Margarita with a Straw

Plot synopsis:
Laila (Kalki Koechelin) is a teenager with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. She is a student at Delhi University and an aspiring writer who writes lyrics and creates electronic sounds for an indie band at the university. Laila falls for the lead singer of the college band and is heartbroken when she is rejected.
She soon overcomes this phase, when she gets a scholarship for a semester at New York University and moves there with her traditional Maharashtrian mother Shubhangini(Revathi). Living in Manhattan, she meets an attractive young man named Jared (William Moseley) in her creative writing class, who is assigned to help her in typing. She also meets the fiery young activist Khanum (Sayani Gupta), a blind girl of a Pakistani Bangladeshi descent, whom she later falls in love with. As she embarks on a journey of sexual discovery, she figures out she is bisexual, as she feels attracted to men like Jared while also being with Khanum. She has sex with Jared and she doesn't tell Khanum. Laila's mother, believing the two are like best friends and oblivious to the fact that Khanum is her daughter's lover, invites her to Delhi to spend the winter break with the family. It is during that time that Laila finds the courage to tell her mother about her sexuality and her relationship with Khanum, which her mother initially disapproves. She also tells Khanum that she had sex with Jared and asks her to forgive her. Khanum thinks that she was being used by Laila and leaves her.
After a short while Laila's mother falls sick and she learns that her mother had fourth stage colon cancer which has fallen into relapse after previous treatments. Later Laila and her mother patch up and come to terms with each other. After her mother dies Laila plays a recorded speech at her mother's funeral telling how much she loved her and how she was the only one who ever understood her.
The story ends with Laila going on a date, with herself, signifying that she now has taken control of her life and doesn't need anyone else to love and care for her. The movie revolves around very delicate aspects of this modern life and teaching society how its better to adhere and accept the changing rituals.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Demonstrating Kalki's extraordinary acting ability.The story was very precious and demonstrated how somebody with the lead characters challenges still strives to have a normal life.
And id doing so it became apparent that even with her physical disability she is able to lead a normal and filling life.Possibly even more so then people who are able bodied.It we actually a very beautiful film.
I will definitely see another Kalki Koechlin film and I can only hope that it is as good as Margarita with a Straw..
'Chune Chali Aasma' singing in my mind, with a subtle smile on my face; gratified and moved, I walk down the stairs of the multiplex.A fantastic story, elegantly told, powerfully acted and excellently directed is something, I would refer to as VARANASI (a dialog in the film), which is lot of noise but in peace, if nothing else.This Margarita is spilt all over me; and is definitely intoxicating.
MargaritaWithAStraw In a society where disability has always been invisible and unable to provide for differently-abled people, MWAS is refreshing movie that throws light on the very fact that they are there to be found, normal like us.Many pluses to the film; exceptional heart wrecking story, which is at the same time elevating, keeps you smiling all the time.
There is some very modern and captivating music, beautiful lyrics, aptly lensed and direction is splendid.There is a scene in the movie where the band performs "Dusokute" (which means in her eyes in Assamese - a rock piece by joi barua) which Laila writes & composes, wins an inter collage competition.
While they announce the trophy with a special reference to the disability but for ability of Laila, the expression Kalki delivers and that rage in her action, made me shed my first tear.Where our writers sometimes fail to execute one just challenge or difficulty to the protagonist effectively, Margarita's script writer and director have convincingly put in multiple challenges.
A teenager, Laila (Kalki Koechin) on wheelchair with cerebral palsy, aspiring writer and musician, a normal middle class family, studies abroad, a blind pakistani gay girlfriend (foreign balamwa), mother's cancer, her raging hormones and zeel for life and the count goes on.....whuff !!!
Well balanced characters with their unique sketches, interestingly woven and patterned.Alongside, Kalki, the film puts the spotlight on, Sayani Gupta, who plays Khanum, her blind lover from Pakistan with whom Laila embarks on an intriguing journey of sexual discovery.
There are interesting intimate scenes in the movie, which have been edited without any background score (very unlikely approach), are bang on.Laila's mother (Revathi), reflecting the undying attitude of a mother towards her child, is a cancer patient.
