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“Photograph” Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh; directed by Ritesh Batra
Director Ritesh Batra’s 2013 critically acclaimed debut feature “The Lunchbox” was sublime. Expectations are high for “Photograph,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The premise is straightforward. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays Rafi, a struggling street photographer, capturing memories for visitors of Mumbai’s landmarks. His ailing grandmother, back in his hometown, has one desire, to see her grandson married while she is still breathing. One day Rafi takes a picture of a shy young girl and events unfold such that he convinces her to pose as his fiancée when his beloved grandmother arrives. Last seen in “Badhaai Ho,” Sanya Malhotra plays Miloni, the shy stranger, a bright, dedicated student studying to be a chartered accountant. 
The two lives intersect in Mumbai and they just go with the flow. Despite vast cultural differences, the pair develops a surprising connection that challenges their worldviews in unexpected ways in this wistful and often funny romance written and directed by Batra. The talented Siddiqui plays Rafi with a quiet strength and Sanya Malhotra proves her acting range with each character she takes on. Relax and enjoy the pacing when you watch this, if you enjoyed “The Lunchbox,” you won’t be disappointed. Batra also directed “Our Souls at Night,” based on Kent Haruf’s novel, starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, which is on Netflix.