When there are all of four people in a cinema hall waiting to catch the first day-first show of a film, it can’t say good things about what’s to come unless we’re talking about The Blue Umbrella where you’re relieved about how you are spared “Cho chweet”s from other female members in the audience everytime a child appears on screen. So, you thank your lucky stars and sit back to enjoy every bit of Vishal Bhardwaj’s handiwork that comes your way.

The Blue Umbrella, based on a novel by Ruskin Bond, is set in a quaint village in Himachal where little Biniya (Sharma) and her friends spend happy days dancing and singing, that has the others joining in except for grouchy, tea stall owner Nandu Khatri (Kapur) who’s always scouting ways to score one up on the children. One fine day, a magnificent blue umbrella comes floating into Biniya’s life and is the envy of many people, especially the scheming Nandu who tries his level best to bribe Biniya into giving him her prized possession. Only, Biniya won’t budge! Then all of a sudden, the umbrella is gone, leaving you to watch if the mystery of one of the most beautiful blue umbrellas you’ve seen has a chance at getting solved.

Needless to say, Pankaj Kapur steals the show and debutante Shreya Sharma doesn’t let the film down either. Gulzar’s lyrics merged with folksy music compliment the beauty of the hilly locales. The sub titles in English simplify the dialect being spoken, but obviously it’s meant to cater to an international audience when ‘Jhansi ki Rani’ becomes ‘Joan of Arc’. Being a “children’s film” doesn’t stop The Blue Umbrella from depicting grave emotions, making it an enjoyable fare for grown ups as well.