Burdened with his father’s expectations of academic glory, fresh-faced Vivek is sent away to a prep school to gain entry into the crown jewel of colleges, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). Although he makes his first genuine friends there, and has his first real crush, being surrounded by overachievers from all over India with the same singular dream causes him to experience the crushing weight of not having one he can call his own. Back home in Lucknow, his parents waffle in middle class anxiety, as his father loses his government job and his diabetic mother is threatened by a local pervert.
Awash in a wistful purity, crackling with a fragrant wit, and brimming with 1990s pop culture paraphernalia, Varun Grover’s coming-of-age romantic dramedy has songs, musicality, and lyricism to spare. At the same time, Grover, a master spinner of dialog, provides sharp commentary on the lollipops and lopsidedness of the 1990s middle class Indian dream. Bodhisattva Sharma as wide-eyed Vivek is a whiz at performing multiplication with his monotone smile, whereas Geeta Agrawal (A Suitable Boy) and Shashi Bhushan (Eeb Allay Ooo!) excel as lonely, woebegone parents. Fair warning: your cholesterol levels just might increase due to the sweetness and yearning on display here.
Red carpet and reception start at 6:00 PM, Awards and screening with Q&A start at 7:30 PM.
Exclusive stand-up performance by Varun Grover before the screening!
Varun Grover
Based in Mumbai, Varun Grover is one of India’s leading screenplay writers, stand-up comedians, and lyricists. Masaan, his feature debut as a writer, was part of the prestigious Un Certain Regard selection at 2015’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Jury Award and the Promising Future Prize. Grover is the lead writer and executive producer of the critically acclaimed series Sacred Games (2018 – 2019) from Netflix India. He received the 2015 National Film Award for the song “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage,” included in the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha. He is also the lyricist of cult soundtrack albums like Gangs of Wasseypur, Fan, Udta Punjab, and Monica O My Darling. All India Rank is his first film as a director.
