Five neglected performances of 2019

Okay, we all loved Ayushman Khurrana in Bala and Article 15. And Ranveer Singh knocked the ball out of the park in Gully Boy. But some of the finest performances of the year barely got noticed.

Here are the ones that got my attention in spite of not being central to the plot.

Ranveer Shorey in Sonechiriya: Some of our actors are so inured in brilliance we’ve ceased to notice their power. Ranveer Shorey is one of them. He just blends into the bleeding colours of brilliancy in this exceptional film set in the dark desperate world of dacoits in the confounding ravines of the Chambal valley. By singling out Shorey’s brilliance I don’t mean to undermine the other performers, most of whom are so skillfully effective, they seem to have been born in the hungering shadows of their ever-renewable excellence.

Mohit Raina in Uri: Raina wrestled with many demons to make his presence felt in his big-screen debut. To begin with, he had to break free of the image of Lord Shiva whom he played on television for years. This, he did most successfully by an entire makeover of his body language. Then in a film where the relentless focus is on Vicky Kaushal, Mohit scored in a brief role.

He came, he conquered and died midway. But he left a lingering afterglow in the script. A performance that is admirable for not coming out of a place of showing off, but the opposite.

Vineet Kumar Singh in Saand Ki Aankh: In a film that focused relentlessly on the two sharpshooting 60-plus sirens, Vineet had a thankless role as their coach. It was a treat to see how this very talented actor transformed a run-of-the-mill routine role into something special, something enormously empathetic without getting syrupy.

Sikandar Kher In RAW: Sikander as a vicious Pakistani armyman scored an unnoticed triumph. The action is visceral swift and decisive. After seeing a torture scene you will never be able to listen to the beloved Nani teri morni ko more le gayi as a children’s song. Most of the brutality converges on the character of the Pakistani colonel played by Sikander Kher who exudes a kind of unfettered sadism that can come into play anytime. Kher plays the dangerous unpredictable man with a snide swagger. He is just brilliant.

Kumud Mishra, Jimmy Sheirgil, Girish Kulkarni in P Se Pyar F Se Faraar: Okay, most moviegoers didn’t even hear of this film as it came and went without a sound. But here is cinema that showcases three outstanding actors of character who lend heft to whatever they do. Here they virtually lifted the film from the curse of inept debutants with performances that were long-legged, accomplished and powerful. About time we acknowledged our unsung heroes. Here were three of them.