In one of the scenes Laika speaks -Everyone has mother, but she has an aadat ...and that made me drop a tear, yet again .The protagonist 'Kalki' is absolutely brilliant as Laila; convincingly powerful and award worthy.
Margarita's on-screen depiction of homosexuality, or of disabled people having sex for that matter, in Indian cinema is very brave.
A big movie ,especially , for the ones with human rights and gay and lesbian genre.I am, kind of ,short of praises for such a bold, proactive film about disability and of course coming out, which is an integral part of this story.
Imagine the joy when you surmount a big challenge, see a majestic bird soar into the heavens or see someone living big despite a lot of odds!I was frankly delightfully numbed by the overall story of this movie, the authentic act by the overall cast, especially Kalki.
The subtle-yet-bold performance from Kalki & her journey of discovering her sexual choices is substantial & heart-warming at the same time.
This film teaches us that irrespective of whatever condition you are born with- being blind or having cerebral palsy or whatever event happens in your life which changes your life's circumstance, you should attempt to not be low on self confidence and self esteem and you have every right to command respect as an individual in your own right, have fun in your own way ie whatever your natural self desires to do and have a positive attitude to everything in life.
The film specifically reveals the reality of natural sexual desire which is there in all human beings but that desire can be anything and being a homosexual, lesbian or bisexual isn't really a crime as many think of it but is an individual preference.
There is nothing wrong in that as thats probably wired into our brains but on thinking we should be able to accept what is not normal as well and let individuals just BE!Overall good acting by Kalki and a good watch..
After watching this movie, I am seriously having a hard time believing that Kalki DOES NOT HAVE cerebral palsy in real life.
20 minutes in, I completely forgot that I was watching a movie and not a real life portrayal of a person.
Margarita, with a Straw (2014) is an Indian film written and directed by Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar.
Kalki Koechlin plays Laila, an intelligent young woman who is gifted in many ways.
She's fiercely independent, but her cerebral palsy keeps getting in the way of her life.Ultimately, Laila moves to NYC, to go to college.
My compliments to her on her great performance!We saw this movie on the large screen as part of ImageOut, the superb Rochester LGBT Film Festival.
#MargaritaWithAStraw : A Sonali Bose film, starring Kalki Koechlin, Revathi & Sayani Gupta.
The film describes an abnormal person's life, her relationship with her mom, her boyfriend, her normal friends, her foreign tour, her classmate, her gay partner, & at last with her, too.
It's been a long time I didn't follow the update of Bollywood movies since the era of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. So yeah, it's no wonder I've never heard of Kalki Koechlin and any other casts, except maybe the one who played as Laila's mother.
I hope I can watch it soon enough.This movie doesn't only cover about the everyday life of a person with a cerebral palsy, but also about her sexual life.
Having read through the reviews at this movie I am amazed that some people felt the lead character was a nasty/selfish person.
Those people who wrote these reviews seemed to think badly of Kalki's character simply because of some of the ways she behaved - as though 'disabled' people are supposed to behave by some kind of superior set of values.
To those people I suggest you watch it again and see her as a human being and realize she IS more than her disabilities.Personally, I found it to be a superb movie.
There were some seriously strong performances and not just from Kalki Koechlin who, quite frankly, deserves an Oscar for her performance.There's so much to like about this film and so little to dislike and it is very thought-provoking, which has to be a good thing.
A truly brave and brilliant story to explore and overcome different situation of life especially when the world does not consider as 'normal'.
The plot of movie revolves around an Indian girl with cerebral palsy comes to US for her studies and tries to find way to lead her life.
It shows how situation acts differently on a mind of self- fighting disabled person who strives for a normal life.
A beautifully written movie with powerful story line and brilliant cast (Kalki, No one can do this better than you!!) which make us think about the difficulty of lives and delicate emotions of a significant part of population.
when the whole world goes out for several campaigns to support people who are bisexual, homosexual, this movie speaks out beautiful about just being who you are and to be happy just the way you are.
