Siddharth: The Prisoner

Siddharth: The Prisoner (Hindi: सिद्धार्थ: द प्रिज़्नर) is a 2008 Indian thriller film written and directed by Pryas Gupta starring Rajat Kapoor, Sachin Nayak, Pradip Sagar in lead roles.

Siddharth: The Prisoner
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPryas Gupta
Written byPryas Gupta
Anadi
Hitesh Kewalya
StarringRajat Kapoor
Sachin Nayak
Pradip Sagar
CinematographyMrinal Desai
Edited byPryas Gupta
Music bySagar Desai
Production
companies
Alliance Media & Entertainment
Moviscorp
PVR Pictures Ltd.
Vistaar Religare Film Fund
Walkwater Media Ltd
Release dates
  • July 2008 (2008-07) (Cinefan Festival)
  • 27 February 2009 (2009-02-27)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesHindi
English

Synopsis

Just released from prison, Siddharth Roy (Rajat Kapoor), a once famous writer, completes a new manuscript. He re-engages with the outside world, hoping that the new book will restore his reputation and also reconcile him with his estranged wife, Maya. Fate has other plans for Roy, when his briefcase gets exchanged at a cyber café with a similar briefcase containing a large sum of money. Roy loses the only copy of his new manuscript, while Mohan (Sachin Nayak), the cyber café manager, comes under pressure from mob bosses to recover the lost money. In the midst of growing despair about the lost manuscript, Roy is reconciled with his three-year-old son through a scheming housemaid. Unable to find happiness in the money he has found Roy begins to desire the custody of his son. Meanwhile the pressure mounts on Mohan as he loses his job and is forced to go into hiding from the mob. He must find Roy and money at any cost. Based on the ancient text of the Rig Veda, the film explores the theme of renunciation (of desire) as the true path to enlightenment and freedom.

Cast
  • Rajat Kapoor as Siddharth Roy
  • Sachin Nayak as Mohan
  • Pradip Sagar as Amin Bhai (as Praddip Sagar)
  • Pradeep Kabra as Aseem
  • Gulab Chand Soni as Krishna
  • Radhika as Geeta
  • Deepak Dadhwal as Lawyer
  • Ramesh Rai as Atul Bhai
  • Geeta Panchal as Sarita - The Maid
  • Krish Bhatia as Siddharth's Son
  • Ava Mukherjee as Maya's Mother / Siddharth's Mother-in-law
  • Fareed as Sonu
  • Sanjeev Jain as Police Inspector

Release

The film was released on 27 February 2009 worldwide.

Reception

Upon release film gathered mixed reviews from critics. Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India gave the film a three star rating saying, "A metaphorical film about freedom and desire, the film keeps you engrossed. Firstly, by its explorations on the leitmotif of greed. And secondly, due to Rajat Kapoor's nuanced, almost minimalist act of a man in torment."[1]

Anupama Chopra of NDTV gave a negative review saying, "Gupta doesn’t explain key points in the film: like why Siddharth, an author who almost won the Booker prize, ends up in jail; why his wife wants to divorce him and why he seems so bereft of money, family or even one friend. Siddharth the Prisoner sags under its own subtext."[2]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2008Asia Pacific Screen AwardsJury Grand PrizePryas GuptaWon
2008Asia Pacific Screen AwardsBest Performance by an ActorRajat KapoorNominated
2008Cinefan - Festival of Asian and Arab CinemaIndian Competition AwardBest Actor/Rajat KapoorWon

References
  1. Kazmi, Nikhat. "Times of India". Times of India. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  2. Chopra, Anupama. "NDTV". NDTV Movies. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.