Similar to classical music, there are Gharanas in filmmaking. The gharana of the Sumitra Bhave - Sunil Sukthankar duo excels in simplicity, sensitivity, and subtlety of storytelling. Their recently released Hindi movie 'Out House' is no exception. This is the last movie Sumitra Bhave wrote. She intended to direct it herself, but unfortunately, she passed before it manifested. Dr. Mohan Agashe then took up producing the movie, and Sunil Sukthankar directed it.

The plot is simple and the tone light hearted; yet the movie touches upon many problems bugging the urban middle class of today. It does so in such a way that the take-away for each viewer is different. It becomes a personal experience and each version is equally true and beautiful.

The film begins with a couple fighting over who should give up on a great opportunity at work to take care of their son Neil (Jeehan Hodar). The wife's mother Aadima Roy-Phatak (Sharmila Tagore) readily agrees to look after her grandson, but she's not happy that he brings his beloved puppy Pablo along. Neil's parents drop him off at his grandmother's and head off to different cities for conferences. Grandmother keeps Pablo outside in a basket. As dawn breaks, Pablo escapes from his basket and wanders the neighborhood.  He ends up following a cranky old man named Nana Modak (Mohan Agashe), who is out for his morning walk. Pablo eventually follows Nana into his apartment.

Nana lives alone, spends his time reading and watching detective stories, with TV and books being his favorite companions. When Pablo reaches Nana’s doorstep, Nana doesn’t let him inside for a long time, continuing his routine while keeping Pablo outside. My heart went out to Pablo.

Meanwhile, at the grandmother’s house, Neil wakes up and realizes that Pablo is missing. He throws a tantrum. The grandmother  calmly reassures him saying, “Let’s search for Pablo together.” She tries to keep him distracted with different activities at home.

Slowly, Nana starts warming up to Pablo and eventually lets him inside the house. Nana even gives him a new name—Sugar. On the other hand, Neil and his grandmother continue their search for Pablo. Neil pretends to be a detective, with his grandmother acting as his assistant, turning the search into an adventurous game.

One day, while out with his grandmother, Neil hears Pablo’s bark and discovers he is at Nana Modak’s home. Neil and his grandmother intensify their “detective work” and eventually succeed in bringing Pablo back. Nana, now attached to Pablo/Sugar, also searches for him and ends up finding Neil’s grandmother’s bungalow.

Many delightful and amusing events follow, culminating in a sweet ending set in the grandmother’s outhouse—a conclusion that feels both predictable yet fitting.

For me, a dog lover myself, the pivotal and catalystic character is Pablo / Sugar.

Throughout the film, multiple layers of subplots unfold simultaneously. For instance, the dynamic between Nana Modak and his son (Sunil Abhyankar) is explored. The son lives in Nana’s flat in Mumbai and wants it transferred to his name to secure an education loan for his child. However, this isn’t a typical scenario where the son exploits his father. Instead, the conversation is straightforward and practical. There’s no underlying malice, and their relationship remains loving and respectful.

Similarly, Neil’s parents (Sonali Kulkarni and Neeraj Kabi) are a career-oriented couple and their struggle to devote time to their son is very real. Neil, in his innocent way, makes grave assumptions about an impending divorce. But both parents are also shown making sincere efforts to improve their communication with each other and with their son with the help of Neil’s grandmother.

The movie also beautifully depicts solitude in old age. Nana’s preference for living alone, despite his son’s requests to move to Mumbai, feels genuine and well-justified. Similarly, the fact that we have a charming granny with an active career in graphic animation is great and her creative process, where she uses Neil and Pablo’s experiences as inspiration for her animations, is heartwarming. Both the senior citizens cherish solitude in their own ways, without getting lonely, or at least not in any melodramatic way.

The film, in fact, avoids melodrama altogether. There’s no over-the-top music, no exaggerated emotions, or no unnecessary justifications.  Everything feels grounded, relatable, and authentic. And, the movie never loses its focus on the fun aspect of the story, and this is one of its highlights.

The performances are excellent across the board. From Pablo to the seasoned actors, everyone delivers convincingly. Jeehan is super adorable and confident as Niel.  The script, direction, art design of the upper middle class homes, the cinematography, and beautiful background score are all thoughtfully executed, adding depth without overwhelming the narrative.

In today’s sea of action-packed, over-the-top films, Out House is a refreshing change. It’s a movie worth watching multiple times, with family, friends or in solitude... It's a simple, heartwarming, and memorable experience, a very sweet film that delivers an important message without being preachy.

- Nikhil Gadgil
nikhilgadgil09@gmail.com
(Writer is associated with Marathi Theater as an actor, director, and playwrite)

Translation by Rucha Mulay

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