And Kalki's National-Award Winning Performance, Inspires.'Margarita, with a Straw' Synopsis: A rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy leaves her home in India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love, and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.'Margarita, with a Straw' is about Laila, rebellious young woman, who lives her life with courage & bluntness.
As Laila, Kalki is courageous, fierce & affecting, delivering an inspiring performance from start to end.
Probable Repercussions in India: We are already aware of the atrocities that go on in asylums or in clinics/ homes where physically disabled children and adults live – like their parents or relatives arrange to keep them in an environment where similar people live and they can befriend each other and spend time.I have read in many magazines as to how the poor girls & boys (mentally challenged, genetically handicapped etc.) are molested/ raped by the care-takers themselves (some care takers not all of course)!
Praising the big progressive leap taken by Hindi Cinema with MARGARITA WITH A STRAW, we first need to thank the entire talented team behind its making and then the Censor Board too for being understanding & kind enough to allow such honest depiction on screen, that is certainly bold enough for a Hindi film made on the life events of a differently abled young girl ready to discover herself.Elaborating on the theme further, there have been few Hindi films in the past based on related subjects like BARFI, PAA, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR, LAFANGE PARINDEY, MY NAME IS KHAN, EESHWAR, SADMA and more.
But there never has been a film dealing with the emotional and sexual desires of a confident, young, college going girl suffering from 'Cerebral palsy', featuring few amazingly truthful intimate scenes shot sincerely.In more appreciative words, MARGARITA WITH A STRAW is one of those rarest Hindi films (probably the only one), that effectively portrays the passionate (sexual) conflicts faced by its lead (differently abled) female character with a remarkable simplicity, at your face honesty and no hiding attitude at all, not looking for any kind of pity or sympathy from the audience.
The film is indeed a triumph achieved by Shonali Bose and her co-director Nilesh Maniyar, as another adorable project (post her AMU in 2005) for which she can truly feel proud along with her dear cousin, who happens to be the basic inspiration behind Laila.Revolving around Laila's courageous journey to know more about herself and her bisexual identity, the complex character has been perfectly lived by Kalki Koechlin on screen with an astonishing authenticity in her disability in speech, awkward hand movements and tilting of the head, easily slipping into the body of her given character so amazingly.
Particularly I loved watching her in the scene where she doesn't like the way lady attendant ties the hair of Kalki so casually and hence gets up and ties them again after properly combing as soon as the attendant moves out of the room.
Cinematography captures both the light and emotional moments of the script beautifully and thus is able to make an instant connection with the viewers through all its realistically chosen frames and soft lights.Tackling a 'never discussed before' kind of subject about the natural sexual desires in differently abled people, Shonali Bose once again forces us to think that why no one dared to bring out this theme from the closet till now?
However, that's what I exactly look upon as a flaw in its execution frankly, since the film doesn't have any place for sadness at all which actually makes it look more superficial or even unbelievable at times as per my personal opinion.Yes the writer-director does try to bring in those introspective moments in the concluding half an hour with a tragedy happening all of a sudden resulting in a deafening silence all around.
But then again soon returns to the same lively mood in the climax, ending it all on an extremely positive note with the cheerful Laila holding her margarita with a straw.Summing it all, I did love the film a lot from heart for all its delightful moments focusing on the ever smiling Laila.
But perhaps since I sincerely wished to cry with the lady too feeling her inner conflicts fighting with the able world around, I found that much needed sorrow simply missing in the daringly made film putting it honestly.Anyway, ignoring this personal opinion of mine, do watch and enjoy the lively world of LAILA becoming a part of this new-age cinematic revolution tried by the exceptional creators.
I personally understood a few things better about cerebral palsy after I saw this film, and that has made an impression on me.
I wondered, too, why the main characters had to experience a full hand of exceptional circumstances—being affected by cerebral palsy, she is bisexual, her romantic partner is blind, and her mother is in a serious situation.
As for the acting, kudos to just about everyone.I was pleasantly surprised that the tiresome Hindi film style of portraying a person with disablities was entirely dropped, and the director wisely avoided histrionics.
