Coat Review: Sanjay Mishra and Vivaan Shah starrer film is rivetingly heart-warming!

COAT

Producer- Kumar Abhishek and Pinnu Singh

Director- Akshay Ditti

Cast- Sanjay Mishra, Vivaan Shah, Sonal Shah, Pooja Pandey, Abhishek Chauhan

Platform of Release- Theatres

Rating- 

By Jyothi Venkatesh

Set against the rustic backdrop of Bihar, ‘Coat’ follows the story of Madho, (Vivaan Shah) a young pig-rearing boy from a low-caste family, who craves for the admiration the foreign tourists receive due to their expensive coats. This observation ignites a burning desire within him to break free from the shackles of his circumstances and gain the respect he believes a coat can bring.

The film sets out to effectively emphasise the value of education, self-belief, and essential is it to break societal stereotypes, though as the narrative unfolds, it becomes easily apparent that the execution does suffer in the rushed second half, where certain plot developments, such as Madho collaborating with the locals and starting his own business, appear too implausible as well as convenient, diluting the impact of his hardships and achievements, as a boy rearing dirty pigs to earn a livelihood.

Debutant director Akshay Ditti and co-writer Kumar Abhishek (also the film’s producer) skillfully capture Madho’s extraordinary determination to acquire a coat, becoming the driving force behind his challenging journey. The narrative effectively sets out to portray his struggles, self-realisation, and moments of joy as he fulfils his family’s basic needs of food and shelter.Coat is indeed a heart-warming tale of how love triumphs over obstacles and how he unites with his family especially his father after his mother’s untimely demise, though he keeps on having constant fights with him over trivial issues at home.

Also read: Lafzon Mein Pyaar Review: Anita Raj and Zarina Wahab starrer film is a predictable and clichéd tale

As far as performances go, I should say that despite minor distractions like Madho’s uneven skin tone almost throughout the film, Vivaan Shah’s laid-back and easy-going performance gradually wins over the viewers, while Sanjay Mishra and Sonal Jha give believable performances as Madho’s parents. Pooja Pandey, as the love interest of Madho impresses though she has been given a very limited time to prove her potential as an actress. Music by Vardan Singh, Hriju Roy and Joy Anjan is not only melodious but also lilting, especially the song Nazar Bharkar Tujhe Dekha Kayi Din Baad

All said and done, the rivetingly heart-warming 123 minute long ‘Coat’ is a one-time watch for its genuine attempt to shed light on societal issues and also the unwavering spirit of its protagonist and manages to capture the essence of hope, perseverance, and self-discovery, depicting the struggles and aspirations of a young marginalised poor boy who is determined to overcome societal limitations and earn the societal respect that he rightfully deserves.