Movie Review - Dhobi Ghat

Movie: Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries), Hindi - 2011

Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra, Aamir Khan

Director - Kiran Rao

Aamir Khan Productions

Rating - 'unrated'

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I am confused. And that is the exact reason for not rating this movie. I am not sure if I liked it, or if I hated it. Precisely because of this confusion, I thought, the movie surely deserved a review/post on my blog. I leave it to the viewers of the movie to give their own personal rating/assessment of the movie, as I am sure there would be a plenty on both sides. (Do leave your assessment on the comments section)

I went to watch this movie with an expectation of not being entertained. I was correct. I was not entertained. (Obviously, I did hope that the movie would surprise me, and there would be moments which will entertain, but that wasn't the case...)

I wanted to see this movie for the love I have for the city of Bombay, and for its people. The love has only increased further after watching the movie.

I went to see the movie with an expectation of some incredible performances by the lead actors. Well, if not incredible, the performances were ranging from good to great.

I went with the hope of being witness to a gripping story. Alright now here comes the surprise; there was no story. This is where the movie disappoints the most. Kiran Rao proves to be a promising director with some great talent, but disappoints as a story teller. The movie starts abruptly, and ends even more abruptly. As a viewer, I felt as if I began to watch a movie which has already run for 20-30 minutes, therefore from somewhere in between. And when a story actually starts to develop, the movie ends!. The movie does not give a chance to the story to grow on the audience.

I would put this movie into a category of experiential cinema. Do not confuse this to something like experiential marketing, which is about engaging consumers by reaching out to their senses. Kiran, has created on cinema, what she has experienced about the city of Bombay. The moments, people, and places in Bombay which has touched her senses, is what she has presented on screen. Nothing wrong in that, but as mentioned, it is the story telling skill which has faltered. I do not see the movie getting a connect even with the audience in Bombay, not because the characters in the movie are unreal; the characters are very much real, but more so because when the connection could have been made, the movie ends.

In terms of performances, Prateik steals the show. There is an ease in the way he acts, and makes him quite a natural actor. The movie pretty much revolves around him and the character 'Shai' played by Monica Dogra. Even she has performed well doing justice to the NRI- Investment Banker/Photographer role. Kriti Malhotra, has more to do behind the camera than in front of it. You will know what I mean, if you have seen the movie, or when you watch it. Having said so, it was her story towards the end which brings about a change in the otherwise plain vanilla storyline. Aamir Khan, as always performs great, but really does not have much to do. Though, kudos to him for being a part of the movie as an actor as well, where much focus is on the other actors, leave aside the scope for acting....

There is no denying the fact that 'Bombay' is the 5th character of the movie. The city has been shown as a witness to whatever is happening in the characters lives. If you delve into the story and the idea a little deep, you would notice, that Kiran has put the 'old mute lady' in the storyline as a metaphor for the city.

Towards the end, I would just say, that the movie makes me numb. I do not feel anything, but the movie still makes me think. I guess it does that because it ends abruptly the moment when I was getting to connect with the characters.

Do post in your comments.

Sidharth Mehta

Dubai, UAE

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Movie Review - Peepli Live

Movie Review - Peepli Live (Hindi, 2010)

Director - Anusha Rizvi

Cast - Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav

Producer - Aamir Khan Productions

Rating - ****

Des mera rang rez yeh babu...

Ghaat ghaat yahan ghat ta jadoo...

Gai bahad hai kankar shankar...

Baat hai chhoti bada patangad....

India sir yeh cheez durandar....

Rang rangeela parja tantar....

You must have heard the above song enough number of times on your television screens/radio sets, but never would you have gone deep inside the meaning of the lyrics. Read through the lyrics again, and may be even listen the song with the motive of understanding the lyrics and the message within.

Peepli Live is not about 'Farmer Suicides'. It is not about the plight of the Indian Farmer lost in the invisible world of rural India.......Well, Peepli Live is not just about the Indian Farmer and his plight, but is about each and every subject, each and every problem of the common man in India which stands important but finds no relevance by the power brokers and the mights within the political class. Add to that, the so called voice of the country, our Media have actually become news makers/ news producers, rather than being just news breakers. Think twice, and you would realize, half of the news on the ticker "Breaking News" is news actually made up by our very own TV journalists. This holds truth to most of our news channels, especially Hindi news channels, where 'Saas Bahu and Saazish' gets more airtime than a 'Independence day speech by our PM'.

