Ok... It gives me great pleasure in being "Mr. Unpopular" on this one. Especially so, as all my friends I've talked to so far have given 'bad' to 'poor' ratings to this one. And here I am whole-heartedly admitting, that I simply loved it. (Except for the end, which I felt was unnecessarily melodramatic). And I say this, not for "being different", but because I genuinely liked it. And here's why...
Story - Firstly, it's not a different or a new story. An 'American-born-Desi coming to India & discovering his roots' is nothing new. Many have depicted it in the past, some in a serious patriotic manner whilst others in a lighter vein. But, it is the treatment that matters. In that sense, I found it down-to-earth, clinical & 'as-is'. The script-writers & the director have handled issues like communal rifts, casteism, male-domination in a family, wide-spread superstition in the society, the irresponsible facet of media & journalism, the struggle, fear & apprehension of following one's heart (Sonam's character), the hypocrisy in the society and the forward+progressive thought-process of the West in a manner that not once had the stink of a 'preaching tone'. Besides, it is short. 2hrs, 20 minutes or so. Not unnecessarily dragged to reach the 3-hour mark that most Indian movies religiously follow as though it is some kind of a rule!
Characters - Now this was brilliantly handled. Firstly, it is not 1 or two characters to build & handle. It's a complete basti or a muhalla. I have great trouble in handling my small team at office or my football team of 11 players. And to get the best out of soooo many characters, who at most times, appear natural & convincing, is indeed difficult! I felt sick to the stomach when a comment-update on Facebook said that 'there was no chemistry amidst the 100 characters'! Duh!! But then... 'Democracy hein bhai... Jo chahe kar/keh sakte ho!' :-).
Performances - Wahida, Om-Puri are veterans & did justice to their tag. Rishi Kapoor too played the role of a large-hearted, repentant but 'now-has-got-along-with-life' dardi-lover so well. Sonam had great screen presence & was so refreshing! Abhishekh too was very good. I wonder if anyone noticed the character of 'Ramaa', who plays the decent, obedient bahu of the house. She, I felt, gave a brilliant performance. Her adjusting-nature & goodness-at-heart, the state she is reduced to due to male-dominance, the dreams she has often killed or desires she has gulped inorder to keep the elders happy came out very well. The rustic cop & 'Jalebi' too did justice to their roles.
Music - Fantastic! Period.
Costumes, make-up - So convincing & relatable.
Set, locations - No jazzy stuff. It's a crazy, often filthy, neighbourhood as demanded by the script. And relatable too.
Kaalaa bandar - Now I'm forced to include this as a 'bullet-item' as some people feel that Delhi-6 was just about this! Infact, the script writers have used this as means to introducing the real-issues. Those of superstition, poor journalism, gullibility, political-profitability, spark-plug of communal-rifts etc. The spine is to support the body & the body is not just the spine! Also the age-old tradition of the Ram-Leela was used to subtly pass on so many points. Especially where Ram is accepting figs from a tribal Shabari, but the muhalla-wallas ill-treating 'Jalebi' as she comes from a 'lower' caste...
Climax - Now this could have been different or at least less melodramatic. I often like ends that are let loose. That leaves the spectator to think for himself, rather than tying the knot & reaching an all-happy conclusion.
Many more points, but I'll stop here.
Just that, the more movies I watch & the more stories I read, I'm beginning to believe that story-telling is no trivial art. I am getting more & more sympathetic & conscious about the story-teller's or the director's point-of-view and not just that of the popcorn-munchers'...
