Movie Review: Ship of Theseus (Hinglish)
Ship of Theseus is not so much a movie as it's more of a platform for rock-solid debate, opinion and thought on the choices we make in our lives. How far do we go to abide by them? Should we suffer the consequences of those choices we make? Or should we compromise on them? Beautifully conceived and crafted by debutant director Anand Gandhi, Ship of Theseus is one of a kind film that's deeply engaging, thought-provoking and never for once shies away from putting us in uncomfortable spots.
But surprisingly for all the philosophy SoT dabbles in, it stays clear of imparting them in a didactic way. The central idea is popularly called the Theseus' Paradox, wherein the Greek philosopher Plutarch asks whether a ship that has been reconstructed after replacing all its parts, still remains the same ship. And if all those discarded parts were assembled together would that then qualify as the original Ship of Theseus?
Anand Gandhi applies this allegory to his three short stories to create a cinematic experience that you are unlikely to forget for years to come. The first of the three concerns Aaliya (Egyptian film director Aida Elkashef), a celebrated visually challenged photographer who relies on her intuition to capture black and white frames of life in Mumbai. Though her vision is successfully restored in a cornea transplant operation, she faces a creative hiccup and has trouble adjusting to seeing the world in a new light.
In the second (and the most compelling of the lot), Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi), a learned monk and staunch animal rights activist, fights for a ban on animal testing in laboratories. When he is diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, he refuses medication and a liver transplant as they come in direct opposition to the beliefs he holds dear. His followers are confused with his stubborn approach, and Maitreya is eventually forced to make a choice. The final and last segment deals with a money-minded stock broker Navin (Sohum Shah, also the film's producer), having undergone a kidney transplant himself, learns of a thriving kidney tourism racket in the city through a poor bricklayer. Overcome with grief and concerns that his kidney may have been acquired illegally, he is confronted with questions of morality and ethics.
By bringing these three people under one roof in the poignant and under-stated climax, Anand Gandhi's assured debut skilfully extends the SoT paradox to the human body: is a person who has had an organ transplant still the same person he previously was? We get to see the parts, we get to see the whole. And Gandhi's exploration of science and philosophy is something which we rarely get to see on big screen. The exchanges between Maitreya and his acolyte Charvaka (Vinay Shukla) sparkle with wit and profound thoughts on the concepts of soul and body.
The acting from the ensemble cast is exemplary, but if I were to pick and choose, Neeraj Kabi would be it. His is a staggering performance, the physical transformation and the dedication he brings to the craft is truly remarkable. Expertly lensed by Pankaj Kumar, Ship of Theseus brims with originality and great vision. It's easily one of the best films I have seen in recent years. Go aboard this ship, you will come out intellectually stimulated.
Anand Gandhi applies this allegory to his three short stories to create a cinematic experience that you are unlikely to forget for years to come. The first of the three concerns Aaliya (Egyptian film director Aida Elkashef), a celebrated visually challenged photographer who relies on her intuition to capture black and white frames of life in Mumbai. Though her vision is successfully restored in a cornea transplant operation, she faces a creative hiccup and has trouble adjusting to seeing the world in a new light.
In the second (and the most compelling of the lot), Maitreya (Neeraj Kabi), a learned monk and staunch animal rights activist, fights for a ban on animal testing in laboratories. When he is diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, he refuses medication and a liver transplant as they come in direct opposition to the beliefs he holds dear. His followers are confused with his stubborn approach, and Maitreya is eventually forced to make a choice. The final and last segment deals with a money-minded stock broker Navin (Sohum Shah, also the film's producer), having undergone a kidney transplant himself, learns of a thriving kidney tourism racket in the city through a poor bricklayer. Overcome with grief and concerns that his kidney may have been acquired illegally, he is confronted with questions of morality and ethics.
By bringing these three people under one roof in the poignant and under-stated climax, Anand Gandhi's assured debut skilfully extends the SoT paradox to the human body: is a person who has had an organ transplant still the same person he previously was? We get to see the parts, we get to see the whole. And Gandhi's exploration of science and philosophy is something which we rarely get to see on big screen. The exchanges between Maitreya and his acolyte Charvaka (Vinay Shukla) sparkle with wit and profound thoughts on the concepts of soul and body.
The acting from the ensemble cast is exemplary, but if I were to pick and choose, Neeraj Kabi would be it. His is a staggering performance, the physical transformation and the dedication he brings to the craft is truly remarkable. Expertly lensed by Pankaj Kumar, Ship of Theseus brims with originality and great vision. It's easily one of the best films I have seen in recent years. Go aboard this ship, you will come out intellectually stimulated.
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