Peepli Live, is about the song above. Each and every word is described to perfection in the movie, which makes you laugh enough number of times, but also makes you think - should you really laugh? A dark comedy set in rural India, showcasing the wide gap between Urban and Rural India - proof of a country within a country, Peepli Live has got characters which are more closer to reality than you ever thought. Either, it be the farmer, or the journalist, the politician, or even the power broker - each and every character portrays a role which is real - something you will totally relate to.

A perfect blend of media, politics, and the common man, the movie is not just insightful with a strong message, but is also fun all through. Talking in terms of performances, every actor has given a strong performance, right from the hugely under-rated Raghuvir Yadav, to the main lead - Natha -- Omkar Das Manikpuri. The black comedy comes alive with the superb acting and comic timing of the journalists especially by the actor playing the role of 'Deepak'.

Go watch it.

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Sidharth Mehta

Dubai - UAE

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Movie Review - 3 Idiots - Five Point Something

Movie Review - 3 idiots

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya

Producer: Vidu Vinod Chopra

Rating - 5 point something....

When was the last time you died of laughing? and when was the last time you literally cried of laughing?

3 idiots does that to you.

Film-making is an art, and this film is surely one of the greatest art works to come out from Bollywood, and shall be crowned one of the best ever movies in a lifetime. The film is just not a laugh riot, but has it's parts of key learnings for the society, a stamp of the genius director - Rajkumar Hirani.

Aamir Khan surely has a magic wand, whichever project he takes, does record breaking business and usually leaves a big impact on the minds of the people. More than the film's own marketing, the word of mouth publicity of the film works wonders for his films.

The film is not just for the youth, but is equally for all parents and elders in our society, who throw their children in the race for coming first in their entire education life, and also expect them to win all the time. Never ever do they realize the pressure being put, which multiplies with each exam they give, and which eventually bursts in the form of suicides and deep depressions. I think, it is the most important social topic ever been taken and made a film on, as the consequences of this kind of pressure only brakes a human being.

Thankfully, the film has done full justice to the topic, in a very subtle manner, with great moments and laughs, which will stay in our minds and hearts for a very long time, and maybe also forever by actually transforming the way people think.

If we talk about performances, each and everyone has excelled in their respective roles. The casting is done to perfection.

You would actually believe that Aamir Khan is a 21 year old engineering student. He looks as fresh as he did in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. The 100% he gives to all his projects is evident by the amount of weight he has lost for this film after Ghajini. He totally looks his character, and plays it exceptionally well. 'Rancho' touches every heart.

Madhavan has never been so totally in sync with his character in any of his films. Even he looks fitter, and the wildlife photographer look of his in the film really suits him.

Sharman Joshi, by far is the most underrated actor in the Hindi film industry today. His comic timing is extra-ordinary, and transforms himself from a light mood to a very serious mood with great panache.. I would not be surprised to see him in serious roles as well in future. Surely, a big star in making, and one to watch out for.

Kareena, even though had not much to do in the film, but really looks good, and feels nice to see her do a role which is not about flaunting her size zero figure. Rather, she was told to gain some weight for this film, and it is evident as well.

Boman Irani, as Virus - the college dean, once again will get applauded for his fault free acting, and for bringing to life every individual's school/college principal.

Omi Vaidya as Chatur - the silencer is a great find for the film industry. A theatre artist in the US, hope he does a lot more films in India. Watch out for him in the speech he delivers.

In the end, would just like to say, All Is Well.

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P.S - As a reader and a great fan of Chetan Bhagat, he surely deserves to be given much more credit for this movie. 70% of the movie is based on the plot of the bestseller book 'Five Point Someone'. Rather, few scenes are exactly picked from the book. The characters are defined in the book just as they are shown in the film, only difference is the main character on which the book is based is not the main character in the film. Ryan from the book is Rancho (Aamir) in the film.. There are few changes done to the story, but you can't call it an original. The screenplay might be different and Abhijat Joshi should be given credit for that, but 70% of the story is surely adapted from Five Point Someone. The theme of the film is the same as the theme of the book.

A word for Aamir - You would add a lot more fans to your already huge fan base all over the world with this movie. Read the book, and then make statements, otherwise an equal number of your fans would be upset with you, including myself. Just giving some credit to an original writer even if just by words being spoken, would not make your or the film-makers stature go down. Hope this controversy ends soon.

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Sidharth Mehta,

Dubai, UAE

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