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Guzaarish

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali 

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shernaz Patel

Released: 2010

My Rating: 7/10

*SPOILERS*

I have to admit it: I am a die-hard Sanjay Leela Bhansali-fan. I love all his movies, even the much criticized Saawariya, because he is a real artist and conveys emotions like no other in his works. I discovered Bollywood with his Devdas and I can assure you that you would need hundreds of lifetimes to find someone who loves this movie as much as I do. So yes, I am an ardent admirer of him and that was only natural that Guzaarish was my most-awaited film of the year 2010. I was really excited about it, all the more so as the topic it was to deal with was very sensitive and not easy to talk about. But I was confident. So did Guzaarish meet my expectations?

Well, let's talk about the story first, it is set in Goa where lives one of the most acclaimed magician, Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan), an acclaimed but a crippled magician. He became a quadriplegic when several years ago, a dangerous magic trick turned wrong. He now tries to give hope to people through his FM station, 'Radio Zindagi', his joy and laughter make it difficult to imagine that this is a man who spent the last several years of his life in a wheelchair. Ethan finds much help and comfort in Sofia D'Souza (Aishwarya Rai), her faithful nurse, and shares with her an affectionate, trustful and deep bond.

However, someday and out of a sudden, Ethan summons his dear friend and lawyer Devyani (Shernaz Patel); the man who used to give hope and joy to others despite his own hardships, has decided to fill a case to the court for euthanasia, for "mercy killing". It is a shock for the people around him, especially to Sofia who feels that this is a hard blow to their relationship. Devyani first hesitates but eventually understands her friend and decides to defend him. Among that confusion appears Omar Siddiqui (Aditya Roy Kapoor) who considers Ethan to be the greatest magician ever. His only goal is to learn magic from him; impressed by his passion and enthusiasm for magic, Ethan accepts to pass on his legacy to him while he has to defend his right "to die"...

Freedom...

...has now turned into sad situation.

 Let's first speak about what hits your eyeballs first: the visuals. The sets are fabulous, they are a treat, and they scream beauty and elegance throughout. I feel they help to the symbolical side of the story, it is beautiful and elegant and yet it is empty, just like how Ethan's life is. He lives in a big and beautiful house in which he cannot even move anymore. That is the grandness of the sets that can take the breath away of someone, but somehow one can also feel "emprisoned" just like Ethan. But that was not a bad thing for the story.

Wow... just wow...

Well, how does the story go? The first half went by like a dream. Everything was filmed beautifully. One falls immediately into the story. I smiled with Ethan, I laughed in the scenes between Sofia and Omar. I cried with the characters. I felt Ethan's immobility and emprisonment in this big mansion, this big place in which he cannot move. And as the movie flies, it deepens your thinking - especially through the court scenes. The big question that raises is this: do we have the right to decide over the life which belongs to somebody's else, even when this person wants to die? Bhansali does not give us an answer, he does not really say that there is a good or bad way. In the end, it is Ethan's own desire and will, and that is what matters the most.

All the emotions present work until the second half comes, and there the story simply stagnates. Usually everything is in their own and right deserved place in a SLB's movies, and that is not the case with Guzaarish. There appears very disturbing plotholes. First, how was Ethan before his accident? You will get one or two songs where he is dancing and performing magic... No more than that. Oh yes, and one scene where he performs, dances and kisses an ex-girlfriend, who was her assistant before his accident, the latter that will tell him through the phone that yes, indeed, she agreed he should die. At that scene, she is married and has a new life. Why did she leave him? Because of his accident? Nobody knows and will ever know. Then suddenly we also learn that Ethan's accident that made him crippled for life was the result of the betrayal from his former best friend, Yaseer Siddiqui. Why did he really do that? Jealousy? Once again... who knows? Then suddenly it is revealed (without any surprise when one sees the name) that Omar is the son of that very former friend. Ethan accepts it and says nothing. What was the use of revealing that? I do not know. What does it add to the story? I do not know either. One feels emptiness watching this movie, as if it was done with a shallow way. Unfortunately Bhansali did not give the topic and the movie the deepness that it deserved. Something was terribly missing. 

Believe in magic...

So unfortunately, in terms of story, Guzaarish did not meet my expectations but I found the positive in the soundtrack and the performances. I used not to think much of the soundtrack when I heard the promos, but in the movie, they were in their perfect place. My heart goes to Udi, it was my favourite moment of the movie and showed even more deepness to the character of Sofia. (character that I just loved) To me, it is the most beautiful song of 2010, and probably the most beautiful cinematic moment of last year.