For the first time in the history of Indian Films comes a movie that explores the desires, feelings and sexual expressions of people with disability, it speaks for how they think of themselves as no different or lesser beings, more so because they would have already overcome the disabilities that other hold on to.
This movie has nothing to offer other than about the selfishness of a disabled woman and how she treats other people like garbage.
Directors: Shonali Bose, Nilesh Maniyar Writers: Shonali Bose (story), Nilesh Maniyar, 1 more credit » Stars: Kalki Koechlin, Revathy, Sayani Gupta | See full cast and crew ».
This story is not about how a girl with palsy faces different situations of life ,we may find some parts relating to that ..but the main plot is all about the significance of sex in life..and the good thing is every character reacts very well to this taboo kind of thing...yes sex is taboo in India ...you agree or not..direction is inexplicably well...and in acting you see a line a boundary which will soon transcend the old fashioned Indian cinema...the mother in this movie whom you might find very understanding creates an atmosphere of learning for all those who have gone through this situation...Change always create some disturbance ..tolerance and patience is must required..
She is musically talented, as is her mother (Revathy) and falls for someone normally abled in her band, with an imminent heartbreak in sight.Discovering one's sexuality and identity in a teenage environment is itself an involving affair; add to it the the burden of social stigma that comes with such visible anomalies.Laila moves to US on a scholarship, along with her mother, where she meets Khanum (Sayani Gupta), a blind gay girl who has come out of the closet, and a cute writing assistant (William Moseley); and entangles herself between her relations with all of them.Whatever written up to here might suggest you a melodramatic, graphic, sad or too alienating an experience.
It might suggest you that it might be a movie for ones with the less digestible tastes in cinema.This, by all means is a celebration of life, and a story of acceptance of one's own identity, though presented through someone with more visible issues, but something that is a constant struggle of all of us.The scenes where she comes out to her mother, and the passive aggressive talks that ensue, the intimate scenes with Khanum, or when she approaches the shopkeeper for a sex toy, are subtle and brilliant.
Bathrooms and toilets play an important part in the narrative – revelations – personal and social come from situations in these places of privacy – acceptance of one's fate, discovering secrets, one's or others', and turning points in relationships, and building of a bond, of love, motherly or otherwise.It beautifully highlights how a different sexual orientation is nothing more than an anomaly for our Indian settings, much alike Cerebral Palsy.
And it surprised me; the metaphor in her choice may be unrealistic at first, and but she discovers her sanity in a world that keeps challenging her sanity.It's a blessing, this movie, though I am sad this shall get washed down among all the the other releases this week, when people shall get busier watching costume clad heroes fighting with the same one- liners, seen and discussed 100 of times on the net.In love with Kalki..
Journey of Laila, a girl with Cerebral Palsy trough obstacles in life, through different phases of love, different orientation of sexuality and music that encircles her life like a bunch of flower.Beautifully written and treated with tenderness, this film can give you the feeling of emancipation , an hour without the target pressure , maybe something more.
Amazing performances by Kalki Koechin,Sayani Gupta , Revathy which actually keep the pace of the film , or maybe the binding energy of it.
p.s.- Some people are saying that this movie is a slow pace and lagging most of the time .I must reply to them that all great arts in this earth are slow,tender and are told in a murmuring tone.Have a margarita with a straw.
The relationships throughout the film are well-defined, from the father who initially seems stubborn and a bit detached to the beautiful (inside and out) mother to the very modern younger brother to the boys who either love or break Kalki's heart.
The film tells a different story of a girl who has celebral palsy and later she comes to know that she is a transgender which is very unique for bollywood.
Kudos to the team who went deeply into the hearts of the physically and mentally disabled people for knowing their life.
Some people choose their life in their own way and some don't have choices Kalki a talented music composer is very confused in her relationship being a mentally challenged girl all she wants who should take proper care of her.
Kalki a brave character tells the world even a gay or a lesbian or a normal person carry emotions with them.
Matured acting , brilliant direction and superb star cast made the movie worth watching at the theatre.