UA Kathachitra Pvt. Ltd.’s Josef – Born In Grace is the story of an orphan boy. Even as he is struggling to come to terms with what life has given him, he is sent away to another parish by his guardian, a missionary doctor. He returns as a talented cook but he also becomes an alcoholic, haunted by his unhappy past. The missionary tries to help him but it’s not easy.
The film is based on a short story by Umakanta Mahapatra. Although the story is alright, it doesn’t have the ingredients of a masala entertainer. The screenplay, penned by Zakir Khan, Sudarshan Juyal and Susant Misra, moves at a slow pace and becomes very boring after a point of time. Consequently, the viewer doesn’t quite get involved in the drama. Dialogues, written by Vijay Pandit and the three screenplay writers, are average.
Victor Banerjee does a fair job. Subrat Dutta is quite good. Sudarshan Juyal is okay. Hitesh Bisht is adequate. Anamika Goswami, Deepika Elizabeth Lakra, Debasish Sahu and Gautam Chatterjee pass muster.
Susant Misra’s direction is ordinary. Kisaloy Roy’s music is not of the popular variety. Sudheer Palsane’s camerawork is okay. Sukant Panigrahy’s art direction is functional. Editing (Chakradhar Sahu and Sujata Narula) is loose.
On the whole, Josef – Born In Grace has dull commercial prospects.
Released on 9-12-’22 at Inox R City Ghatkopar (daily 1 show) of Bombay thru Platoon Distribution. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released in Delhi-U.P. and Bengal.