                     

But what gives strong points to Guzaarish are the actors and their performances. Hrithik was amazing, people who say that it was the best of his career are not wrong. His face is so expressive, his eyes deep and one can feel his inner sadness so strongly. He portrayed the joyful and depressed shades of Ethan perfectly. Aditya Roy Kapoor gives the movie its light, most of the light moments were his. There was a frankness in his performance that I totally loved. But the special mention has to go to Aishwarya. That was her career best. She as Sofia was the soul of the movie. She was amazing and mindblowing, there were no flaws in her portrayal. There would be no Guzaarish without Sofia in my opinion. Sofia is a magical dream, she rises like a phoenix out of her ashes, blooms like a rose and is as mysterious as the smile of Mona Lisa. She seems to be another definition for the word woman. She is strong, level-headed, frank and a devoted friend. 

The love-story between Ethan and Sofia was beautifully directed and portrayed. You do not see it, you feel it. Their love was so beautiful and spirited, it was quiet but so strong thanks their feelings.

Aren't they cute? 

That scene was... hilariously awkward

Ok, now this is sad... very sad... :(

Do you love Sanjay Leela Bhansali's works? Then, watch Guzaarish but I would advice you to lower your expectations. That was my mistake, mine were too high and perhaps I do not like it as much as it deserves. But unfortunately, it cannot gain points from me when there are plotholes and that something is definitely missing. I felt the emotions but I was sometimes disconnected from the story. However, it is worth your time if you want to see a great performance from Hrithik and an Aishwarya at her absolute best. You will see beautiful scenes, but do not expect a perfectly executed movie. No matter how much a movie is technically perfect, if it has no soul, one cannot love it.

Credit goes to Lime(tte) for the screencaps (I hope you do not mind. I can still remove them from my blog if you wish Lime). Do check her "visual review" of Guzaarish here. 

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Happy Holi!

Aaah Holi... The source of many joyous (and colourful) songs in Bollywood. So, to celebrate it my own way, I just selected my three favourite Holi songs.

 3. Let's Play Holi - Waqt - The Race against Time
I have not watched the movie yet, but this song is too catchy for me not to mention it.

2. Holi Ke Din - Sholay
The perfect Holi song! Joyous, lively... and served with Hema Malini's grace.

1. Soni Soni - Mohabbatein
I did not like the movie, but the great soundtrack saves it and Soni Soni is defintiely the gem, the one which stands out. What can I say more? Watch it to see by yourself!

Happy Holi!

Devdas (2002)

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali 
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Kirron Kher, Jackie Shroff
Released: 2002
My rating: 10/10

Devdas can be considered as the Indian "Romeo and Juliet", a legendary and tragic love-story of modern times in India. And when it saw the light as a short novel written in 1901 by a young and drunk Sarat Chandra Chatterje, he did not know Devdas would definite the passionate and tragic lover when it would be published, more than a decade later, in 1917 (despite its strong objections).  With Devdas started a new era, be it in Indian literature but also in Indian cinema, as a young P. C. Barua said "Devdas will make film history!"  The novel, which is set in 19th Century Bengal, was the object of many movie adaptations, already in 1927 until our time, and the story still captivates millions of people. One of the most recent adaptations is the one by Sanjay Leela Bhansali released in 2002 which had a tremendous success in India, but also abroad as it made it to Cannes and created some interest from the West towards the Hindi cinema industry. The movie was praised and created a new era for the future and success of Bollywood in Europe.

Paro and Devdas - the epidome of tragic love-story

The story is not complicated. Devdas (Shahrukh Khan) and Paro (Aishwarya Rai) are childhood sweethearts. Devdas is sent to study abroad, in London, by a displeased father. Years later, he comes back as a grown-man while Paro blossomed into a stunning and celestial beauty. All those years, she yearned for his return, lighting up a lamp which no force on Earth can extinguish. What used to be childhood affection turns to passionate love. But, due to an argument between the two families and to Paro's lower social status, the parents of Devdas refuse even the slightest idea of marriage. After an argument with his father, Devdas runs away, leaving both home and Paro, and sends the latter a letter saying no love ever were between the two. Realizing soon he did a mistake, Devdas comes back to her on the very day of her wedding, with a much older man. Heart-broken, Devdas turns to alcohol and seeks solace from a courtesan, Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit) to forget his pain, and hence starts his self-destruction... 

Devdas, my first Bollywood movie. The most beautiful cinematic moment I have ever lived. I shall never forget it. I still remember the shock and the amazement it provoked in me. From the beginning, I was hooked into a masterpiece larger than life.

This part is so sad...

