Stanley Ka Dabba

Director           Amol Gupte

Cast                 Partho Numaan, Amole Gupte, Divya Dutta, Divya Jagdale, Rahul Singh, Raj Zutshi,

Year                2011

Genre              Drama

Before all you folks go ahead and read this review, I would like you guys to first SMS “Stanley” to 57827 (India only) to pledge your support against child labour.  Will an insignificant SMS like this make a difference to some child’s life somewhere? I sure hope so.  I would hope that instances have reduced over time but we are far from a level of complete eradication and I can only believe that this small gesture from each one of us may just about impact someone’s life.

Amole Gupte’s official directorial debut (he hasn’t been credited for Taare Zameen Par) takes us into the world of Stanley Fernandes (Partho Numaan), Class 4F from Holy Family School, Andheri East (There are direct references to Chakala and hence the assumption).  Stanley walks into school everyday much before the rest of the world does and spends his time doing anything that keeps him busy – from watching Rosy Teacher (Divya Dutta) being dropped by her fiancée to drumming on the school desk.  Stanley is also a master story teller and creates them on the fly.  Like telling Rosy Madam about how the bruises on his face are because of a fight that he got into to save another kid who was being bullied.

Now Stanley has a peculiarity that differentiates him from the rest of the class.  He doesn’t get a dabba (tiffin box / lunch pack). But his classmates always chip in to share their dabbas instead.  And they also find innovative ways to ensure that he continues getting his share despite the Hindi Teacher, Verma aka Khadoos (Amol Gupte) whose only passion in life is to swoop down people’s dabbas because he doesn’t get his own.  So much so that when push comes to shove and he finally catches up with the kids, he bans Stanley from entering his class till he gets a dabba.

Stanley Ka Dabba is characterized primarily by outstanding performances from everyone in the cast.  Right from the School Principal played by Rahul Singh to the Science Teacher Mrs. Iyer played by Divya Jagdale and even the school peon played by Aditya Lakhia or the History Teacher played by Raj Zutshi in a very small appearance.  Divya Dutta continues to prove that she is one of the most under rated actors in Indian cinema. 

But the piece de resistance has to be – and this is a toughie very honestly – I am not sure who was better Partho Numaan or Amol Gupte.  The softie in everyone would clearly go with Partho Numaan thanks to his amazing screen presence and confidence in front of the camera.  But my vote on this count would go to Amol Gupte for his sheer capability to get under the skin of his character – a despicable Hindi Teacher who will eventually be humbled by a 9 year old child from Class 4F.  I would imagine it is not the easiest task in the world but for Gupte – who by his own admission claims that acting was never on his radar till Vishal Bharadwaj pushed him into Kaminey – would be proud to see the output of his part in SKD.  Pivotal and brilliantly executed.

Add to the brilliant performances, some superb camera work and some very good cuts as well.  Shots such as the kids and teachers both eating to the background of “Tere Andar bhi kahin chhupa baitha hai… Koi Stanley” are wonderfully taken.  There are some random shots as well which could well have been avoided.  That would probably be the only flaw in an otherwise very well made movie.  Oh and yes, the music could have done with some more life.  I would put Stanley Ka Dabba in the must watch list for everyone.  My rating – 7.5 on 10.  And yes – the million dollar answer – TZP is distinctly better on the counts of better editing and better music. 

Watch the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdd9Y166JXY