Credits:
Sridevi – Shashi Godbole
Adil Hussain – Shashi’s husband
Navika Kotia – Shashi’s Daughter
Shivansh Kotia – Shashi’s Son
Priya Anand – Shashi’s Niece
Sulbha Deshpande – Shashi’s Mother in Law
Sujata Kumar – Shashi’s Sister
Priya Anand- Radha
Mehdi Nebbou – French cook
Amitabh Bachchan – Shashi’s co-passenger on the flight
After a very long time, went to see a movie basis JUST the lovely trailer with the one and only Sridevi back to her comic best. Every review has said this was a great movie – all of them wrote the review after seeing it just once. For me, the movie just moved into my heart and stayed there. Daring me to write about it.
I went and then saw the movie again ! Just saw this movie for the SECOND time and couldn’t help
a. the excitement of being caught in traffic and wondering if I could make it in time to the theater for the show
b. noticing that wonderfully scripted screenplay
c. noticing a lot of extremely subtle sensitive touches - the guard at the station smiling morning at her as she goes to class - the extremely subtle touch about the Pakistani falling in love with a Chinese girl – Sashi being rudely pushed by her daughter at the PTA meeting and then pretending to bend to pick up her bag- the subtle tremor in her voice when she’s seeking her inner strength- the easy Indian dance by Kevin’s parents- the way the extra sounds get zoned out when the character’s mind is tuned out of the conversation- the reaction of Radha and Sashi’s son when her husband declares she was born to make laddoos- the lovely Manhattan fun song-
d. noticing overall the fact that the movie effortlessly clicked at the audience IQ without having to resort to demean it
e. being amazed that such a simple story could be so well told in today’s days of techno savy movies with no heart and being touched by the "soul" of the movie so as to speak
f. laughing once again at the jokes
g. admiring the extremely fine performances by the ENTIRE crew ! (Sri obviously made one feel like giving her a hug in every scene, but Adil as her husband made one sit him down for a beer and see sense too ! The kids could have been from any home and Radha could be anyone’s younger sister in New York and the scenes with Sujata Kumar and the legendary Sulabha Deshpande gave you the comfort of your own home. Monsieur Nebbou was at his charming best and AB is beyond description anyways)
h. doing a " sitting jig" on the New York song
i. noticing the well crafted lyrics and the easy sing along songs that only add to the mood of the moment
j. that lump in the throat in the climax again and silently clapping at Seidevi’s speech
Gauri you and Balki deserve the standing ovation for this movie. They are born, not made. They may or may not win awards, but they win hearts and that’s what movie are for ! As Laurent says it so beautifully to Sashi – “ It is not small work...it is an act of love and you are an artist, you make so many people happy with your craft”
Favorite scenes
PTA meeting
The beautifully filmed “rat” scene when Radha learns Sashi’s secret
Obviously the scene at the coffee shop ( most people here do think it was overdone, but it was not, it was the most realistic display of what can happen there if an arrogant counter woman has been having a bad day )
The class room scenes
The in-flight scene with AB
The laddu re-make scene and obviously the
Climax Scene