Darbaan Explained

Darbaan
Director:Bipin Nadkarni
Producer:Bipin Nadkarni
Yogesh Beldar
Based On:Short story by Rabindra Nath Tagore
Narrator:Annu Kapoor
Starring:Sharib Hashmi
Sharad Kelkar
Rasika Dugal
Flora Saini
Music:Songs:
Amartya Bobo Rahut
Raajeev V. Bhalla
Score:
Rohhan Patel
Cinematography:Amalendu Chaudhary
Editing:Jayant Jathar
Vandita Chakradeo
Studio:Opticus Picture Company
Distributor:ZEE5
Runtime:145 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi

Darbaan is a 2020 Indian Hindi drama film directed and produced by Bipin Nadkarni under the banner of Opticus Picture Company with Yogesh Beldar as co-producer. This marks the debut of the director in Bollywood cinema.[1] The film stars Sharib Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar, Rasika Dugal and Flora Saini.[2]

The film was to be theatrically released on 3 April 2020, but postponed later due to COVID.[3] It premiered on ZEE5 on 4 December 2020.[4]

Premise

Darbaan is an adaption of a 1918 short story Khokababur Pratyabartan written by Nobel Prize winner Rabindra Nath Tagore. The screenplay is about the friendship between a boy and his caretaker who come from different steps on the social and economic ladder.[5]

Cast

Soundtrack

Darbaan
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Amartya Bobo Rahut and Raajeev V. Bhalla
Released:23 November 2020[6]
Recorded:2019
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Language:Hindi
Label:Zee Music Company

The soundtrack of the film is composed by Amartya Bobo Rahut and Raajeev V. Bhalla whereas lyrics are written by Manoj Yadav, Siddhant Kaushal and Akshay K. Saxena.

Reception

Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost found the film 'bitter-sweet'. She praised the acting of Hashmi, Dugal and supporting cast and music of Amartya Bobo Rahut. She criticised the screenplay of Nadkarni co-written with Rakesh Jadhav for robbing the narrative of the film with 'substance and considerable sociological commentary'. Praising cinematographer Amalendu Chaudhary for 'striking shots across several locations', she rated it with two and half stars out of five. Vetticad concluded, "Darbaan is nice enough, but it lacks depth and width."[7] Pradeep Kumar reviewing for The Hindu called it "simplistic take on servitude that feels out of place". Agreeing with Vetticad, Kumar also criticised the screenplay because he felt, "...story remains under explored". He also found the soundtrack "endearing". He concluded, "However, beyond his [Hashmi's] classy performance, Darbaan seems like a script better suited to the stage than the canvas of a cinema.".[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Award-winner Marathi director set for Bollywood debut. 15 February 2020. Outlook India. en. 17 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Sharib Hashmi, Sharad Kelkar to star in Darbaan. Cinema Express. 15 February 2020 . en. 17 March 2020. 29 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129082000/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/feb/15/sharib-hashmi-sharad-kelkar-to-star-in-darbaan-17054.html. live.
  3. News: Darbaan. Times of India. 17 March 2020. 13 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200313215654/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movie-details/darbaan/movieshow/74171493.cms. live.
  4. Web site: ZEE5 Announces Next Original Gilm 'Darbaan', Family Drama Based On A Story By Rabindranath Tagore. 10 November 2020. 19 November 2020. 26 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126053558/https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/zee5-announces-next-original-gilm-darbaan-family-drama-based-on-a-story-by-rabindranath-tagore/. live.
  5. Web site: Sharad Kelkar, Sharib Hashmi's Darbaan trailer leaves internet impressed. Yadav. Nitesh. 2020-03-11. www.indiatvnews.com. en. 2020-03-19. 12 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200312181620/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood/darbaan-trailer-sharad-kelkar-sharib-hashmi-leave-internet-impressed-597190. live.
  6. Web site: Darbaan – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. 23 November 2020. Jiosaavn. 23 November 2020. 30 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130145402/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/darbaan/gRbGNNOLGKc_. live.
  7. News: Anna . M. M. Vetticad . Darbaan movie review: Rabindranath Tagore revisited in Bollywood to bitter-sweet albeit insubstantial effect . Firstpost . 4 December 2020 . 4 December 2020 . 4 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201204095808/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/darbaan-movie-review-rabindranath-tagore-revisited-in-bollywood-to-bitter-sweet-albeit-insubstantial-effect-9080881.html . live .
  8. News: 'Darbaan' movie review: A heartwarming tale that doesn't scratch beyond the surface. The Hindu. Pradeep. Kumar. 4 December 2020. 4 December 2020. 4 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204110738/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/darbaan-movie-review-a-heartwarming-tale-that-doesnt-scratch-beyond-the-surface/article33248757.ece. live.