ANUKUL- FILM REVIEW

ANUKUL- THE FILM REVIEW

Anukul, is the story of a man who hires an android as his housekeeper directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film is adapted from a short story that was originally written by Satyajit Ray with the same name. Adapted from Satyajit Ray’s story of the same name, Anukul is the story of a man who hires a robot-human for his daily chores. The robot looks like a human, acts like one and at times even thinks like one but in the race between technology and ‘dil’ (Heart), the humans will always have an upper hand.

The film begins with Nikunj trying to buy a technological product and inquiring about its functionality. The audience is slowly let into this universe and we’re told that the product he’s buying is actually a human-android who can be employed as a house-keeper.  Anukul, the android, is an innocent looking ‘man’, who loves to read and is fascinated by the collection of books at his employer’s house. His machine doesn’t sleep and so he spends all his free time reading. But his reading isn’t just mechanical, he knows how to interpret and that makes him better than most humans. Anukul and Nikunj’s conversations feel like a student-teacher relationship. Their discussion over The Gita and Dharma is well-utilised and serves the larger plot as well. On the next day Anukul knows about the loss of his master's job.  Anukul is able to manage the worries of his master. He was taught that he should be always there to serve and protect his master. He did it always in his best. He never made Nikunj feel bad before his brother Ratan. As Anukul realizes his master is being ridiculed he beaten-up Ratan and made the full property for his master. Soon after,  Ratan comes with the information that their uncle has passed away and the full property belong to Ratan. And also we could see Nikunj is very concerned about Anukul and cares for him. He stops Ratan from hurting Anukul. As Nikunj goes to change his dress, Anuul gives an electric shock to Ratan in his anger for the teasing made by Ratan against Anukul. 

The short film makes one think about the possibilities that are on the verge of becoming a reality and Ghosh’s haunting tone in some parts of the film leaves you with an eerie feeling. It makes one wonder that if this is the future we’re actively stepping into, then the race for survival is going to turn even more brutal but only for those who are not willing to welcome it.