Released on:
February 2013
Genre:
Off Beat Drama
Directed by:
Avinash Kumar Singh
Produced by:
Ashok Sawhny
Story by:
Geeta Singh
Starring:
Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval, Swara Bhaskar
There is something amazingly heartwarming about a mother-daughter movie where the two lead actresses look naturally at ease together. For debutant director Avinash Kumar Singh, having Deepti Naval and Swara Bhaskar in the movie, is half the battle won.
The rest of the cast and their allotted spaces just fill up this intimate portrait of a suburban crisis without anyone jostling for space. Mother and daughter occupy an inviolable space within the cosy cafe that they run. What happens when the mom Leela decides to marry her long-time friend Jayant aka Jazz?
The daughter�s reaction is one of disbelief and denial. The plot doesn�t get stuck on the stunned. The sensibly-written film takes us through the daughter Amaya�s journey from an outright rejection of a new life for her mother to a gradual realization that love or companionship don�t have to strike at any specific age of phase in a woman�s life.
Both Farooque and Deepti confer a layer of profound sensitivity to this little-big film about a woman�s right to find companionship with or without her darling daughter�s approval. The film�s main dramatic tension converges on the daughter�s character.
The underrated and under-used Swara Bhaskar is a revelation as the young girl grappling with reality. That Farooque�s character isn�t trying to take the place of Amaya�s father is a realization that sinks into her consciousness after a painful process of self-exploration. On Swara, hinges the film�s final impact. She holds up the film most ably.
The writing by Geeta Singh is never extravagant. Temperance is lavishly exercised in the way the characters express themselves. Some of the scenes are brilliant in their muted emotional content. Farooque�s forgetfulness, his relationship with an old watch-repairman in a crowded bylane of old Delhi, and his inability to locate the watch maker�s address in time to meet the old wise man before his death, become symbolical of every individual�s hit-and-miss encounter with life�s most cherishable moments.
Blessedly, the film doesn�t take itself overly seriously. There are some genuinely funny moments in the narration. The scene where Deepti�s new NRI friend drops in announced in the rains, is hilarious for the confusion that Farooque�s role in her life creates in the minds of the outsiders.
Somewhere, �Listen... Amaya� tells us that the relationships that we form in the journey of life don�t need to conform to any individual�s definition. That to go with the flow is not just desirable; it is also the only way to enjoy what destiny serves up.
�Listen... Amaya� is a touching peek into the heart-breaking boundaries to find comfort and love. If the film�s main protagonists are not beyond reproach, it is because no one is immune to love.
Talking about the food in Listen Amaya, you will notice Amaya cooking Biryani for her mom remembering the way her father used to make this popular Indian dish.
For marination:
3/4 cup� � � � � � � � �Thick Yogurt
8-10� � � � � � � � � � �Green Chillis, make a small slit in them
1 1/2 tbsp� � � � � � �Ginger Garlic Paste
To taste� � � � � � � � Red Chilli Powder
1/4 tsp� � � � � � � � � Turmeric Powder
3/4 tbsp� � � � � � � � Coriander Powder
1/2 cup� � � � � � � � �Chopped Coriander Leaves
3/4 cup� � � � � � � � �Mint Leaves
1 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Lemon Juice
1 3/4 tsp� � � � � � � �Salt
Biryani Masala, make powder:
8� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cloves
1��� � � � � � � � � � � � Cinnamon Stick
4� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cardamom
3/4 tsp� � � � � � � � � Shahi Jeera
12� � � � � � � � � � � � Pepper Corns
Ingredients to cook rice:
4 cups� � � � � � � � � �Basmati rice
6� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cloves
3� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cardamoms
1��� � � � � � � � � � � � �Cinnamon Stick
3� � � � � � � � � � � � � Bay Leaves
1� � � � � � � � � � � � � Star Anise
10� � � � � � � � � � � � Mint Leaves
1 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Oil
1 1/2 tbsp� � � � � � �Salt
As required� � � � � � Water
Method
The daughter�s reaction is one of disbelief and denial. The plot doesn�t get stuck on the stunned. The sensibly-written film takes us through the daughter Amaya�s journey from an outright rejection of a new life for her mother to a gradual realization that love or companionship don�t have to strike at any specific age of phase in a woman�s life.
Both Farooque and Deepti confer a layer of profound sensitivity to this little-big film about a woman�s right to find companionship with or without her darling daughter�s approval. The film�s main dramatic tension converges on the daughter�s character.
The underrated and under-used Swara Bhaskar is a revelation as the young girl grappling with reality. That Farooque�s character isn�t trying to take the place of Amaya�s father is a realization that sinks into her consciousness after a painful process of self-exploration. On Swara, hinges the film�s final impact. She holds up the film most ably.
