Chillar Party

A gang of kids in a Mumbai housing society take in a boy who survives by washing cars, and his street dog with him. Then a politician demands that the dogs be cleared out of the compound. The children's answer becomes a serious campaign: petitions, protests, media, and an eye on the coming election. Its good idea is setting a children's game directly against politics. The opposition is not an evil monster but an ordinary man counting votes, and that is precisely the opening the children use. Nitesh Tiwari and Vikas Bahl directed. It was named best children's film at the fifty ninth National Film Awards, where the best original screenplay prize also went to Tiwari, Vijay Maurya and Bahl, and the nine child actors shared the best child artist award. Its flaws are length, over two hours being long for a children's film, repeated joke patterns in the middle, and an ending pitched too hard. Who it is for: viewers who like Indian films led by children. Who it is not for: anyone wanting a short, brisk family film.