Aamir Khan gave us gems like 'Lagaan', Taare Zameen Par', 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' and 'Peepli Live' as a producer and so expectations are high when his wife Kiran Rao debuts as director with his next venture 'Dhobi Ghat'. And to say the least, everyone was disappointed after the screening as it falls short of the mark.
As we know by now that it was supposed to be a different art house cinema and teasers revealed that it talks about four characters in backdrop of Mumbai. But problem with the movie is not in style of narration but with the depth of writing or we should say lack of it. Film tries too hard to be different. It has all art house to european cinema cliches- hndheld camera, rain in background and smoking protagonists, conversation focusing on class disparity, forced gangster angle, multiple narratives and lead characters in 'creative' professions.
It seems a work of a student of film institute who is trying too hard to accomadate everything. Kiran Ro shows promise but her direction is not original and lacks intensity and moving moments. Writing is again uninspiring and flat. Aamir Khan (plays a painter name Arun)does considerably well in most of the sequences but surprisingly looks very uncomfortable while smoking and his dialogue delivery in English is awkward. Prateik (plays 'dhobi' name Munna) is the real star of the flick where he gives it all to every frame. He is a talent to watch in future for sure and his performance will win fetch him few awards next year. Look out for his performance in very last shot. Monica Dogra (plays investment banker name Shai)) has the best written role and she is delightful but her accent is at times seems a bit overdone. Kirti Merotra (plays Yasmin) is good in muslim housewife's character. Special note for Oscar winning music director Gustavo Santaolalla; his theme background score is charismatic.
In short, a missed opportunity in which 'body seems to be good but soul is completely missing'.
As we know by now that it was supposed to be a different art house cinema and teasers revealed that it talks about four characters in backdrop of Mumbai. But problem with the movie is not in style of narration but with the depth of writing or we should say lack of it. Film tries too hard to be different. It has all art house to european cinema cliches- hndheld camera, rain in background and smoking protagonists, conversation focusing on class disparity, forced gangster angle, multiple narratives and lead characters in 'creative' professions.
It seems a work of a student of film institute who is trying too hard to accomadate everything. Kiran Ro shows promise but her direction is not original and lacks intensity and moving moments. Writing is again uninspiring and flat. Aamir Khan (plays a painter name Arun)does considerably well in most of the sequences but surprisingly looks very uncomfortable while smoking and his dialogue delivery in English is awkward. Prateik (plays 'dhobi' name Munna) is the real star of the flick where he gives it all to every frame. He is a talent to watch in future for sure and his performance will win fetch him few awards next year. Look out for his performance in very last shot. Monica Dogra (plays investment banker name Shai)) has the best written role and she is delightful but her accent is at times seems a bit overdone. Kirti Merotra (plays Yasmin) is good in muslim housewife's character. Special note for Oscar winning music director Gustavo Santaolalla; his theme background score is charismatic.In short, a missed opportunity in which 'body seems to be good but soul is completely missing'.
Nice analysis... Completely agreed...
ReplyDeleteagreed yaar, while watching the movie i had no idea about the story & what it is all about...
ReplyDeletehowever like performance of Preteek & other's....
Moral of the story is dhobi fall in love with the girl,girl trying to seduce the painter & painter found ghost in painting...at the end We are fucked....