Debutant director Pryas Gupta’s Siddharth, the Prisoner conveys the message of Rig Veda and Gautam Buddha. Rig Veda teaches that man is a prisoner of his desires and freedom comes with renunciation.
The film Siddharth, The Prisoner begins with Siddharth Roy (Rajat Kapoor), who once a famous writer, has just been released from prison. He has narrowly missed Booker prize. While in his dingy quarters, he completes another novel typing it out in the cell. The novel is complete, and once out of prison, he goes to a cyber café where his briefcase in which he kept his manuscript, is exchanged with another similar looking one which is full of money.
Siddharth is quite upset and is in a lot of sorrow about losing his manuscript. Now, even though he is reconciled with his son, the new found money fails to bring him any kind of joy. He desperate wants to get custody of his son and for this the lost manuscript can restore fame and reputation in his life.
The exchanged briefcase contains currency of 20 lakh Rupees. He is not happy with the cash in his hand, since he had hopes of getting Booker Prize with his new novel and possibility of reconciliation with his estranged wife. Hard cash in the briefcase belonged to a don which was given to his henchman Pradip Sagar and had to be delivered to someone else.
The henchman had kept his briefcase at the café and had gone to a bar. As bag was left with the manager Sachin Nayak the henchman holds him responsible and even threatens him to get back the bag with in seven days.
Here, Siddharth occasionally, used to go to meet his separated son. Now even when Siddharth gets back the manuscript and while he is contemplating to run away with his son, he somehow gives up the idea. Siddharth throws away his most valued belonging – the manuscript as he thinks that it will attain him nirvana.
Director Pryas Gupta explores the concept of freedom and imprisonment, in Siddharth, The Prisoner in the literal as well and as in an abstract sense. The imprisonment that he refers to in the film is more on a spiritual level and how we are all imprisoned by our materialist desires. In that sense, we are all prisoners.
Rajat Kapoor as Siddharth, exemplifies brilliance in his performance so is Sachin Nayak as the cyber café manager. Among the others, Pradip Sagar and Pradip Kabra appear the typical gangsters type.
Siddharth, the prisoner has an excellent background score. Mrinal Desai’s cinematography is quite remarkable despite being so realistic. The film progresses at a slow pace, it has a few predictable twists and it gets too preachy showing the sacrifice of earthly desires and pleasures. Several scenes stretch beyond imagination, without any intensity or effective outcome. It has a message though, yet ends with a disappointing climax.
Cast of Siddharth, The Prisoner:
Rajat Kapoor
Sachin Nayak
Pradip Sagar
Credits & Crew of Siddharth, The Prisoner:
Producer: Walkwater Media, Alliance Media
Director – Pryas Gupta
Story Writer – Pryas Gupta
Cinematographer – Mrinal Desai
Editing – Pryas Gupta, Arindam Ghatak
Screenplay – Pryas Gupta, Hitesh Kewalia
Costume Designer: Isha Ahluwalia, Jeneva Talwar
Music Director: Sagar Desai
Pradeep Kabra
Siddharth, The Prisoner, movie review