When grief beats down on us, we often tend to pause, ponder and take refuge. Delhi girl Nia (Dheera Johnson) did the same. After facing a traumatic incident in her life, Nia desperately needed some time out, and so she headed to her parents’ holiday home in the Himalayas. The thick of winter and spotty mobile phone reception meant she could barely connect with the rest of the world. While her folks made frantic attempts from the city to understand why their daughter made a sudden trip to the mountains, the caretakers of the creaky wooden cottage and an accidental purring companion helped her heal in silence. Writer-director Subhadra Mahajan’s debut feature film Second Chance, which was recently honoured with the ‘Best Screenplay’ award at the New York Indian Film Festival, is a powerful nod to slow cinema. The drama film had its world premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2024, followed by screenings at the 28th Busan International Film Festival and AFI Fest in Sao Paulo, among others.
STORY: After her boyfriend Kabir (Surya Rishi Anand) stopped returning her calls and messages, Nia panicked, took two abortion pills and left town. Dejected and clueless, she rambled around the icy cold terrains of the Pir Panjal range for days on end. She was barely speaking to anyone, smoked cigarettes incessantly and kept returning the meal trays that caretaker Raju (Rajesh Kumar) brought to her every morning and evening without having a bite. Of course, she couldn’t reveal the secret to her parents, but she did try to confide in her sister. When none of that brought her comfort, she unwittingly turned to Mother Earth for empathy. Gazing at snowdrifts, riding her old bicycle, napping by the stream and gently feeling the craggy rocks and wild flowers calmed her nerves during the day, while she tucked in the comfort of warm blankets and repeated after a hooting owl on sleepless nights. When Raju had to travel to a nearby town for a few days, Nia began acquainting with his mother-in-law Bhemiji (Thakri Devi) and ‘Superman’ son Sunny (Kanav Thakur). She would exchange pleasantries with the 70-year-old woman and relish her homemade Himachali Siddus. Meanwhile, playing cricket with the eight-year-old boy, who aspired to become an astronaut, became her daily ritual.
Then one day, an old flame pulled up at her doorstep, annoyingly distracting her from her quietude. Although awkward, Nia was not completely averse to attending a small party at his house. She was even pleased by his wife Veda’s (Tarini Sud) hospitality. Rudra (Sahurya Bastola) reminded her of love for movement arts. “I have always thought you would be a dancer,” he said. On her mother’s insistence, ‘coffee person’ Nia was lately pursuing a homegrown business in vegan clothing and tea curation. Back in the cottage, she was handed over the custody of a kitten (Yuki), whom Sunny named ‘Supercat’. Amid the unplanned days, transient joyfulness and silences, Nia was slowly healing and restoring her inner strength. She felt a certain reawakening that gave her hope – that all is not lost yet.
Simply speaking to Bhemiji and watching her carry on with her day-to-day chores even as temperatures plummeted was deeply therapeutic for Nia. The elderly woman was skilled at the nimble art of knitting, while she could also prepare delicious onion fritters in a jiffy. Together with the grandmother and grandson, she made trips to the chowk, enjoyed momos at a hillside eatery and discussed the legend of Dhruvti Devi – a revered goddess of the valley. Down in the dumps, Nia found Bhemiji’s motherly embrace compassionate and soul-nurturing. Even though they hardly knew each other, Nia’s secret was safe with Bhemiji. They both were discretely dealing with a traumatic loss in their own lives.
REVIEW: The director’s profoundly observant style of storytelling is the real hero of Second Chance – a Latent Pictures and Metanormal Motion Pictures production, created in association with Bridge PostWorks and Moonweave Films. Shot is black and white, Subhadra gracefully mutes the colours of the majestic natural backdrop to turn up the focus on tender human emotions. Almost every sequence in the movie is immersive and engaging. Dialogues are minimal, yet the frames speak volumes. DOP Swapnil Suhas Sonawane’s brilliant cinematography and Anirban Borthakur’s gripping sound design thoughtfully follows the narrative, not to forget the crisp editing by Tinni Mitra.
By turns intimate and transcendental, the film feels like a sojourn of the soul. That said, it also raises subtle alarms about the shift in global climate and how it is impacting the Himalayan communities. The shepherd (Ganga Ram), who seems to be eternally in awe of Bhemiji’s housewifery flair, calls upon the deities of the high mountains to bless their land. Speaking of the cast, newcomer Dheera charms with her reticent yet well-articulated portrayal of Nia’s inner turmoil, emotional descent and delicate rebounding. Kanav, as the innocent and mischievous Sunny, is clearly the heartbeat of the film. But mostly, it’s the benevolent character of Bhemiji, beautifully essayed by first-time actor Thakri, that nudges you to rethink your responses in the face of adversities. A meditation on hope and perseverance, her performance leaves a mark on the audience.
VERDICT: A Platoon One Films release, Second Chance is an ode to womanhood and the fortitude she displays at every bend of life. Equal parts poetic and poignant, the 104-minute film is compelling to say the least. It absorbs you with its grit to reimagine moments of grief and pain in Indian cinema. But more importantly, Second Chance is a wonderfully acted movie. It’s inspiring to witness an all-new cast deliver a tricky mandate in such a nuanced manner. A relevant piece of art for our times, the movie strikes up a conversation about the myths and taboos surrounding abortion and childbirth. Oftentimes, even ‘well-educated’ women are found to be unaware of how they can access professional help during such difficult moments. Without mincing words, the narrative summons you to rethink social norms that urgently need an overhaul. Keen-eyed, fierce and relatable, independent filmmaker Subhadra Mahajan’s debut feature is a must watch!
Second Chance
Writer and director: Subhadra Mahajan
Cast: Dheera Johnson, Thakri Devi, Kanav Thakur, Rajesh Kumar, Ganga Ram, Sahurya Bastola and Tarini Sud
Cinematographer: Swapnil Suhas Sonawane
Sound Designer: Anirban Borthakur
Editor: Tinni Mitra
Rating: 4 stars
