B.A. Pass — As hard-hitting as it gets

A depressing yet engrossing tale about the realities of this world and the unfailing selfishness of people around, B.A. Pass is not for the faint hearted.

With the feel of an erotic European drama (Neo Noir), Director Ajay Bahl wastes no time in getting straight to the point and does not waste a single frame on pointless indulgences. Adopted from ‘The Railway Aunty’ by Mohan Sikka, B.A. Pass tells the story of Mukesh (played by Shadab Kamal), an orphaned resident of the middle-class Paharganj in Delhi. Staying with his Aunt, the people around him spare no effort to make him count how financially dependent he is. Doing his BA from Delhi University, Mukesh eventually gives in to the sexual advances made by the housewife Sarika (Shilpa Shukla) and gradually gets dragged into the murky world of male prostitution. Having two sisters to support and being allured towards Sarika, Mukesh sees the his new found occupation as profitable and strangely attractive at the same time. However, after being caught by Sarika’s husband, he gets thrown out of his home and has to rely on a friend named Jolly. With no money left with him and two sisters waiting to be supported, Mukesh tries desperately to make amends but eventually succumbs to his reality.

The film is held together by the brilliant Shilpa Shukla. Her fierce yet cold, emotionless portraiture of Sarika, wherein she seeks an escape from her own sad reality stands out throughout and fascinates the viewer. Shilpa had said in an interview that she poured out all her passion into this film and that is quite evident. Shadab Kamal seems appropriate as Mukesh, at first. His vulnerability and boyish charm fit the bill appropriately in the first half, but as the film progresses, one wishes for more layers appearing in his acting, which seem to be missing. Dibyendu Bhattacharya is perfect as Jolly, the ever-supportive friend who keeps the viewer guessing till the end.

Timed at a crisp 95 minutes, Director Ajay Bahl and writer Ritesh Shah deserve all the accolades they are getting for creating a sharp, hard-hitting tale that stays with you long after leaving the movie hall. The sex scenes are filmed aesthetically and adequately portray the coldness they are intended to display. The editing is perfect. The camera moves like a human eye and the background music (Alokananda Dasgupta) is used to brilliantly overlap the happenings with the flow of emotions.

Life can be tough and people can be unforgiving. B.A. Pass proves both. The other major film in theatres has grossed a 100 crores in its opening weekend and B.A. Pass will perhaps be lucky to earn 10 crores in its lifetime. However, that doesn’t take away from the efforts and intentions invested by the makers of the film and they deserve a salute! Do not miss this one if you have the appetite to digest it…

4/5