Visually, Devdas is breath-taking, in every frame, every details, nothing is misplaced. With Devdas, Sanjay Leela Bhansali proves he is not only a filmmaker but a painter giving life and motion to his pictures. Throughout the movie, there is a predominance of red/orange tones, which gives the visual atmosphere a vibrant feeling, vibrant is also the perfect word to describe Bhansali's work from the vibrant visuals, vibrant characters and vibrant story. There is an aura of greatness in every frame. In the end, the visuals serve the story, not the contrary. Not once the visual glory of Devdas makes you loose the touch with story.

The true greatness of the movie definitely lies in the story and the characters. Be it Devdas, Paro or Chandramukhi, they are all human, with their qualities and flaws; all those three characters cannot be called any less than complex characters. Devdas is a spoilt young man, arrogant and sometimes violent, but he is kind-hearted and loves Paro with all his heart. He is weak, but in the same time more human than most people around him. He will have to pay for his weakness all his life. Paro is this dignified and proud being, and as Devdas got a punishment for being weak, she will also be punished for her vanity. Then appears Chandramukhi, as the moonlight appears in the darkest of nights. She is a prostitute, and this illusion of her being a woman with no value in life disappears as soon as she takes care of Devdas, dutiful, generous and giving.

 

Shahrukh Khan is amazing as the tragic-lover Devdas, and gives us here the greatest performance of his career, I even think this is the best male performance from an actor ever. His Devdas is real. He is Devdas, in his every breath, every glance, every gesture, every word. Shahrukh brings an aura of grandeur in the beginning as a gentleman coming from London in the first half, before we can feel his suffering, in the second half of the movie, as if we are living it. Despite the character's flaws and mistakes, Shahrukh Khan makes us pine for him. Devdas is heartbreaking.

Paro - the celestial beauty

Aishwarya Rai is wonderful as the dignified and dutiful Paro. She has never been more beautiful than in Devdas. Her eyes are crystal-clear and delivers every emotions Paro feels: her love, her hopes, her braveness, her despair and her pride. There is a tremendous difference between the Paro of the beginning, and the Paro of the second half. Paro is first a young and stunning woman yearning for Devdas and dreaming of a marriage with him, but when she is wedded to a much older man than her, she lives her fate with dignity and (proud) silence. In the second half, she seems almost haughty, and  possesses the aura of a real aristocrat; everything, from her glance to her standing, is regal. Her character is admirable.

Chandramukhi - the golden-hearted courtesan

But the heart-stealer is definitely Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. Stunning and glowing like the moonlight, she first attracts your eyes and then you give her your whole compassion as Chandramukhi soon shows herself to be a gold-hearted woman, who gives her love and does not expect it in return. She knows Devdas will only love Paro, and only Paro, but she feels happy and grateful to have been touched by God's grace. In this way, she can only remind one of Meera, the famous poetress in love with Lord Krishna, who sung and danced her whole life to praise him. Chandramukhi is then definitely Devdas's Meera, as she dedicates her whole soul to him and worships him. She is also a strong and determined woman, who despite being a courtesan, possesses her self-esteem too. The scene where she slaps Kali-babu is one of the most memorable of the whole movie. Madhuri Dixit gives her whole soul to the character, and who cannot drown in her most expressive eyes?

Kahe Chhed Mohe - a pure and marvellous dancing moment

One cannot speak about Devdas without mentionning the soundtrack and the breath-taking dance numbers. Every track is marvellous and compliments the movie marvelously. No song is misplaced, and each of them serves the story. You fall in love with Shreya Ghosal's voice as soon as Silsila Ye Chaahat Ka starts playing. Morey Piya is beautiful, powerful story-telling of the love of Radha and Krishna, so is its picturization made of a shy sensuality. Kahe Chhed Mohe is magical and fantastic, it is to me the most beautiful dancing moment ever. Definitely the magnum opus of Madhuri Dixit when it comes to dance. Classical and Indian in every form. But one of the highlights of the movie is without doubt the extraordinary Dola Re Dola which demanded great dedication from both Madhuri and Aishwarya. The result is magnificent. Every steps, choreographed by Saroj Khan, is executed flawlessly. The dance is lively, and the colourful set adds to its splendor. We feel the emotions, the love and the friendship of Paro and Chandramukhi from every smile and gesture of them. Joy is written all over their faces. This is not too much to call Dola Re Dola the most stunning and greatest dance sequence in the history of Indian cinema.

Dola Re Dola - breath-taking in every sense of the term

In the end, Devdas is and will always be (to me) the summum of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work. It is perfect in every frame, breathes life and tragedy, actually emotions is another great word to describe this movie. It captures feelings, and humanity perfectly. Two years after watching it for the first time, the shock is still the same. I still have the very feeling of this movie touching something greater than life. In the end, Devdas is much more than a cinematic work.

The eyes of pain...

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