Some stories need to be told. Especially, in a country where corruption has conquered the highest echelons of governance and especially when there is one, JUST ONE success story of people power winning over corruption; All the more reason to make a meal out of it.
Honestly, this was a 1 in a million case. Things like this, do not happen in India, coz. in India (as Arvind Adiga aptly explained in White Tiger) people have learnt to live in a cage, like chickens, ready for slaughter. Every time the butcher comes, all the chickens run as far from the gate as possible. Finally, one of the chickens is caught and taken away; and the rest of the chickens then relax thinking “Thank God, it was not me” till the next time the butcher comes again… But that’s for another day. For now, let us appreciate the brilliance of Director Raj Kumar Gupta who made sure that this inspiring ‘miracle’ has some repeat value, for now.
The movie starts off with a visual collage of Delhi and the powerful title track. The voice-over of Rani Mukerji then describes the year 1999 in order to take you back to that period. I think this was done very crisply and smartly, and you get the feeling that the script will not muck around. Shortly thereafter, the horror begins. Bit by bit, scene by scene, the horror of the security and legal system in India is laid threadbare. If this was fiction, you’d still have difficulty believing all of it; I mean, the witnesses being managed, critical evidence lost, it was just a lot of things being screwed up in broad daylight; just that it wasn’t fiction. It is horrifying because you realize that whatever happens in Prakash Jha’s fictional movies in Bihar and UP isn’t really that far from fact. It is even worse because you know there’s no hero who will avenge all those who have been wronged by the end of the movie; Just that in this case, there was / were.
Agreed, the movie got a head start in terms of having an amazing tale to tell; But the way in which it has been translated on screen is commendable. I’m not saying it is perfect, but it is almost there. Especially, there are a few moments in the movie which have great impact and couldn’t have been done better to reflect Indian psyche; one of which I just have to talk about. (Do not read the rest of the paragraph if you intend to watch the movie). Somewhere during the time, the initial trial was underway; the parents of the accused (whose father is a minister in the cabinet) pay a visit to Jessica’s house. The parents of both the killer and the victim sit in this sitting room, without exchanging any words, without even looking at each other. The silence stretches to the length of being awkward, and then Jessica’s father, in his confusion of being overwhelmed at having the killer’s father and a Cabinet minister paying him a visit, suggests “Chai (Tea)”. Take a bow, Mr. Gupta, thinking about the moment you visualized this scene and put it in the screenplay. There are a few others, but this one just blew me away.
On the things that weren’t perfect, well, a little melodrama, a little entertainment doesn’t harm the movie much so we’ll just let that pass. And I’d say, apart from the title track, I was a little let down by the sound track. There isn’t any other song that sticks except the title track and ‘Aali re’. Especially, ‘Aitbaar’ was disappointing; given the nice lyrics it seemed to have.
Rani, Welcome back! She’s in top form and scorches the screen with her presence, be it her colorful language, her look, her attitude, everything is top notch. Vidya, on the other end, plays her behenji part to perfection as well. It was a treat to watch these two women in a woman centric film; and to add to that, Myra was endearing in the role of Jessica.
Once in a while, the Indian film industry does surprise itself. This is one of those rare instances. All I’d say is, Do watch it; if not for the movie, watch it for the tale it tells. Even this tale is one of those rare moments, where India did surprise itself.
Just read half the review. Not planning to watch the movie. Next in list in Dhobi Ghaat.
But reason came here to comment is to let you know that am glad that you blogged!!!
Take care. 🙂
Sad that I can’t hold ur interest for even a full post
But never mind, maybe next post 🙂
Hahaha!
I know honesty is a bit of bad habit with me. But as I see, many other readers did like the post a lot. 🙂
And I don’t need to point out the statistical aspects to a person of finances background. This was perhaps the only post written by you that could not hold my interest. So, statistically I enjoy more than 99% of your writing. And yes, there is another stray saying about statistics being like a skirt. 😉
Will we be seeing you write more often?
Take care.
The suggestion for having chai part is mind-flowing. I got to watch this one.
I liked it.
Absolutely brilliant review, rakesh!! So good to have you dissecting..err…reviewing films :P! Nahi, seriously I loved your review!
I had anyway intended to watch the movie, and now after reading your views, I’m certainly certainly going to watch it :).
dissecting.. Ahem Ok 😛
So you’re actually taking my recommendation? 🙂
Very well reviewed. Am not sure if I will watch the movie [bcoz I hardly watch any], but I will def. share ur review with ppl who want to. Hw I wish India surprises itself more often!
Rani does look gr8!
Yup, she does act will in this one.
God!! I had palnned to miss this movie for good after watching Koffee with Karan 😳 The way Rani and Vidhya were giggling and telling about their relationship in the movie was grotesque 🙄
But your review has convinced me to go and watch this one even though I don’t like both the actress 😛
he he, imagine Rani and Vidya giggling, not a pretty sight 🙂
But they don’t have a lot of scenes together so I wonder what were they giggling about.
Oh yeah, me liked the movie too. Like you said so rightly, some stories really need to be told. And the ‘chai’ scene was really a touch of class. But I don’t want to see Rani on screen any more. Vidya neither. Myra, yes 🙂
Yeah, Myra is very pretty. But Rani and Vidya aren’t too bad either, why don’t you want to see them on screen? Oh you’re too young for them, I see 😛
I agree on the Rani part… Ever since I saw Dil Bole Hadippa… I cannot hate her enough…
She did play the role of a bitch to perfection though in the movie… I say it suits her 😛
I am watching it hopefully soon, and then I will come back and read the paragraph I can’t read now.
Is that all you could write about the Beautiful, ravishing, fresh, sexy angel Myra ???? !!!
is that it ?????
Gee… I could have written a complete review longer than this one on just her !!!!!!!!!!!
SIGH !!!
he he, typically Dhiren 🙂 But yeah, she was fresh, I agree completely.
Watched and loved it. Read the review and agree with most of what you have said here. Watched it only because of your review in fact, on the last day, last show at a neighborhood theater.
One thing I did not like was Rani Mukherji lecturing (very holier than thou) the grieving sister, who says last she remembers she was 22, now she was 28. This scene was too far from the truth. I wish they hadn’t changed such a huge fact – Sabrina never gave up in real life. And if she did loose heart, she needed a motivating speech sort of, not a journalist who suddenly decides to take up a case and demands a young girl who has lost her entire family, sister gone, mother dead and father in the hospital – she was justified in wanting to give up and feeling bitter.
Wow, IHM, you and I think so alike. I actually wrote a paragraph that said something to the same effect, but then i cut it out coz. the review was becoming too long and I wasn’t sure whether she quit or not.
I even found Rani’s acting a little irritating in that bit. But overall, I thought, I’ll not be too hard to please and dropped that bit. But yes, I agree to what you say about that bit. Spot on.