Ananya review: Riveting saga about overcoming adversity

Pratap Phad's Ananya (2022), which is based on his play of the same name, is about a lively girl, Ananya Deshmukh (Hruta Durgule), who decides to bravely overcome a physical disability and prove her worth to the world and herself. 

M Com gold medallist Ananya, who lives with her father Avinash Deshmukh (Yogesh Soman) and brother Dhananjay Deshmukh (Suvrat Joshi) is preparing for her CA exams. She also got engaged to Shekhar Sarpotdar, the son of a big industrialist. When it looks like she is on the cusp of fulfilling all her dreams, she loses both her hands in a tragic accident. The film depicts her mental and physical challenges and how she manages to come on top with pure determination.

I haven't seen the original play, so I have no idea about what kind of changes the script has gone through as it made its journey from one medium to another but one thing is certain: it has used the advantages of the cinematic medium quite intelligently.

Writer and director Phad, who makes his feature film debut with Ananya, has made a film that keeps us glued to our seats despite following a conventional story arc. There is nothing in this film that we have not seen in others, but Phad still presents it in such a refreshing manner that you don't nod off.

The word cliche is used quite often in film reviews and most of the time it has negative connotations, but the truth is, if they are used intelligently, cliches can make a film better. Phad's Ananya is a perfect example of this. The film's screenplay doesn't break new ground but frankly, I don't think it matters and this wasn't the goal of the filmmaker. 

What really matters is whether the characters come across as real, earnest people and their emotions feel earned. And that's exactly what happens in this film.

The film manages to connect us emotionally with each and every character and even if we don't agree with their actions, we completely understand where they are coming from. For example, in one scene, Ananya's frustrated unemployed brother, who aced his MBA exam, takes out all his frustration and years of bottled-up anger on Ananya when he fails to land a job once again. We know what he is doing is wrong, but at the same time, we can't help but feel sorry for him. There are a few more such scenes with Ananya's father too.

Here, the characters are not forced to take actions that aren’t relatable in order to manipulate the audience's emotions. Instead, we are shown exactly how certain characters would react in some situations. I must say this is really good writing. 

Another praiseworthy thing is how the filmmaker has managed to find the perfect balance between melodrama and subtlety. Whenever there is a melodramatic scene, it feels earned, because it never overstays its welcome even by a few seconds. The film's editor also deserves some praise for his remarkable job.

There are also some surprising light-hearted moments, especially after the arrival of Amey Wagh's Jay Dixit. But these instances are infused into the screenplay with utmost care so that it feels like a lived experience. I found the first half more impactful because it shows how the unfortunate accident changes the relationship dynamics of father and daughter and sister and brother. Phad shows them as flawed people but not devious. 

It's easy to connect with the plight of these characters because of the performers. Durgule has surprised everyone while playing as a girl who not only has to overcome her physical disability but also overcome mental trauma. The actress delivers a solid performance. She has such a natural presence on screen and finds a way to be both remarkably charismatic and completely organic.

Phad has given a good emotional arc to the father and brother. And both Joshi and Soman have done a remarkable job as men who have accepted defeat in life. Their chemistry with Durgule is also top-notch.

The film also scores high marks in the cinematography and production design departments. The camera remains in close proximity to Ananya in the first half when she finds it difficult to even carry out basic tasks like brushing her teeth and eating. But as she slowly overcomes her physical disability the camera moves away a bit and begins to maintain a certain distance.

The only issue I found in this otherwise near-perfect film is Amey Wagh's character. Dixit suddenly appears out of nowhere and we don't learn much about him even till the end. If his character had a little more depth, it would have left more impact. 

Overall, Ananya is a well-made drama about the girl's struggle to overcome her physical disability with courage and determination.