An Indian film set in a small-town India, targeting those based in smaller cities and towns, and one that talks about the importance of having safe sex. What could be braver? ZEE5’s new offering, Helmet takes this rare step. Written and directed by Satram Ramani, the film features Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, Ashish Verma and Pranutan Bahl in lead roles.
Helmet offers a blend of laughter and social message - a genre that usually works well with Indian audience. While the film does not make a mark in the department of being an entertainer, it certainly deserves full marks for making the best of attempts breaching one of the most taboo subjects in Indian films. The movie even tries a few lines of socio-political commentary but these are quite rare.
While the writing and direction often falter, Helmet actors have all done their best, adding value to the experience of watching the film. Khurana plays the lead role of Lucky - a poor, orphan guy and he has two friends for support - Minus (Verma) and Sultan (Banerjee). To ensure that Lucky’s girlfriend marries him, the friends loot a delivery truck, hoping to get their hands on costly mobile phone. However, they end up with hundreds of boxes full of condoms and the story is set in a small town in India where buying and selling condoms are looked down upon.
The film then traces the story of the trio trying their best to sell the condoms. Helmet tries a lot to make it all look like social messaging packaged with comedy, but does not quite succeed at the blend. Also, it often falls short of igniting laughter.
In an interview, Aparshakti shares why he chose to do Helmet as his first film as the lead character. “The subject (is the main reason). It is just so relevant. You are right, we are in a country where it is awkward to talk about sex. Sex education is not common in schools or colleges. It is high time we started talking about it. We often so slam down our country calling it poor or for the lack of employment or medical infrastructure. I think the root cause of all of it is population. It is high time we talk about it.”
“It may be a taboo subject, but rural India needs to wake up to such things. We as public figures need to talk about subjects that make India a more mature, wiser and civilized version of ourselves. It is difficult to teach these things. But, let us try to pick these subjects in our songs, TV shows and films that can inspire people. I never imagined this (the subject and scenario of the movie), but after reading the script I was like ‘Yes, this is what happens. I think on paper, it was just as relevant as it can get.” he adds.
(The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.)
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