It was during the making of the Oscar-nominated Lagaan that Aamir Khan's personal life went through some challenges as the married superstar fell in love with Kiran Rao. His sudden decision to divorce his first wife, Reena, and marry Rao in 2003 sent shockwaves through the industry. Despite these setbacks, Khan continued to mesmerise audiences as an actor and producer. His reputation at the box office is flawless with blockbusters such as Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Peepli Live, Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots to his credit. Often dubbed the man with the Midas touch, Khan returns as an actor and doubles up as a producer to launch Rao's directorial debut. The movie, which received rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival, has also had an excellent start in India.
STORY: Set in bustling Mumbai, Dhobi Ghat deals with relationships. First there's Munna (Pratiek Babbar), the dhobi (clothes washer) who starts a friendship with a banker named Shai (Monica Dogra), a smart young wo-man with a passion for photography and art. When Shai has an encounter with an introverted painter named Arun (Aamir Khan), it ends bitterly leaving her with more questions than answers. And, finally, there is Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra), whose life is revealed when Arun moves into a new apartment. Though the interactions between the lead characters are limited, there is a common thread of mystery, ambition and subtle love that draws them together.
DIRECTION: One must salute Rao for making a delicate piece of cinema as she takes a risky path of purposely leaving out the entertainment factor. Obviously being married to a genius like Khan has inspired her to make a creative movie that further showcases the talents of emerging filmmakers in the industry. She cleverly adds the daily experiences of Mumbai life to take the story forward and that works majestically as you are sucked into the city life.
PERFORMANCES: The four lead characters are easy to relate to as they convincingly make you part of their world. While Khan, who had to audition for the part, breezes through his role effortlessly, he plays second fiddle to the charming and simple Babbar, who has to rank as one of the most talented youngsters in the industry. Babbar, son of the late actress Smita Patil, is a revelation from his debut in Jaane Tu Ya Jaana Na. Dogra and Malhotra both make convincing debuts.
WHAT I LIKED: The realistic background of Mumbai, the manner in which the characters are presented and the running time of just under two hours, which works in its favour.
OVERALL: The Aamir Khan brand is associated with quality cinema. If you are expecting typical Bollywood fare, then best you avoid this creative piece of art which, like a beautiful painting, portrays a variety of emotions and is treasured only by those seeking quality cinema.
No comments:
Post a Comment