Titli, the youngest brother of a violent family of thieves is desperate to escape the 'family business' and become his own man. Secretly, Titli is saving up to buy his own place in one of the new skyrises that tower over the city, but every time he seems close, outside factors related to his indigent brothers leave him financially unable to escape. When his brothers discover his plan to leave, they become infuriated, with his oldest brother Vikram, the leader of this family of thieves, concocting a plan to "domesticate' Titli marrying him off to Neelu, who has her own set of complicated dreams. Forming a strange relationship that is almost completely exploitative, Neelu and Titli work together in a desperate bid to help each other escape the stranglehold of their respective family. Kanu Behl's Titli is an impressive debut feature which impressively blends the tangled narrative of a Neo-Noir, with a poignant melodrama that is reminiscent of the films of Italian Neorealism. As a narrative, Titli is engaging and constantly evolving, full of twists and turns and double-crosses that make the film's conclusion and the plight of its characters completely unpredictable. Titli is a film that works so well because of its complicated characterizations, with the main protagonist being a man on the edge of becoming a monster. The young Titli is a man the audience feels sympathetic for, stuck in an environment where mean-spirited and volatile men are his elders. This couldn't be captured more vividly than in a nighmarish, kaftka-esque, dream sequence in the middle of the film, that perfectly symbolizes Titli's feeling of entrapment and lack of options. He desperately wants out of this world, not wanting to live this outlaw lifestyle, but as the film progresses it becomes clear he is already developing some violent tendencies. Neelu faces her own entrapment, being in love with a wealthy, married man in Prince, whom she hopes can help her escape from her problems. Titli is a film that paints a rather dark portrait of modern day Delhi, a city full of corruption and lack of opportunities, with impoverished characters who turn violent out of desperation. These characters feel like their lives have no hope or future, with each desperately and in Titli's case, deceptively, trying to create a world where opportunity exists. The film doesn't make excuses for these characters but both Titli and Neelu are at the bottom of the societal hierarchy of their respective lives, with Titli being the youngest brother of a impoverished family and Neelu being a young woman. Through this exploitative relationship Titli and Neelu see a path to their freedom, though it comes at a massive cost, with an deeply resonant conclusion that perfectly taps into the emotional core of Titli, a good man whose path getting there couldn't be more difficult. Unapologetic and not seeking sympathy for its complicated characters, Kanu Behl's Titli is an impressive debut feature that's honest, gritty and raw, painting both a complex portrait of Delhi, and an intimate portrait of two young people trying to find peace and happiness.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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