Ever since the overwhelming success of shows like Sacred Games Netflix hasn't stopped tapping into the Indian market. Netflix has gained a fanbase for its exclusive shows and films like no other. A new film, Yeh Ballet proves that Netflix still has something new to offer to its Indian audience.
Yeh Ballet tells the real-life story of two underprivileged boys from the slums of Bombay, who train and become Ballet dancers. The film has a simple story of struggle and working hard towards one's goals. The film works as well as it does particularly because of its cast. Aside from some popular names like Jim Sarbh, the cast is entirely new. The two main leads include Manish Chauhan (playing a fictional avatar of himself) and newbie Achintya Bose (in the role of Amir Shah, a slum boy who won the Royal Ballet School's Nadia Nerina Scholarship in 2017).
The film also stars Julian Sands as the teacher of the two boys. Sands plays an eccentric but gifted ballet teacher who through the course of the film learns compassion and empathy. Yeh Ballet is visibly inspired by Gully Boy's success. We can see this in the film's portrayal of the Bombay slums, where the film's protagonists come out of. This portrayal seems shallow and visibly feels like an imitation of the bigger and better Gully boy.
However, when the film shines it shines exceedingly well. In its wide-angle shots, the film does a great job of highlighting the art of ballet itself. The music also helps emphasize the importance of every scene until the very end of the film.
In its portrayal of two straight boys learning the unique and difficult art, the film also tackles what the society thinks boys should or should not do. Yeh Ballet proves that talent is what matters more than stereotypes. And in its true portrayal of achieving one's dreams also shows that no matter the economic background, talent speaks for itself.
