Black (*****1/2) [That’s right, 5.5 on 5]

Genre: Inspirational Drama, NEW Genre (never done in Bollywood)

Released: 04th Feb‘05

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Cast: Amitabh Bacchan, Rani Mukherjee, Ayesha Kapur, Shernaz Patel, Dhritam Chaterji, Nandana Sen

(***** Exceptional, **** Brilliant, *** Good, ** Average, * Avoidable)



Before we talk about this movie, let me tell you that I always thought Taran Adarsh was the best critic and when I saw him give 2 stars to Black I did not see the movie first day first show. I made a mistake! Taran says that this movie (since it is in English in parts) will not do well at small centers. I disagree.

This movie is not about dialogues, it is not about Hindi or English, it is not about understanding the language. This movie is about emotions. This movie is about human desire to live, to succeed. This movie is about pain, about joy, about positive and negative thoughts, it is about guilt and pride, is about Life. Do we still think that an average audience won’t understand it, won’t relate to it? Don’t we expect them to relate to Life?



Second, I have given 5 ½ stars to the movie. The extra half star is for making even the stone-hearted men cry in the movie hall. The extra half is for keeping the audience (even the front benchers) captivated throughout the 14 reels (2 hours 16 min). The extra half star is for making a movie that cannot be classified into an existing genre in bollywood. The extra point is for making such a wonderful movie that apart from being flawless (technically) is a piece of fine art of highest degree and highest order. This half star is for the man who made Black – Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Bravo! Pat your back and celebrate because you have made a movie that has raised the bar of excellence, because you have made a movie that probably even you would find difficult to make again. Thanks SLB for giving us Black.





In short: Rush to theatre now. Don’t spoil the experience by watching a pirated VCD which has only 1 hour 28 minutes of the movie. Black is here. Don’t miss it.



The highlights:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He made Khamoshi the Musical, then Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, then Devdas, and now Black. What an amazing story teller he is!
Amitabh Bachchan. He is peerless.
Rani Mukherjee. It’s her best performance till date and I doubt if she can do any better ever again.
Ayesha Kapur (the child artiste). She is expressive, talented and impressive. She has matched AB expression for expression in many scenes. I don’t know if there can be a better compliment for an actor.
The entire cast: they have given their best. True, SLB took it out of them but they had to deliver. They did.
Technically, a flawless movie. Cinematography, Sets, Background Score, acting… just about everything is perfect.
Despite it being a seemingly dark film, you come out of the hall without a heavy head.


The let-downs:

NONE.


The limiting factors:

Some people who will watch it on a pirated CD or DVD will not like it (as the CD making company would have made their unkind cuts to the movie) and will spread the word that it is not a good movie. This may limit the movie’s success to some extent.


A little more about the movie: This movie tells the story of Michele McNelly (Ayesha(kid)/ Rani Mukerjee) who is deaf, mute and blind. She doesn’t behave like a normal child and needs a teacher who can teach her words, its meanings and more. Debraj Sahai (Amitabh), a teacher with his own school of thoughts on how to teach a special child, comes into the family and then the magic begins. How he helps the child learn looks authentic and credible. Do not miss the expressions on the faces of Rani and Amitabh in the scene following Sara’s (Nandana Sen) marriage.

Later in the movie, Amitabh suffers from Alzheimer’s disease – he forgets everything, even the words and their meaning. The roles are reversed. Rani becomes the teacher and Amitabh her student who cannot even remember what he learns.

Some may argue that the pace of the movie slackens in the second half but I, once again, disagree. It does not. It goes at a pace that is just perfect for this story.

In a good movie, you have some moments (dialogues, expressions, execution) that are memorable and remain in your mind and heart. This movie doesn’t give you moments. This entire movie is a memorable fare. You will remember each and every scene, every single expression, every conversation, the background score, the lighting, the sets, the drama, and above all the scenes where you cried. You will remember it long after the movie is over.

I saw almost everyone looking at their watch when the movie ended as they wanted it to go on for ever. They looked at their watches in disbelief that 2 and half hours were past.



Acting Performances: Dhritam Chaterji (Mr. McNelly) has a small role in the film. He impresses. Shernaz Patel (Mrs. McNelly) has given an award-worthy performance. Her histrionics are commendable. She is brilliant throughout the movie. Nandana Sen (Sara) plays her part effectively. She too has a small but important role.

Rani Mukherjee has redefined herself as an actress. A scene where she cries over the phone is so powerful that you can actually feel as if you were holding the receiver at the other end of the line. She is flawless as is the movie. My two cents on her getting the best actress award for this movie.

Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan! He is the best in the business and if his popularity and the number of assignments that he has were not proof enough, he has re-established himself as the best. He is believable as a drunken teacher, he is credible as a magician, and he is understandable as a caring person. If this performance does not get him all major awards next year, probably that would be the time to stop taking these award ceremonies seriously.

The performances are magical!

Plot Revealed In The Review:	Not revealed
Best to watch with:	Family
Movie Genre:	No Comment
Best part in the movie:	No Comment