The writing by Geeta Singh is never extravagant. Temperance is lavishly exercised in the way the characters express themselves. Some of the scenes are brilliant in their muted emotional content. Farooque�s forgetfulness, his relationship with an old watch-repairman in a crowded bylane of old Delhi, and his inability to locate the watch maker�s address in time to meet the old wise man before his death, become symbolical of every individual�s hit-and-miss encounter with life�s most cherishable moments.
Blessedly, the film doesn�t take itself overly seriously. There are some genuinely funny moments in the narration. The scene where Deepti�s new NRI friend drops in announced in the rains, is hilarious for the confusion that Farooque�s role in her life creates in the minds of the outsiders.
Somewhere, �Listen... Amaya� tells us that the relationships that we form in the journey of life don�t need to conform to any individual�s definition. That to go with the flow is not just desirable; it is also the only way to enjoy what destiny serves up.
�Listen... Amaya� is a touching peek into the heart-breaking boundaries to find comfort and love. If the film�s main protagonists are not beyond reproach, it is because no one is immune to love.
Talking about the food in Listen Amaya, you will notice Amaya cooking Biryani for her mom remembering the way her father used to make this popular Indian dish.
Chicken Dum Biryani
Marination: 4 hrs Prep & Cooking: 1 hr Serves 6-7 persons
Ingredients 1 kg� � � � � � � � � � � Chicken, washed and drained completely 2 Large� � � � � � � � �Onions, finely sliced 2 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Chopped Coriander Leaves 1 tsp� � � � � � � � � � �Saffron 1/2 cup� � � � � � � � �Luke Warm Milk To taste� � � � � � � � Salt 2 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Ghee 5 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Oil
For marination:
3/4 cup� � � � � � � � �Thick Yogurt
8-10� � � � � � � � � � �Green Chillis, make a small slit in them
1 1/2 tbsp� � � � � � �Ginger Garlic Paste
To taste� � � � � � � � Red Chilli Powder
1/4 tsp� � � � � � � � � Turmeric Powder
3/4 tbsp� � � � � � � � Coriander Powder
1/2 cup� � � � � � � � �Chopped Coriander Leaves
3/4 cup� � � � � � � � �Mint Leaves
1 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Lemon Juice
1 3/4 tsp� � � � � � � �Salt
Biryani Masala, make powder:
8� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cloves
1��� � � � � � � � � � � � Cinnamon Stick
4� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cardamom
3/4 tsp� � � � � � � � � Shahi Jeera
12� � � � � � � � � � � � Pepper Corns
Ingredients to cook rice:
4 cups� � � � � � � � � �Basmati rice
6� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cloves
3� � � � � � � � � � � � � Cardamoms
1��� � � � � � � � � � � � �Cinnamon Stick
3� � � � � � � � � � � � � Bay Leaves
1� � � � � � � � � � � � � Star Anise
10� � � � � � � � � � � � Mint Leaves
1 tbsp� � � � � � � � � �Oil
1 1/2 tbsp� � � � � � �Salt
As required� � � � � � Water
Method
- Marinate chicken with the ingredients called for �marination� along with biryani masala powder. Keep aside for 4 hrs or a min of 1 1/2 hrs. While the chicken is marinating, work on the rest of the preparation.
- Cook basmati rice in lots of water along with bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, oil, salt till its half cooked. Strain the water and spread the rice on a large wide plate.
- Allow to cool.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil + 1 tbsp ghee in a vessel, add sliced onions, saut� for 8-10 minutes till caramelized. Remove and keep aside.
- Add the saffron to the luke warm milk and combine well. Keep aside.
- Take a wide deep vessel to prepare the biryani. Add 3 tbsp oil, add the marinated chicken and spread out over the vessel. Cook on high for 2 minutes. Add a tbsp of oil over the chicken pieces. Reduce flame.
- Spread half of the rice over the chicken layer, pour half a tbsp of ghee all over the rice, add half of the caramelized onions and spread over the rice. Next sprinkle a tbsp of coriander leaves and pour about one fourth cup of saffron milk over the rice. Over this layer, spread the remaining rice. Again pour half a tbsp of ghee all over, add remaining caramelized onions and spread over the rice. Finally sprinkle a tbsp of coriander leaves and pour remaining saffron milk over the rice.
- Place lid and over the lid place a heavy weight and seal the edges with wheat dough. Cook on high flame for 2 minutes. Remove the vessel from the stove and place an iron tawa. Allow to heat. Reduce to low flame and place back the biryani vessel on the iron tawa and cook biryani for 20-25 minutes. Turn off heat and do not remove lid for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove lid, combine gently and serve hot with raita of your choice
