A Boy Who Dreamt of Electricity

A Boy Who Dreamt Of Electricity (2024) is an Indian spoken feature-length debut film by director Jigar Nagda. Set in the remote village of Udaipar, Rajasthan, the story unfolds around a young boy named Bheru, eager for a solution to his family’s struggle with a lack of electricity. When a marriage proposal falls through, the family can no longer take how literally disconnected they are from the rest of the world. This sends Bheru on an adventurous mission, full of obstacles, to bring electricity to their family and in so doing, connect them with the rest of the world.

Many of us are used to relying on electricity in daily life. For instance, you are likely reading this review on an electronic device, just as I am writing it. The lights are likely turned on in whatever building you are reading this in, and you might have your mobile phone to hand. This reliance on electricity is one that a large amount of the population often take for granted. Many people are unable to imagine living without it, with the thought of going on a camping trip sounding like an utter nightmare. Nagda, along with co-writer Shubham Ameta brings an important humbling perspective to viewers, highlighting how much of what we do is made possible because of electricity. The film forces audiences to simply imagine themselves in the film’s scenario, living in a tribal village where you are viewed at the bottom of a social hierarchy, largely due to this lack of electricity. Such a setting provides an important moment of reflection, where viewers will find themselves more appreciative of what they have.

Rather than the commodity that electricity is treated as in the Western world, in A Boy Who Dreamt of Electricity, electricity is portrayed as magical. In one scene taking place along a road at night time, the glow of neon lights in the darkness is captured with such beauty, giving this buzzing electric presence a dreamlike feel. Through such an adoring use of cinematography, viewers share this admiration for the occurrence of electricity just as the characters are continuously expressing throughout the film. Not only is this effective as a touching personification of electricity in the film, but the emotional response for viewers seeing electricity in this light is one which importantly conveys the vitality and often magical impact that electricity can have on people’s lives. In another moment, the film effectively compares electricity with the sublime by picturing Bheru gazing into the distance over a mountainous view, the landscape speckled with lights. Bheru is longing to be a part of this out-of-reach world, its beauty and significance on the same level to him as nature’s most incredible structures.

The film’s original score, along with the use of unprofessional actors, gives the world of A Boy Who Dreamt Of Electricity a unique and authentic feel. Much of the film appears shot like a documentary, with a lingering focus on objects and use of real locations, including outdoor streets and communal areas. The viewer therefore feels as if they are peering into a real world, which is a significant creative choice as the struggle of living without electricity is one that many face, and yet many of us do not often consider this without it being shown to us.

Though the cast is largely unknown, the performances are brilliantly convincing. This realism is enhanced through great costuming and set design. Several scenes, such as one that takes place on a local bus, are vibrant and full of dedication, with extras of all ages costumed in a variety of colours, all true to Rajasthan's tribal dress culture. It is exciting to see a developing nation displayed on screen with a dedication to capturing the country’s beauty, as well as the beauty of the lives of those who reside there.

Overall, the film has a strong sentiment for togetherness, both within the context of the electricity theme which permeates the film, and in the focus on human connection, which viewers will find to be deeply touching.