Cast: Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra
Director: Kiran Rao
“What did this movie want to say?” was what my friends said after coming out of the movie hall (a thought echoed by most coming out of the hall). Dhobi Ghat is a very different kind of cinema, one with which we Indians as not too accustomed with. I actually liked the English title for the movie 'Mumbai Diaries' (it describes the movie better).
The film revolves around five characters, Aamir Khan (Arun- a Painter), Monica Dogra (Shai- a Investment Banker+Photograpger from New York), Prateik Babbar (Munna- the Dhobi), Yasmin (a young newly wed Muslim girl) and Mumbai (the city plays the fifth character).
Arun is a painter who lives a lonely life (and likes it that way), he makes a rare public appearances at his exhibition and meets Shai- a investor banker from NY, who is also a photographer. They come together and spend the night together. A night with which Arun isn't too happy about and in the process hurts Shai, who on the other hand feels they had a connection. Munna is a 'dhobi' in the morning and a rat-killer by night, who wants to be an actor. He introduces Shai to Mumbai and while doing so falls in love with her. Yasmin is newly wed Muslim girl who comes to Mumbai from a small town in UP. She appears from time to time in the video letters to her brother, which Arun accidentally discovers in his new house.
The movie shows the city of Mumbai from four different perspectives of its four central characters. It is a story of four different people from four different backgrounds and how their lives crosses each other. The complexity of everyday life is well explored in the movie. The movie opens with a view of Mumbai from a under construction building and that is what the movie is about 'Life under construction'. There are really some chilling scenes towards the end of the movie.
It has some really good performances by all the four characters but Munna and Yasmin's characters steals the show. Especially Prateik Babbar is excellent at his portrayal of Munna- the expressions, body language, everything. Kriti Malhotra does well in her role. Monica Dogra looks beautiful and is good in parts. Aamir Khan though is not at complete ease (it is probably not one of his best performances).
Kiran Rao's directorial debut is experimental and is not for everybody. The movie takes some time getting used to because we don't often see this kind of cinema here. So if you are not afraid of experiments this movie is for you.
Nice blog and very well reviewed.
ReplyDeleteWhat I felt after watching the movie that the movie was quite beyond what the definition of realistic and art for bollywood. I liked the characters and cinematography most. All characters had different thinkings, likings, dreams etc. and came in contact with one another. They bound by a relationship with no successful end or we can say undefined.
The movie is too realistic that at one point of time, you start feeling that you are brought to real Mumbai city. The must watch movie for those who does not expect entertainment, instead something out of clutter.
Regards,
Apurva