BABA, BABY O...

Jisshu Sengupta è un uomo di bell'aspetto, ed è sempre un piacere ammirarlo in azione. In Baba, Baby O... mi è sembrato più a suo agio nel secondo tempo, quando la commedia cede il passo ai tentativi della sceneggiatura di approfondire personaggi e situazioni. Il film è molto modesto, malgrado l'intenzione di rappresentare una paternità a lungo desiderata e perseguita ad ogni costo - tema non comune nel cinema indiano -, e di affrontare argomenti non proprio popolari come la maternità surrogata o, di striscio, l'omosessualità. Ad un certo punto, la trama cambia rotta per concentrarsi sull'aspetto romantico. La qualità cresce leggermente, l'interpretazione di Solanki Roy acquista spessore, ma nel complesso BBO rimane poco definito. Megh, il protagonista, è troppo perfetto. Inspiegabili le omissioni della madre di Brishti: perché farsi disprezzare senza ragione? Il problema principale è il trattamento artificiale e zuccheroso, accentuato dai set televisivi e dai dialoghi inadeguati. 

TRAMA

A quarant'anni, Megh non ha ancora incontrato la donna giusta ma desidera diventare padre. Decide di affidarsi alla maternità surrogata e nascono due deliziosi gemelli. Un giorno Megh incontra Brishti, proprietaria di un negozio di giocattoli. Megh ne rimane colpito, ma la ragazza è più giovane di lui e non ama i bambini. 

RECENSIONI

Cinema Hindi: **

Punto di forza: Jisshu Sengupta

Punto debole: sceneggiatura semplicistica e didascalica

SCHEDA DEL FILM

Cast:

* Jisshu Sengupta - Megh

* Solanki Roy - Brishti

Regia: Aritra Mukherjee

Sceneggiatura: Zinia Sen

Colonna sonora: Chamok Hasan, Amit-Ishan

Lingua: bengali

Traduzione del titolo: Aritra Mukherjee spiega: 'Baba, Baby O... is about a father, his babies and the ‘O’ or the ‘Other’ factor in his life'.

Anno: 2022

Trailer

RASSEGNA STAMPA

* Director Aritra Mukherjee gets candid about 'Baba, Baby O...', Arindam Chatterjee, The Telegraph, 2 febbraio 2022:

'Why did you decide to make a film on surrogacy?

My friend, Zinia, who is the screenplay writer of this film, became an aunt during Lockdown 2020. Her brother (...) became a single father through surrogacy. (...) When the kids were all of three months, her entire family was down with Covid. She had to bring the kids to her place and spent a lot of time with them. That’s when she shared with me the one-liner - what if a single father falls in love? I was very excited and was with her through and through as she wrote the screenplay. (...) Fact is, surrogacy is not embraced only by celebs, now common people who want to enjoy parenthood and are not keen on marriage, too are opting for the same. So, this film holds a mirror to society. (...)

Many people may not be aware of the concept and process of surrogacy. Does the film shed light on it?

Of course, the concept of surrogacy has been explained well. And that’s also there in the trailer. But I have not delved deeper into the process, as surrogacy is a small part of this film. Baba, Baby O... is a love story. (...)

Did you also deal with the issues of ethics surrounding surrogacy?

I am very much aware of the ongoing debate surrounding commercial surrogacy vs altruistic surrogacy, where no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother is given other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during pregnancy. My film hints at the latter. Fact is, surrogacy is legal in India and it is turning dreams of parenthood into reality. And it is only the take-off point in the film.

How was it like directing Jisshu?

It was a fantastic experience. (...) Despite being a star, he would spend a lot of time on the set, making fun, easing things up. Since we had four very small child actors in the age brackets of three and six months, the shoot was difficult. We had to wait for them to give us the right expressions. But Jisshuda had asked (...) to go ahead with the reaction shots of the kids first and to focus on him later. The kids were all very fond of him and would break into smiles every time they saw him. In fact, just having him around made lives easier for all of us.

How was your shooting experience with the babies?

Prior to the shoot, my team and I spent a lot of time with the kids at their respective homes. By the time we started shooting, we already knew when they would go off to sleep or when they would wake up, the hours that they would be active, what they ate, what made them happy et al. So, we designed our shoot days around their active hours and the scenes where they are shown sleeping, were shot when they were actually sleeping. Of course, it was challenging to shoot with them, but it was a lot of fun too. At times, we felt they had some secret training or why else would they be so perfect!

Why the title Baba, Baby O...?

Baba, Baby O... is about a father, his babies and the ‘O’ or the ‘Other’ factor in his life. It’s this ‘O’ that brings all the disruption in his otherwise perfect life'.

CURIOSITÀ

* Riferimenti al cinema indiano: Karan Johar, Preity Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

* Film che trattano lo stesso tema: Mimi, per la maternità surrogata.