A Run For Life. Review on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Cinema in its Brilliant Stroke creates A “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” , once in a while- a Cinema which rolls over a huge credit or must say Tribute to a Legend and narrates his struggle, toil and blood which took him to where he was. What a Viewer is going to be completely taken off balance is the very strong, literally-punching-air-out-of-your-diaphragm sub-plot. In its rarity where Milkha Singh and many more like Him would eventually get their due respect for literally rising from the Ashes!

Probably his unreleased book will portray his deep-seated Agony and Struggle before the Win and what it took to Grow those feathers and be termed as The “Flying-Sikh”- But Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra teamed with Prasoon Joshi has already given their absolute dedication to the Movie.

A very respected co-writer and critic had rightfully asserted which did raise few doubts in my head too- How will one put Farhan Akhtar in the Shoes of a Sikh- He doesn’t look convincing enough. He was much close to the mark( a dialogue which Milkha probably had heard in his Life too). But Farhan Akhtar breaks all the Shackles, Cliché, Stereotypes and fifteen minutes into the movie- its just between you and him. A Character probably talking to every single audience in the Theatre, telling him/her and that here is how I feel, how I approach my day, I am jovial/disappointed/forlorn/torn apart- and all that it takes. Throbbing Veins, Ankle sinews as they shiver, Eyes open with Wonderment- in not a single place did he miss the Grip on him as “Milkha Singh”.

Milkha Singh born in Un-partitioned India, in the Punjab Province of Pakistan, the facial features typically from that Region bearing an Angst which is present in Heart of all Indians, who had to relocate, witness mass murders and all that Emotional turmoil that followed.

The Movie is set in the period of Partition and Post-colonial India, the sets and cinematography matched at par to the Era- Language and Aura just fine-tuned to events which conceived therein. Shahdara with its Old Yamuna Bridge, the Railway Lines, Snippets from Olympics and Asian Games- all bring in the Whiff of that Time. The only glitch in the perfection I find is the Music- Background and Mainstream. But Rakeysh Mehra knows that his Core strength was giving the audience a Narrative which shall probably see an entry into the Oscars and will get Entertainment Tax Free too!

Go and Watch the Movie more than Once to see Milkha Singh- Run, For more than One Reason!

Note: Few Scenes might be a Bit Strong on the Children for they Still don’t know the Price we have Paid for Our Freedom