The Blue Umbrella

Eleven-year-old Biniya barters her bear claw locket for a blue umbrella. And as she dances through her tiny Himachali hamlet, with the umbrella held aloft, with her friends bringing up a happy rear, lust rears its ugly head.

In the bosom of Nandkishore Khatri, tea-stall owner, who loves gobbling pickle and anything else he sets his covetous eyes upon. No matter if it’s a pair of binoculars, and its owner is an unfortunate child who owes him a few rupees.

Biniya refuses his blandishments. All of them, including toffees, and hard cash. And then, her precious umbrella goes missing. Vishal Bhardwaj has turned Ruskin Bond’s timeless short story of the same name into a simply, beautifully told classic.

The hills in and around Dalhousie (where most of the film is shot) come alive to the sound of Biniya’s (Shreya Sharma) laughter and tears. As well as Nandu’s devious plots and plans. The cinematography is outstanding. As is the acting. Shreya, in her printed salwaar kameez and ribboned plaits looks as if she belongs there, even if her accent, with the distinctive Himachali lilt, slips a little. Pankaj Kapur gets it just right, down to the maaraz (used as a punctuation ), and his demeanour, all endearing craftiness: this is his best performance.