Superficial acting, terrible casting, meh direction, good production design, brilliant music. The film is essentially a series of distraction tactics — immaculate frames, pretty faces in those immaculate frames, and grand music surrounding immaculate frames with pretty people in them. Your attention is repeatedly directed towards Qala’s lush cinematography and soundscape, and not towards the characters that they’re supposed to service. Qala proves that beautiful cinematography isn’t the same thing as good cinematography. Qala romanticizes female suffering. When you peel away the film’s outer layers, it becomes clear that the director doesn’t think much of her audience. Her observations about feminism are tired at best, and counterproductive at worst.
Review by GallifreyRangerBlockedParent2023-02-06T04:34:29Z
An oft repeated, and exaggerated, quote for beautifully shot movies is how each frame of the movie can be a picture. However, that certainly does not seem to be the case with Qala. Right from the beginning to the end, I was mesmerized by the sheer beauty of each frame. And, of course, an movie based on music would not be worth watching if does not have a great score. And, Amit Trivedi delivers on that front.
Qala is a singer wracked by the horrors of her past. The movie weaves between the present day events, where Qala is a famous, award winning singer, and flashbacks, focusing on Qala's relationship with her mother and her mother's adopted protégé. Having grown up in a strictly patriarchal singing household, Qala's mother yearns for Qala what she could never have: the title of a Pandit. However, her focus shifts on the more gifted Jagan when she hears him singing at a music show. The rest of the story revolves around Qala struggling to find her place in the limelight all the while alienating her mother.
In 'Qala', director and writer Anvita Dutt focuses on telling a story of how deep-rooted notions of patriarchy and other antiquated notions are not necessarily carried forward by the male members of the society. That sometimes, the women are so brainwashed into believing what they are taught to be right, that they cannot break the cycle even if they want to (Qala's mother Urmila considers singing in movies to be below a classical singer's 'station'). Anvita Dutt also focuses on issues of some of the most common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
Despite being less than 2 hrs, I personally felt that the movie could have been cut short by 10 mins or so. However, Amit Trivedi's music helps in this case. I enjoyed all the songs in the movie (possibly one of the best albums of the last year). Have heard all the Hindi songs multiple times.
Tripti Dimri gives a convincing performance as the titular Qala. Babil Khan makes a solid debut. Most of the supporting cast gives a solid performance as well. However, for me, Swastika Mukherjee steals the show as Urmila. As the proud daughter-in-law of a renowned singing 'gharana', she portrays dignity, disdain, pride, as well as, disappointment in Qala remarkably well.
All in all, Qala is worth a watch just for its beauty and the music, the excellent story being an added bonus.