January 31, 2023
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Netflix’s latest release, Cobalt Blue, finally hit screens on April 2nd, 2022, after a delayed release from December 2021. The film, based on Sachin Kundalkar’s novel, was highly anticipated by fans of the book, including myself. But, unfortunately, the live-action adaptation failed to live up to expectations.
The Plot Adaptation
Cobalt Blue revolves around a love triangle between two siblings and the same man. The adaptation of the main plot was successful, but the characters lacked depth and fell into stereotypes. The director’s attempt to bring nuance to the characters failed, leaving the audience feeling detached from the story.
Lack of Emotional Connection
One of the film’s biggest flaws was the lack of expression from the three main characters. Their mannerisms and movements were awkward, and Pratiek Babbar’s portrayal of the mysterious paying guest felt pretentious and strange. The only characters who elicited any emotional response from me were the closeted college professor and the young Catholic nun, but their story was not the focus of the film.
A Missed Opportunity for Anuja
The film also fails to capture the essence of the book due to a lack of focus on one of the main characters, Anuja. In the book, Tanay and Anuja are given equal emphasis, but in the film, we only see more of Tanay and very little of Anuja and her romance with the mysterious paying guest.
Comparing to Call Me By Your Name
Cobalt Blue has been compared to Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name due to similarities in styling elements, such as color, use of a bike, and relationship to a pond. However, it’s important to note that Sachin Kundalkar’s novel was released in 2006 in Marathi, while André Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name was released in 2007.
The Silver Lining: Cinematography
Despite its shortcomings, the film did have some positive aspects, such as the breathtaking cinematography by Vincenzo Condorelli. The film had a painting-like quality with a stunning view of the cobalt blue color throughout.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I found Cobalt Blue to be a missed opportunity for a realistic and emotionally engaging story. The movie took itself too seriously and fell short in almost every way. Despite its stunning cinematography, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a fulfilling love story.
