By: NITISH RAJ

PRODUCER & DIRECTOR: Govind Nihalani
CAST: Joy Sengupta, Kitu Gidwani, Aly Khan, Surekha
Deham is a futuristic film set in 2022. "In the 21st century the equation has reversed. Technology is challenging man. Let me see what you can imagine and I`ll give it right away, technology says.” This challenge fascinated the ace cameraman-turned-director Govind Nihalani an he went on to make Deham. Nihalani said on the eve of the film’s release, “I have made the film because I liked the subject. When I read the play Harvest (by Manjula Padmanabhan, on which Deham is based), I was struck by the originality of the concept. Even as a reader, I felt, oh my God, this is also possible. I liked the subtext, which is how the developing countries are going to deal with the influx of technology and also the assertion that we (the recipient) must not submit to technology like passive morons. The intended audience is certainly educated and English speaking”. And yes this is Deham for you…
Om Prakash (Joy Sengupta) lives with his wife Jaya (Kitu Gidwani), mother (Surekha) and younger brother (Aly Khan) as a tenant in a one-room house. Jobless Om, inspite of trying his best he is unable to get a job. At last, he gets an interview call for a job from a multinational company called Interplanta. The deal multinational company offers is that he and his family will live in luxury for the rest of their lives in exchange for signing up as an organ-donor for the company’s wealthy clients. He signs the agreement inspite of his wife objections. As per contract, Interplanta demands an organ of a bachelor and healthy body. Om handsover list of four people to the Interplanta, which shows Jaya as his sister. Living a dual life, ultimately, family is harassed and loses its privacy completely. Om`s brother Jeetu earns being a high-class gigolo. Jaya, Om`s wife, is more affectionate towards his brother. In one scene, Jaya lets a badly hurt Jeetu into the house and nurses him.
After this, it`s the time of transplant to begin and guards of Interplanta arrive and take Jeetu instead of Om for the organ transplant. Govind seems to have failed while shooting the scene as the full film is replete with required and unrequired emotions, but the feelings where they are needed the most, are missing.
How each character uses his/her body (Deham) is the crisp of this movie. Based on the Manjula Padmanabhan`s play Harvest that was the Onasis Foundation first prizewinner for theatre in 1997. The story is about a new kind of a world, the first and the third world imagination for a plot 20 years in the future. Set in Mumbai 2022, Govind wants to tell the world that after twenty years a man sell his organs in return to get a luxurious life. Govind Nihalani one of the India`s finest filmmakers, perfectionist, passions about his work and come with his lowest output. He is known for making practical movie like Aakrosh, Ardh Satya, Hazaar Chaurasi ki Maa and Tamas. Deham is a low-budget science fiction. He treated a simple topic in such a jumble manner that fallls flat in the end. The movie looks more like a play, which is supposed to performed on stage, antiquated dialogues and special effects, shows the competence.
On the acting front, Kitu looks good but sometimes in emotionally charged scenes she fails miserably. Joy Sengupta and Aly Khan both look more theatrical (what you expect from an art movie hero). Surekha Sebris role of a senile mother is saving grace.
At last, its not an average movie but as far as theme is concern its worth a dekko.