"Tum ladka ho ya ladki?" asks Bipasha
Pankh
A; Drama
Dir: Sudipto Chattopadhyay
Cast:u00a0 Bipasha Basu, Maradona Rebello, Ronit Roy, Lilette Dubey, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjeeda Sheikh
*1/2
What's it about: "Tum ladka ho ya ladki?" asks Bipasha. The boy in question is Jerry (Maradona) who grew up being a popular child artiste Baby Kusum. Now, as a teenager on the brink of embracing his adolescence and leaving puberty behind, he's submerged under the weight of not just identity but gender crises. Is he a boy or a girl? His mom (Lilette) wants to make him an actor, but every time he sees the caked up Bipasha wearing rhinestones and glitter, he craves to get close to her, even make love. However, she isn't for real, like many other aspects of this film, these are characters speaking and scenes unfolding in Jerry's mind. Graphic and chaotic in nature the storyline is skewed with images and visual mind games that are all over the place. 
What's hot: It's not just a sensitive subject but also one that generates enough interest to keep you engaged. How does a boy who was raised like a girl supposed to come to terms with his sexuality and identity? Maradona's attempts to show the conflict and the ensuing drama work in some places.u00a0 His audition scene where he plays both the male and female roles reflects his inner trauma, evoking pathos.
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What's not: Like Jerry's Bipasha who's a figment of his imagination, an allegory that offers his inner demons a temporary sanctuary and refuge, the film too seems to be playing much in the director's mind than on the reels. Supporting characters like Mahesh Manjrekar's camp act, or the 'Alphonso' mausi who happily sells off her niece to a producer seem gimmicky and do nothing to move the story forward. Granted Jerry has gone through a rough childhood and his hormones are all mixed up, but him using abusive language and resorting to narcotics seems surreal. Bipasha's act is meant to be the narrative, the conscience talking, but her make up and fashionable attire distracts rather than serve any purpose. You need ample patience to sit through the second half, which should have been tighter. The songs do nothing but drag the already lethargic pace of the film. Camera work and lighting is too heavy and intense when not required.
What to do: Pankh is a like a caterpillar who refuses to become a butterfly.
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