December was a bad month for Indian Art and culture. Two legends of the Indian entertainment industry left us. We were mourning the death of Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain when we received the news of the death of veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal. He was the patriarch of Indian parallel cinema and was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, and 18 National Film Awards. Shyam Benegal’s movies played a major role in the parallel cinema movement in India.

Shyam Benegal’s films brilliantly portray social complexities and the resilience of the human spirit. Ankur, Nishant, Mandi, Manthan, Zubeidaa, and many more are testaments to this. So much has been said about these films. I believe one Shyam Benegal film that has not received its due love is – Well Done Abba. As a tribute to him, I watched it again, I had seen it a couple of times earlier and loved it. I enjoyed watching it once again.

Set in a small village inhabited by colourful characters, Well Done Abba is a treat to watch. It is a political satire that is as relevant today as it was, when it was released in 2009. It has been adapted from a short story, Narsayyan ki bavdi written by Jeelani Bano. This is the story of a semi-literate, mild-mannered chauffeur Arman Ali, played by Boman Irani and his daughter Muskaan played by Minissha Lamba. Their village is drought-ridden, water is so precious that it cannot be shared even with the thirsty rickshaw-wala who brought Arman Ali home. Arman Ali comes across a hoarding promoting a government scheme, inviting people to dig wells with official loans. He has to bribe every officer, from the sarpanch to the municipal authorities, to the public works department. Even the photographer demands his pound of flesh. After all the efforts, his well is completed, only in the government papers, not in his field. The story is full of funny incidents. Armaan Ali realises the power of an upcoming election, the RTI Act, and the media. He gives the perpetrators a taste of their own medicine. The well that never existed is reported as stolen in police files, and everyone involved is questioned. The state legislature debates a stolen well. The film points out the bureaucratic corruption that hijacks government schemes for the underprivileged. The film tells about shams in the name of women’s empowerment through Panchayati Raj. It shows that their chauvinistic husbands grab and misuse their constitutional power and position.

The characters are quirky, loveable and relatable. Boman Irani is brilliant as always. It seems like the role was written for him. Arman Ali’s daughter Muskaan, is beautifully played by Minissha Lamba. Sameer Dattani plays the role of her love interest. Their romance progresses with the film and after a few hiccups, ends on a happy note. Arman Ali’s twin brother’s wife, played very well by Ila Arun, adds fun to the plot. The rural setting is so real. Shyam Benegal has captured the Hyderabadi culture well. The music is in sync with the film. It is not a regressive film, Arman Ali is a progressive father who cares for his daughter. Boman Irani is excellent, like always. It is a well-crafted clever political satire. It exposes so much without being over the top, or jingoist even once.

Well Done Abba is cinema well done. It won the 2009 National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues.

Thank you Shyam Benegal Sahab, you will live in the hearts of your fans forever.