My Brother Nikhil - a humbling experience. Review on My Brother Nikhil

Assuming that you get the movie ''My Brother Nikhil'', you are left with an empowering feeling of introspection right after watching the movie. What would it be like if you were thrown into a real-life situation where you needed to play a role of any of the five principal characters of the movie? True, Bollywood is evolving and this movie affirms it. A landmark film in its own regard, the movie will quench your pertinent thirst for meaningful cinema.

It’s the story of Nikhil (Sanjay Suri), a struggling swimmer by profession, narrated by his Sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla), his friend and support-system Nigel (Purab Kohli), his mother (Lillete Dubey), his father (Victor Benerjee) and a handful of others. Nikhil's life is shattered when he finds out that he is HIV+. His life takes a U-turn and he gets ostracized by the society through a series of events. Things get worse to the extent that he is made to leave his house by his parents. His parents even move out of town unable to digest the befallen insult upon the family.

Anamika aka Anu, on the other hand stays and stands by her brother.

Nigel and Anamika together, take care of Nikhil during the last 8 years of his fading life. The movie is actually about the pain and turmoil they undergo and most importantly its about the fight for justice they put up for the person they love the most - Nikhil. The bond between the three of them is beautifully portrayed with glimpses of past and present. Each is constructively jealous about the other's relationship with Nikhil. Together, they help Nikhil regain the love of his parents, earn back dignity, reaffirm his faith in humanity and eventually embrace death peacefully.

One thing to be obviously warned about is that the movie begins to take an emotional toll on you in post-interval portions. The narration gains momentum and starts making more sense and relevant as it proceeds. The script is very well written and is complemented with a graceful screenplay.

One other department the movie stands out is - acting. Juhi Chawla, plays her natural self - grace personified. She carries off the role of an understanding sister who would go to any extent to care for her brother - with extreme innocence, yet with much maturity. Whether its lighter moments or emotional scenes, she is in full form. Sanjay Suriplays the role of Nikhil with such sincerity, conviction and perfection that by the end of the movie you empathize with the character you've known just for the last couple hours.

Purab Kohlitakes you by surprise by the amazing control and restraint he shows in playing Nigel. He emerges as a winner all the way in portraying by-far-most one of the most difficult roles in recent Hindi cinema. His expressions and body language speak volumes and should send a clear statement to all the undeserving star-kids who have been infesting the movie industry lately. Lillete Dubey and Victor Benerjee effectively portray the conflict between the morals/values they have been living by and the love for their child.

One could not agree more when Nikhil's mother confesses and repents that she could have eased Nikhil's trauma by the very fact of being his mother but instead - she killed him the very moment she wished he had been born dead rather than premature. Likewise, a scene flashes over the screen where Nigel is holding a visibly-deteriorated Nikhil by the seashore and Nikhil stares at the Sea and Nigel filled with guilt and pain, as if it was his last chance to glance at the two things which meant the most to him.

The Music is soulful and glues different pieces of the narration together. Enjoy the three different interesting renditions (by Shaan, Sunidhi & KK) of one single, well-written, hummable song - ''Le chale, le chale..''. All said and heard the caption of the project; Onirsuccessfully launches his voyage and given his panache for writing and casting as well, hope he continues to sail smoothly.

Well, yeah the central character is gay and has AIDS, the two aspects not necessarily being related. The movie does not invite any discussions as to how Nikhil got infected and how much against the nature is it to be gay. So you are either stuck at these two aspects and leave the cinema confused or you get over them quickly and witness an impactful human drama.