Pressured by his grandmother to get married, a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee. They soon develop an unexpected bond that transforms both of them in ways they could not have imagined.
Photograph is an Indian romance-drama (dromance?) directed by Ritesh Batra, who had previously directed The Lunchbox. This is a quintessential example of a real coming-of-age love story. Not real as in it is based on a true story, but it isn't over glamorised with overconfident characters that fall madly in love with each other. Photograph has all of the nerves, awkwardness, and social pressures that make this one of the most relatable romances written into film.
The premise itself sounds generic, the execution so much more; this is not a traditional love story, in fact, it almost goes completely against the grain of how a formulaic love story is written. The subtlety of the experience and the missed signals leave you questioning whether this relationship will even work out. As is to be expected, our two "lovers" are categorically opposed; different social classes, education levels, religions, skin colours. It's that wide expanse of difference that allows our characters to discover the intriguing ways of connecting to overcome the imbalance, with Batra's focus on the small details in the screenplay really bringing authenticity to the screen.
The relatable characters are the biggest strength of the film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays Rafi, whose responsible nature and honour make him an ideal sympathetic protagonist. Taking the debts of the family on his own shoulders, working harder than necessary to try and return the family to a past level of austerity. As such he pushes away tradition refusing to marry, much to the chagrin of Dadi (Rafi's grandmother, portrayed by Farrukh Jaffar) his goal making him blind to anything not directly related to it. Dadi is the matriarch of the family and is constantly pushing for Rafi to marry (he is the last grandchild that remains unwed), a constant thorn in his side. This leads to the deception that involves Miloni (portrayed by Sanya Malhotra), the middle-class educated woman, who is as soft-spoken, submissive, and introverted as they come.
The interactions between these three characters manage to turn this slow burn into a scintillating "will they, won't they" drama, full of tension. The pacing is the film is something that cannot be overstated. This is no energetic whirlwind romance, the pacing is so measured that it captures the intimacy and tenderness of the characters alongside a melancholic aura that pervades throughout the majority of the film.
You can't talk about Photograph without mentioning the cinematography and its setting. Set in Mumbai, cinematographers Tim Gillis and Ben Kutchins do an incredible job at bringing across this bustling city that never stops moving, to create that feeling of isolation when you are completely surrounded by people. The colour-grading nicely juxtaposes our two protagonists living situations, whilst bringing warmth to the city.
Photograph is a curious beast. The performances feel repressed, with a lot more emphasis on actions and expressions than dialogue, and yet this subdued approach creates such emotional heights that work so effectively. An absolute treasure that tugs on those heart strings.