‘Frame’ review: Convincing photojournalism portrait flubs its most decisive moment
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Frame explores a rarely seen sub-set of the media: newspaper photographers. Vikram Patwardhan’s Marathi film, which is out on Zee5, explores the dynamic between Chandu, the chief photographer of a Pune newspaper, and new team member Sidharth. The young man idolises the veteran, but differs from him in one crucial aspect.
Chandu (Nagraj Manjule) believes that a photojournalist’s job is to document rather than intervene, report on an event or even a tragedy rather than rushing in to help. Sidharth (Amey Wagh) has the opposite viewpoint, and is troubled by Chandu’s cynicism.
Yet, they work well together. Chandu gives Sidharth important insights into the trade – what makes for a decisive moment or a newsworthy image, how some professionals stage their images just to win awards. Sidharth also learns to steer clear of Chandu’s troubled personal life and ignores his boss’s worrying tendency to cart a hip flask around.
A terrible misjudgement pits the men against each other. This comes amidst personal and workplace pressures. The fear of redundancy is enhanced by the growing realisation that anybody with a cellphone camera can become a photographer. What then makes photojournalists special?
Frame, also written by Vikram Patwardhan, is business-like in its staging and visuals. Patwardhan has a well-rounded...