until they're obvious.
The whole sequence is just a gem of a storytelling and perfectly fits the movie trailer(promo).
It is really an intriguing sequence- the children (or rather teens?) playing an ancient game of hide and seek in their ancestral house. Only if real life was such a simple game!
If you're familiar with the litarary works of G. A. Kulkarni, the initial "आरभाट निर्मित" would strike a chord! the similarity with GA's work is not just limited to this, the movie is indeed very much GA'sque in nature. If you're a G.A. Kulkarni fan, this is the most appropriate cinema tribute after "कैरी ". If anyone can portray the complex and fascinating stories of GA - it is director Umesh Kulkarni!
Even though We don't know in the beginning, the trailer is a harbinger of things to come.
After you've watched the movie, visit the trailer again. The whole meaning of this simplistic looking sequence changes completely.
What are they seeking? who's hiding from whom? This doesn't remain a mere game of hide and seek. It changes the scale and encompasses a totally new dimension, hitherto unknown to us.
Extended Joint family
The movie builds the picture of a typical Marathi family. Old grandparents living in the village with some of their children. A son living in city, a daughter married to a city dweller. During the summer vacation, everyone gets back. Children meet each other and have a blast, sisters meet to discuss the joys and sorrows of their lives. The elderly folks get those immeasurable moments of happiness with their children. It is not all well though- there are issues- problems to be solved, worries lurking in the dark future. But when every one's together, it is a memorable journey.
If you've had such a childhood, it is an extremely nostalgic feeling. The movie almost takes you back in time and refuses to unleash the hold until something happens- a death.
Nachiket and Sameer
They share a bond. Nachiket is the elder of two cousins and they're best friends. Sameer idolizes Nachiket. While Sameer is the outgoing and obedient of two, Nachiket has a rebellious introvert mind- partially caused by his violent domestic surroundings. His is a mind of a true skeptic- seeking difficult answers and trying to unearth the nature of things around him. Nachiket often dreams of leaving his chaotic world behind him and simply disappearing without a trace.
This possibility greatly disturbs Sameer. Events take a few turns, and when Sameer returns to his grandparents' house - the bitter news of Nachiket's death awaits him.
Searching for the answer of a puzzle called Death.
Sameer faces a gigantic question - What has happened to Nachiket (nachya dada) ? has he vanished into thin air; as he was always aiming to ? Or he's really no more? Is he somewhere hiding from all of his relatives? What does it really mean to have died?
Sameer cannot cope up with this loss. The loss of the most important person in his life- his mentor, companion and closest friend. The question haunts him. Director shows you seemingly unimportant things on screen- like sameer going to school and sitting with a blank mind, getting groceries, participating in the sport events, living a normal life in a crowded city. But there's the looming presence of an unanswered question - What has happened to Nachiket?
The fifth element of Water
Vihir (The well), as the title says connects a few dots here. The
drowning of Sameer's cousin Nachiket turns the world upside down for the
entire family. While Sameer is a champion swimmer, Nachiket doesn't
know how to swim. He's drown in the well when attempting a solo dive.
Sameer is destroyed by this news, but more than sad, his is the emotion
of a muddled shock- he cannot react to this newly developed reality.
Water haunts him forever- We see water everywhere, each scene, each moment of Sameer's life.
Water appears from skies, water coming from taps, the water he drinks- it takes an unnatural shape of a ghost.
Director has made a character out of water. The relation between
Sameer and water reaches a level where it becomes almost tense and
scary.
And then Sameer can't take it anymore.
Looking for peace of mind
The constant questioning mind takes him nowhere. Next few sequences show us Sameer simply wandering nowhere, doing random things which he himself doesn't remember. The journey takes him to an unknown village. He seeks answers, he tries to find the peace of mind- does he find all?
Movie takes another turn and shows us a beautiful balance of mind and body. Sameer may find his answers but the viewer doesn't :)
The movie leaves many questions unanswered, many possibilities open.
Afterthoughts
As far as the storytelling goes, we can derive multiple meanings out of this movie. But even at a basic minimal level, the experience called "Vihir" is stunning - both visually and mentally.
If you like some occasional mental fodder then this is as good as it gets. Don't grab any pop corn, open your mind instead and submerge into the Well.
