| Directed by | Ivan Ayr |
|---|---|
| Written by | Ivan Ayr Neel Mani Kant |
| Produced by | Kimsi Singh |
| Starring | Suvinder Vicky Lakshvir Saran |
| Cinematography | Angello Faccini |
| Edited by | Ivan Ayr |
| Music by | Gautam Nair
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi Punjabi
|
Meel Patthar (English: Milestone) is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language drama film co-written, edited and directed by Ivan Ayr and produced by Kimsi Singh.[1] Starring Suvinder Vicky and Lakshvir Saran in major roles, the story follows a truck driver who tries to cope with the tragic death of his wife.[2] The film premiered in the Orrizonti (Horizons) section of the 77th Venice International Film Festival on 3 September, 2020.[3][4] It was also screened at the 25th Busan International Film Festival and the Pingyao International Film Festival.[5][6] Meel Patthar won the Best Film award while Vicky was given the Best Performer Award in the Asian feature film category at the Singapore International Film Festival.[7] Netflix acquired the distribution rights of the film and it was released worldwide on the platform on 7 May 2021.[8]
Cast
- Suvinder Vicky as Ghalib
- Lakshvir Saran as Pash
Production
The film is partially in Punjabi language as the protagonist is Punjabi who is working in the New Delhi region.[9] It was shot in January and February in 2020.[10] Ayr said that the film "tells you where you are and how much further you have to go." Further explaining: "Like how we say there is a significant moment or milestone one has crossed, that is there in the film. He gets to a certain milestone which he is unaware of and certain things begin to happen which makes things uncertain."[9] After the nation wide lockdown was imposed, Ayr got the film edited and sound-mixed from a remote location. The film was shot in a village in Haryana.[11] To get into how truck drivers operate, Ayr spent time with several one of them for the research in Delhi and Chandigarh.[11] Both the actors took truck driving lessons for their role.[10]
Reception
Meel Patthar received mostly positive response from critics. Template:Rotten Tomatoes prose[12]
Namrata Joshi noted that the film "offers a brooding look at lives constantly on the move, yet always paused."[13] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV wrote: "This sublimely multi-layered film embraces the personal struggles of its characters with as much passion as it portrays the manifestations of the social inequities that are an intrinsic part of their existence."[14] Stutee Ghosh of The Quint said, "A cinematic milestone, Ivan Ayr’s Meel Patthar is a moving portrait of a man lacerated by the truth of life."[15] Baradwaj Rangan praised the film and wrote: "This moving tale of a trucker paints a portrait of an ecosystem where everything and everyone appears to be a metaphor for disuse, neglect, ageing."[16] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express called the film "a poignant, lyrical look at the life of a truck driver."[17]
Anupama Chopra of Film Companion wrote, "Using long takes and muted grey-blue tones, director Ivan Ayr constructs a film that accrues power with each scene"[18]
References
- ↑ Meel Patthar (Milestone). Venice International Film Festival(16 July 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Im interested in telling stories about human existence in contemporary India: Ivan Ayr, Panchamatia, Komal(5 August 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Chaitanya Tamhane's The Disciple and Ivan Ayr's Meel Patthar head to Venice Film Festival. NDTV(29 July 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Guru-Shishya: Cuaron And Tamhane, Shedde, Meenakshi(9 August 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Seven Indian films at Busan International Film Festival. Mid Day(15 September 2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ↑ China's Pingyao International Film Festival Lineup Packed With Venice Titles, New Chinese Fare. Variety(6 October 2020). Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ↑ Deeply honoured: Ivan Ayr on 'Meel Patthar' winning best film at Singapore's Silver Screen Awards. The New India Express(7 December 2020). Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ↑ Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele trailer out. Zareen Khan, Anshuman Jha-starrer out on May 9(3 May 2021). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ivan Ayr opens up on his film Meel Patthar heading to the 2020 Venice Film Festival. Firstpost(6 August 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 In film 'Meel Patthar', a truck driver's journey from irrelevance to meaning, Ramnath, Nandini. Scroll.in(12 September 2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Why we must watch Meel Patthar, Chhabra, Aseem. Rediff.com(14 September 2020). Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ↑ Template:Cite Rotten Tomatoes
- ↑ Ivan Ayr's 'Meel Patthar': Life in Transit for Truck Drivers Ghalib and Pash, Joshi, Namrata(4 September 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Meel Patthar Review: Brilliant Flashes Of Insight Make This A Genuine Milestone, Chatterjee, Saibal. NDTV(5 September 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ 'Meel Patthar': A Deeply Moving and Profound Tale of Loneliness, Ghosh, Stutee. The Quint(5 September 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ A Review Of Ivan Ayr's Sturdy, Lyrical Character Study, Meel Patthar (Milestone), Which Premiered At The Venice Film Festival, Baradwaj, Ranjan. Film Companion(4 September 2020). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ↑ Ivan Ayr's Meel Patthar is a poignant, lyrical look at the life of a truck driver. The Indian Express(20 September 2020). Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ↑ Milestone (Meel Patthar), On Netflix, Is Contemplative And Beautifully Disturbing, Chopra, Anupama(7 May 2021). Retrieved May 10, 2021.