Movie Review: Gippi (2013)

Gippi [Riya Vij] is a 14-year-old living in Shimla with her single parent [Divya Dutta] and younger brother Booboo [Arbaz Kadwani]. She’s plump, self-conscious and doesn’t know how to handle the changes in her life. In school, she’s constantly bullied by Shamira [Jayati Modi]. At home, she’s waking up to the fact that her father [Pankaj Dheer] is all set to walk down the aisle with another woman.During the engagement ceremony of her father, Gippi is introduced to Arjun [Taaha Shah], a senior in the school. She’s attracted to him, but mistakes his friendship for love. However, the love story comes to an embarrassing end at Shamira’s party, who’s quite a snob. Gippi decides to take life in her hands and contest the school elections against Shamira…TAARE ZAMEEN PAR. STANLEY KA DABBA. CHILLAR PARTY… Several prominent film-makers have made films that transport you to your early days. Now Karan Johar takes you back to your teenage years with GIPPI, directed by first-timer Sonam Nair. While this is Karan/Dharma’s first film with a lady director, it also marks the production house’s foray at narrating a story minus ‘stars’. The focus, obviously, is on kids here, but let me add in the same breath, the confidence that these kids emanate easily equals most skilled actors of our times.