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DHOBI GHAT MOVIE REVIEW |
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| Review
by : Behindwoods review board |
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Starring:
Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra,
Kriti Malhotra, Mumbai
Direction:
Kiran Rao
Music:
Gustavo Santaolalla
Production:
Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao
How
many times have we heard people say "The
first half was good but after interval
it is boring" or vice versa. Debutant
director Kiran Rao deserves a pat on the
back for doing away with the break between
'halves' of a movie. Dhobi Ghat is a slick
film which runs for just a little over
90 minutes sans commercial breaks in between.
So there goes the first credit to the
director.
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The
plot of Dhobi Ghat is quite simple if you look at
it superficially. As was announced and advertised,
it is indeed about pages of Mumbai diaries. It is
about five characters: Arun (Aamir Khan), an artist
and a loner, Munna (Prateik Babbar), a dhobi and a
wannabe film artist, Shai (Monica Dogra), an investment
banker whose passion is photography, Yasmin (Kriti
Malhotra), a newlywed and a newcomer to the city of
Mumbai which happens to be the fifth character of
the movie. Though the plot is simple, Dhobi Ghat is
a complex web of pain and the emotions twined between
people and relationships.
It is quite evident that Kiran Rao did not want to
play safe just because it was her first movie. The
proceedings are not linear as she hasn't felt the
necessity to delve on a strong plot. But what has
been chosen as the story evolves by itself. It requires
guts and the support to direct a movie of this genre
and Kiran would have found Aamir's support invaluable.
We are unsure about what will transpire and the unusual
characters in the movie make it more interesting.
Kiran Rao must be applauded for her infusing life
into a character which actually isn't a regular movie
character. The way she has shown Yasmin through her
video diary that leaves a strong impact on us is incredible.
She also shines in places where Mumbai is shown in
its true chromaticity: The scene where the maid offers
tea to Munna, the subtle thought about a Bihari in
Mumbai and Aamir's comment about Mumbai in the art
exhibition.
Dhobi Ghat is not without minuses. The English conversations
between Arun and Shai, which are dubbed in Hindi,
are totally out of sync. We only wish a little more
effort had been put in to shoot these parts in Hindi
as well. We could also feel Kiran's strict adherence
to arthouse cinema. The whole movie being shot with
a handheld camera gives us a feeling of watching a
home video overall.
Good for the film, it is not about Aamir Khan. The
actor he may be, he is the right choice for Arun's
character. The emotion he portrays when the video
diary comes to an end is a testimony to his skills.
Prateik Babbar is the perfect dhobi boy and must thank
the director for this opportunity. He is simply superb
as the aspiring actor, jealous one-sided lover and
the disappointed Mumbaiite in the end. Kudos! Monica
Dogra has done a casual yet brilliant portrayal of
Shai. But the one who leaves an impression on our
minds is Kriti Malhotra. As a newlywed, her exuberance
in using the handy cam, her loneliness can be felt
by us. And this is because of her acting skills. And
the ever colorful, spirited, unadulterated, vibrant
city of Mumbai does not disappoint too.
Technically, the film excels in quality. Mumbai has
been shown in many movies before in all possible colors.
Not like this one! The crowded streets, the mosque,
Mumbai rains, the athar shop and even the people are
entirely new to us. Cinematographer Tushar Kanti Ray...
take a bow! So must Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla
be appreciated. Right from the title till the end,
he shows us why he is an Academy award winner. The
re-recording is apt and is in sync with the tone of
the movie. The still (B/W) photography of Jyotika
Jain is also worth mentioning.
Dhobi Ghat is not the usual run of the mill cinema
and may not have the 'E' factor, but is realistic
and true to its conscience. With her debut venture,
Kiran Rao has put forward the question to us again:
Are we ready for parallel cinema yet?
Verdict: A brave attempt!
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| Tags
: Aamir
Khan,
Prateik Babbar,
Monica Dogra,
Kiran Rao, Gustavo Santaolalla |
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