Once Again

Once Again is a poignant and intimate drama directed by Kanwal Sethi and released in 2018. Oscillating between the realms of the bustling city of Mumbai and the quiet intimacy of personal relationships, the film captures the audience with an unusual love story of two middle-aged individuals crossing thresholds of societal norms.

Heading the star cast is Shefali Shah, known predominantly for her enchanting performances and emotional depth, who plays the role of Tara, a widowed businesswoman. Tara leads a very self-contained life running a popular restaurant in Mumbai. She is a self-made woman who has successfully managed to separate her personal life from her professional one, but her life revolves around her restaurant, diligently managing it, and her grown-up children.

On the other hand, we have Neeraj Kabi, an established actor recognized for his subtle performances. Kabi plays the character of Amar, a popular film actor who is a solitary person. In the dizzying world of fame and glamour, Amar finds solace in the simple meals that Tara's restaurant delivers to him every day.

Their relationship originates around food - a pure and affectionate connection simmering and strengthening as they exchange notes inside the food containers. The notes are simple yet touching, sending reflections about life, solitude, and sometimes a movie review. It's an unconventional relationship fueled by the written word and the shared love of food, but they hardly meet. Tara, who has tied herself to the responsibilities of her restaurant and her family, and Amar, who is mired in the world of cinema and fame, find an unexpected kinship in each other.

Unusual circumstances lead them to meet, presenting an opportunity for their relationship to evolve and deepen, and they find themselves drawn to each other. Their friendly companionship soon sparks off a whirlwind of emotions that neither Tara nor Amar expected or even consciously wanted at their age. The film explores their struggle to define this newfound relationship, their apprehensions, societal and self-imposed barriers, their vulnerable moments, and the decisions they are compelled to make.

The film also stars Bidita Bag, who plays Nandini with sensitivity and naturalness. Other supporting casts include Rasika Dugal and Bhagwan Tiwari, who contribute meaningfully to the narrative.

Once Again is not just a love story but a profound exploration of companionship and solitude in a largely impersonal urban landscape. It is a heartfelt journey of understanding oneself and others, capturing authentic emotions and subtlety delicately wrapped in everyday life. The movie doesn't rush itself, gradually unfolding in synchronization with the rhythm of its two leading characters.

The cinematography is strikingly beautiful, capturing the dichotomies of Mumbai, the bustling chaos of the city juxtaposed with moments of stillness and solitude. The remarkable direction of Kanwal Sethi brilliantly paints an array of human emotions while keeping silence as a powerful narrative tool.

Music too plays an important role in the film, encapsulating the emotions present in the scenes. The soulful tracks, composed by internationally acclaimed artist Talvin Singh, are deeply evocative and complement the essence of the movie.

Once Again is, at its heart, a story of unexpressed emotions and connections formed in the most unexpected circumstances. Notably, love attracts no age, and it isn't always as simplistic as often portrayed. Instead, it's complicated, beautiful, challenging, and even harrowing at times. And this movie gives us a snapshot into that unexpected, 'once again' kind of love.

This movie offers a fresh, emotionally nuanced, and delicately crafted exploration of love and relationships that will leave the audiences touched and contemplative. It is a film to watch for the sensitive performances of its lead actors, enrapturing storytelling, beautiful cinematography, and the deeply resonant narrative about love in the dusk of life. Once Again reminds us that life often gives us chances, Some we might choose to ignore and some might compel us to test the waters and change our lives in ways we never imagined, 'Once Again'.