Cargo - A daringly original sci-fi that works more like a meditative experience!

Bharath Vijayakumar

Cargo is a very strange film. Strange because it is supposed to be complex. And strange because it remains simple. You have been attuned to believe that a science fiction film has to be this large scale visual fantasy. Well, Cargo too is large scale but the scale here refers to the originality and imagination of the makers. But what actually is fascinating about this film is that it also keeps it very simple and subtle and plays out like a drama involving human emotions. Oops! Here is the twist. It actually involves rakshas emotions! And this isn't a spoiler, as the film's opening card lays out this premise in simple terms.

Pushpak 634 A is one of the spaceships launched by IPSO (Inter Planetary Space Organization), which is the brain child of the rakshasas. If you aren't willing to suspend disbelief yet, let me make it easier for you with terms that you have become more receptive of. Rakshasas are essentially demons or assume them to be aliens or extra terrestrial beings. Maybe you are comfortable now and willing to buy the conceit. The spaceships function as offices cum laboratories where dead humans undergo transition before being reborn on earth. Prahastha ( Vikram Massey ) is an astronaut in Pushpak 634 A and takes care of transitioning the cargos. Well, cargos is what they the call the dead human beings being transported from earth to these spaceships.

Prahastha is a loner and has lived all alone for years in Pushpak. Years over here means decades put together, as the equivalent for one year on earth for humans isn't the same for the rakshasas. He goes about his job with utmost sincerity, day in and day out. These scenes establish the kind of person (or rakshas) that Prahastha is. He is sincere, follows rules to a T and his only companion (apart from the cargos he interacts with) is Mr.Nitigya with whom he communicates through a video screen. Even with Nitigya, the interactions are strictly official. At this point, we are wondering if rakshasas have an emotional side or not. But things change when IPSO sends Yuvishka (Shweta Tripathi) as an assistant to Prahastha despite his displeasure about the decision. Prahastha is a reluctant host at first but begins to interact with her on a professional basis. Arati Yadav doesn't showcase us an overnight change in Prahastha. In fact, there isn't any marked change on the outside but you can sense that he does warm up to the new company on board. We slowly begin to see that maybe he wasn't this loner from the beginning and in a later scene get a glimpse of his past relationship. Maybe he had become this person that we get to see. The film in certain ways is Prahastha being able to get over a past. In certain ways, it is about how love remains that one emotion which is the basis of any form of life. And in certain ways, it is just an episode in the life of a rakshas in a spaceship!

Cargo works more like a meditative experience and is essentially a drama about life, death, love and emotions. The unhurried pace that some may have issues with, is actually the USP of this film. The film keeps it simple and sometimes you wonder whether it could have packed in a few more interesting incidents or gotten more into the nitty gritty of establishing the relationship between humans and rakshas. For instance, I was not clear whether humans are aware of the peace treaty signed between humans and rakshas or whether it is only the government that knows this. If the humans are aware, why is that the cargos behave as though they are not aware of what is happening to them in the spaceship? These don't affect the film as a logical loophole would, but given that we are watching a sci-fi, there is this urge in us to get to know more about how this universe created by Arati Kadav functions. We try to seek more about the rakshasas but the film is interested in treating them as humans. Perhaps that is actually the crux of the film. Life in itself revolves around love and companionship and maybe there isn't much difference between various forms of life that could be inhabiting the universe.

Bottomline:

Whether you warm up to a film like Cargo depends entirely on what you look for in a film. But if a unique experience excites you, then Cargo deserves your attention. This is a daringly original sci-fi that works like a meditative experience with its unhurriedness!

Rating: 3/5