A group of children in a theater workshop in Bangalore decided to do more than just stage a play about the environment. They decide to start a Seed Club and create a forest in the middle of the city, encountering and overcoming various challenges. They wrote a letter to India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, asking him to join their Seed Club and give a speech about it on his radio show so more children could join them. The story of Namma Aranya Pradesha is the first thing that fascinated me about this film; it's a truly unique story and one I hope inspires kids across the world. Seeing kids so excited about conservation should be motivating and uplifting! The camerawork is dynamic and clear; it focuses on the emotions of each character and spotlights, especially in some special moments, their relationships with one another. Bonding between the children is quite special, and it's wonderfully captured, thanks to a mix of close- and medium-shots, all of which are well-lit and well-composed. The costumes suit the storyline; I love how the students and the teacher have matching camp t-shirts. The sets, which are in Bangalore, work well - the urban jungle is as dense as the kids' small garden is verdant. I initially found the room where the students practice for their workshop to be a bit sparse (it's a big room with, well, nothing in it), but thinking back to my own days in theater, the open space in the room fits the setting of a drama workshop. The music is wonderful; but the real magic is the actors' performances, as is generally the case with theater. In one memorable scene, the music does indeed drive the action; it's a popular Kannada song which plays when Chotu is first introduced and sets the scene for the crowded area where he works. In other parts, the music accentuates the dramatic events the students learn about. But the score isn't particularly memorable. Tushar Patil, as Mr. Bean, the theater camp teacher, shows his mastery on screen. His chemistry with the students and quick comic timing make him the teacher many kids will wish they could have; at the same time, he delivers powerful monologues about the environment with appropriate levels of seriousness and sincerity. It's hard for films with large ensemble casts to establish a clear persona for each member of the cast; this both is and isn't the case with Namma Aranya Pradesha. The group of students will charm and delight viewers; Dhatri Jagadeesh Shetty's portrayal of the serious yet lovable Dhatri is one of my favorites, as is the young flower-seller, Chotu, who gets roped into the camp by Mr. Bean. Chotu is the most enigmatic, and he blossoms (pun intended) throughout the film. These two kids have the most defined roles and certainly, at times, I felt like the other kids were unessential to the storyline - but, only sometimes. Thanks to Mr. Bean's inclusive nature as a teacher, it feels, for the most part, like a legitimate class, just one with two especially sparkling standouts. Director, writer and producer Puja Goyal dons three hats with dexterity and ease. Though the editing of the film feels odd at times (we hear people talking, but no one is actually speaking on screen), the overall package is wonderful, thanks to her leadership. Additionally, Kiren Jhadav's cinematography is a high point of the film; the lovely lighting and clear shots enhance the story further. My favorite part of the film is the honesty and authenticity with which the child actors play their roles -- from "Dhatri ma'am" (Dhatri Jagadeesh Shetty) to the charming Chotu (Raghunandan Prasad), they all managed to steal a bit of my heart.
The film's message is about doing our part to help save our environment; in an overpopulated country like India, that means being mindful of waste and advocating for appropriate national legislation.
I give Namma Aranya Pradesha 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!
A group of children in a theater workshop in Bangalore decided to do more than just stage a play about the environment. They decide to start a Seed Club and create a forest in the middle of the city, encountering and overcoming various challenges. They wrote a letter to India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, asking him to join their Seed Club and give a speech about it on his radio show so more children could join them. The story of Namma Aranya Pradesha is the first thing that fascinated me about this film; it's a truly unique story and one I hope inspires kids across the world. Seeing kids so excited about conservation should be motivating and uplifting! The camerawork is dynamic and clear; it focuses on the emotions of each character and spotlights, especially in some special moments, their relationships with one another. Bonding between the children is quite special, and it's wonderfully captured, thanks to a mix of close- and medium-shots, all of which are well-lit and well-composed. The costumes suit the storyline; I love how the students and the teacher have matching camp t-shirts. The sets, which are in Bangalore, work well - the urban jungle is as dense as the kids' small garden is verdant. I initially found the room where the students practice for their workshop to be a bit sparse (it's a big room with, well, nothing in it), but thinking back to my own days in theater, the open space in the room fits the setting of a drama workshop. The music is wonderful; but the real magic is the actors' performances, as is generally the case with theater. In one memorable scene, the music does indeed drive the action; it's a popular Kannada song which plays when Chotu is first introduced and sets the scene for the crowded area where he works. In other parts, the music accentuates the dramatic events the students learn about. But the score isn't particularly memorable. Tushar Patil, as Mr. Bean, the theater camp teacher, shows his mastery on screen. His chemistry with the students and quick comic timing make him the teacher many kids will wish they could have; at the same time, he delivers powerful monologues about the environment with appropriate levels of seriousness and sincerity. It's hard for films with large ensemble casts to establish a clear persona for each member of the cast; this both is and isn't the case with Namma Aranya Pradesha. The group of students will charm and delight viewers; Dhatri Jagadeesh Shetty's portrayal of the serious yet lovable Dhatri is one of my favorites, as is the young flower-seller, Chotu, who gets roped into the camp by Mr. Bean. Chotu is the most enigmatic, and he blossoms (pun intended) throughout the film. These two kids have the most defined roles and certainly, at times, I felt like the other kids were unessential to the storyline - but, only sometimes. Thanks to Mr. Bean's inclusive nature as a teacher, it feels, for the most part, like a legitimate class, just one with two especially sparkling standouts. Director, writer and producer Puja Goyal dons three hats with dexterity and ease. Though the editing of the film feels odd at times (we hear people talking, but no one is actually speaking on screen), the overall package is wonderful, thanks to her leadership. Additionally, Kiren Jhadav's cinematography is a high point of the film; the lovely lighting and clear shots enhance the story further. My favorite part of the film is the honesty and authenticity with which the child actors play their roles -- from "Dhatri ma'am" (Dhatri Jagadeesh Shetty) to the charming Chotu (Raghunandan Prasad), they all managed to steal a bit of my heart.
The film's message is about doing our part to help save our environment; in an overpopulated country like India, that means being mindful of waste and advocating for appropriate national legislation.
I give Namma Aranya Pradesha 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!
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