Life is all about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward and savouring the journey. For, life has, for everyone, never been a bed of roses and honey alone. Each one of us, rich or poor, has faced ups and downs in life, and how we deal with them is what makes us, what shapes us. To be happy or depressed, thus is entirely in our hands. Salaam Venky directed by Revathy is an ode to one such person who, despite being inflicted with a life - threatening disease, never lets go of his never-say-die attitude. Kolavennu Venkatesh on whose life the film is based, in his death started a national debate that was relevant and thought provoking, and it helped change the course of law of land as regards Euthanasia. Years later, in a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India legalised passive euthanasia in 2018, stating that it was a matter of ‘living will’.

 

The plot of Salaam Venky revolves around Venkatesh aka Venky (Vishal Jethwa) who is suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative genetic disease, for which there is no cure. Standing beside him, supporting him deal with his ordeal is his courageous mother Sujata (Kajol). Venky, who often takes the course of humour to deal with what life has thrown at him, believes that ‘Zindagi lambi nahin, badi honi chahiye’, and his last wish is to donate his organs. For this he will have to take recourse of Euthanasia, which in our country is illegal. And that is what Salaam Venky looks at while bringing to life the true story of Venky and Sujata and their struggle to change the course of law so that ‘through his death, he can help others live.’ Helping the mother-son duo throughout the pain and anguish are many people - Dr Shekhar (Rajeev Khandelwal), Sharda (Riddhi Kapoor ) the loving sister who is a pillar to both Sujata and Venky, the visually impaired Nandini (Aneet) who has a special place in Venky's life, Parvez (Rahul Bose) the lawyer who fights Venky's case, Aahana Kumra the journalist who brings their ordeal into limelight, thus sparking a national debate.

 

Prakash Raaj is the Judge who will have the last word on this very important issue. While the first half brings to us the happy and sad moments of the mother-son duo, who are both fully aware what the end result is going to be, the second half is about Kajol’s tussle with the State to fulfill her son’s last wish - to donate his organs, so that others can live. Venky poignantly points at one point of time, “I don’t want to die, I want to live - through others, leaving a bit of me for my Amma.” Kajol, in the beginning is equally adamant with not agreeing with what Venky wants, and vehemently disagrees with him when he says, “I thought you were different.” “I am selfish, just like every mother and I want the best for my child,” is her contention, and the best is definitely not wishing him dead. If there’s one person who could have brought out the pathos and the immense suffering that a mother undergoes when she has to deal with something as tragic as seeing her son deteriorate slowly and steadily, knowing that the end is certain - it is none other than the talented powerhouse Kajol. Her expressive eyes do half the talking, and she wows the audience with her performance. Her teary-eyed performance brings on the lump and you forget that you are watching a movie - so real and relatable is her act. Kajol, as we all know, is a gifted artist and she brings magic to each role that she assays. The surprise package in Vishal Jethwa, who is a complete antithesis to his portrayal in Mardaani 2.

 

A boy with a sunny disposition, and a penchant for mouthing movie dialogues and being overly dramatic, he, as Venky, is simply sensational. He brings on the smiles and the tears in equal measure. We feel his anguish when he cries for his Amma, we smile when he mutters Palat Palat Palat to the love of his love - the visually disabled Nandini. Rahul Bose once again proves that whatever be the length of the role, he will leave his chaap. Ditto for Rajeev Khandelwal, who wins the hearts with his earnest portrayal. Aahana Kumra also get brownie points for the journalist who’d give everything for ‘breaking news’ but gets a change of heart on meeting the spirited happy-go-lucky guy who hasn’t let the disease get the upper hand. Amidst the copious flurry of tears comes a captivating melody Tere Hue Hum that is as brilliantly shot as it is sung.

 

This is one song straight from the heart, and in this heart-wrenching tale deserves a mention. Salaam Vishal, Salaam Kajol, but a standing ovation to director Revathy. For it is she who deserves the biggest applause - for two reasons - the subject that she chose to make the film which focuses the spotlight once again on a pertinent issue ‘Dignity to Die’; and for etching out the women characters so beautifully and in such great detail. Go watch - but don’t forget to take that large handkerchief - to wipe those tears that will flow freely when you are touched emotionally by the drama that unfolds on the big screen.