Pankh (2010)

Unfolding within the vibrant world of cinema, PANKH offers a captivating exploration of the peculiarities and paradoxes that define the Indian film industry. At the heart of this tale is the fascinating character of Baby Kusum, a child actor forced into a gender role that contradicts his own, a cultural oddity peculiar to Indian cinema. Baby Kusum, originally known as Jerry Gabriel D'Cunha, was propelled into the limelight as a child, playing opposite renowned actors such as Hema Malini and Jeetendra, and even embodying a young Rajesh Khanna. His fame skyrocketed when he adopted the persona of the female character, Baby Kusum, a role that brought him acclaim and awards, yet also a haunting burden of a false identity. Baby Kusum's story is a grotesque reflection of life mirroring art, a chilling exploration into the mechanism that births dreams, and the brutal toll exacted when those dreams shatter. The film delves into the psyche of this tormented soul, revealing the destructive aftermath of a childhood marred by imposed superficial gender codes and societal brutality. It's a tale of human suffering, a stark commentary on the tragedy of the human condition set against the backdrop of the glamorous film industry. With his mother, Mary, by his side, the matured Baby Kusum ventures back into the film world she believes will elevate him to stardom equivalent to Salman Khan and Aamir Khan. Yet, the shocking revelation of her son's true desires throws her into a disconcerting reality, shattering her dreams and expectations. PANKH navigates through a complex web of relationships, exploring themes of the Oedipal, the homosexual, and the exploitative. It uncovers the raw truth hidden beneath the glitz and glamour of the film industry, challenging the audience's perception and setting them face-to-face with naked reality. The film traverses across diverse spaces - real, mental, sexual, and spiritual, interweaving them into a jarring tapestry of love and shame, intensity and brutality. PANKH serves as a compelling moral fable, an intense narrative that raises pertinent questions while never detaching itself from the core of human emotions. Its exploration of past, present, and operative time within the same mental space creates a delusive narrative that probes into the disturbing intersection of cinema and life. In its essence, it is a poignant story of a boy burdened by an identity not his own, a tale that resonates with the common man's struggle for selfhood.

Pankh is a drama movie featuring Bipasha Basu and directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyay.

Pankh is currently streaming on Eros Now.