Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan’s 'The Last Tenant' Movie Review: Short, sweet and the slow intensity is like music to the ear
The unspoiled ordinariness of all the characters is the most attractive part of Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan’s The Last Tenant movie.
Those were the days my friend we thought they will never end, indeed that applies for cinema too. What I miss about yester-years alternative cinema is the simplicity: no layered characters, no bloodshed, but a brilliantly said movie which is like a music to the ear. That is the beauty of Irrfan Khan and Vidya Balan’s The Last Tenant and I am glad that we got to see the film.
Just when Bollywood is struggling with its movies, The Last Tenant truly feels like a breath of fresh air. Written and directed by Sarthak Dasgupta, the 43-minute movie featured Irrfan alongside Vidya Balan, who was famous at the time for featuring in the TV show Hum Paanch. It makes us believe that we don’t really need big stars with big budgets to make a film successful. This film makes us believe that in an age when mainstream cinema as in 'typical Bollywood films' bows to the demand of commerce, there still reians a space , quieter; where stories are told for their essence.
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The Last Tenant movie, silently chooses authenticity over applause. The film towards the end will silently heal you. It makes you believe that you truly don’t need to make noise to tell a story. No wonder, the director of the film rightly said, “Some films aren’t lost. They wait.” Truly, this film was a pleasant surprise this week when you actually have so many unimpactful movies running in cinema halls, The Last Tenant has silently made a place in our hearts and the music of the violin has the healing property.
Shot around 25 years ago, The Last Tenant shows an intimate, introspective story of a musician who is broken and adrift, finding temporary refuge in an abandoned house before leaving the country. It explores themes of longing and emotional turmoil. The film is beautifully slow where the dialogues are limited and most of the talking is done through the expressive eyes of Irrfan Khan. The strange engagement with silence is the most beautiful part of the film. This kind of cinema has the power to question and heal at the same time without being preachy.
Rating: 4 (out of 5)
The film is available on YouTube on the The Salt Inc channel.
Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a 'Rotten Tomatoes' certified critic. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it's a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.
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