What made me watch this film?
- Someone told me it was about Reality of Life & Love and I was willing to see this side of this sometimes over-rated emotion called Love.
2.Rituparno Ghosh. I have heard enough of this celebrated Bengali Director and had never watched his work before.
Well, I did get kicked around even before the interval by my family coz they term it as art film and it’s definitely not their idea of a Christmas special Sunday evening movie! :D Can’t blame them, can I? However, before u RRC this revu, let me tell u that I’m expecting brickbats here as well. I’m just trying to give my opinion on the movie and please, don’t hold back... u can very well express ur own in the comments section! :)
Stats on the film, ’RAINCOAT’:
Manoj (Ajay Devgan) & Neeru/ Neerja (Aishwarya Rai) are two individuals from the same village in Bihar, once lovers...now... in their words... ’’Boyfriend & Girlfriend’’
The original script for this film was written in Bengali by Rituparno Ghosh.
It was later converted to Hindi by Usha Ganguly...and people like me would be glad coz I don’t understand Bengali & I?d consider it a shame to miss this film...speaking for myself!
Raincoat marks the debut of Rituparno Ghosh into Bollywood. So, this movie may as well be considered a landmark for this reason!
Genre of the film: Drama
Length: 117 mins
The rest of the Cast includes Annu Kapoor, Mauli Ganguly (she?s cute!!), Sameer Dharmadhikari & definitely, THE RAINCOAT among the pivotal characters who shape this film.
The story so far?:
Well, I?m not going to be a devil and reveal the plot in detail so, all those of u genuinely interested in catching this flick will curse me to hell ;) However, irrespective of whether U have sent his film or not, I am going to highlight a few scenes from the film which I believe is the essence of this story?something that must be observed through the eyes of those characters & not judged as a third person.
A gist of the story will be: Two lovers, sharing their own sweet world of love, are once day jolted to reality of life when the girl, after waiting for 8 years, finally gets married to a seemingly affluent guy for the sake of ?security?. The heart-broken lover boy lets go and struggles his way on his life?s path. The movie begins with Manoj packing off to Calcutta, being reduced to borrowing money (or like he calls it ?begging?) off his friends to set up a new business venture. Against his mother?s and friend?s advice, Manoj visits Neeru one rainy afternoon while he?s in Calcutta and from here, I?d leave the story for U to watch & decipher?
Highlights of the movie:
Bhool gaya iski khatir ek hi film 6-6 baar dekhi:
This line comes from Manoj?s friend who retaliates to Manoj?s wish to meet Neerja, the girl titled to have ditched him for the sake of a secure matrimony. What touched me about this line is the essence of friendship. We really go to depths & even do some of the craziest things for our friends?why? Hey buddy! That?s friendship!! : )
Bathroom mein rote waqt shower on rakhna: Shiela, Manoj?s bhabhi (his friend?s wife) who seemingly happy seems to be a soul already handling that pain of having loved & lost. Mauli Ganguly has emoted this very well. Kudos to her!
Ladkiyan bidai ke waqt itna kyun roti hain? Apne parivaar se bichadne ka gham ya fir?kuch aur?:This scene literally tugged at my heart because it is a harsh reality that suddenly struck me that how many people sitting in that theatre with me at that time would be able to relate to this. THIS is life?in it?s practical form, in full reality. Life doesn?t always give us what we want but, we don?t stop living, whatsoever! That?s Life!
Ek ladki apne dukh kabhi nahi batati, khaaskar use jisne use dhoka diya ho, uske vishwas ko toda ho:Annu Kapoor?s line with his trademark skill of natural delivery DID make an impact! Dignity or ego?call it what u want, but this is a true fact that not everyone would cry their heart out about their pain and sufferings, at least not to the one who has once let down her trust.
Main 8 saal thi tumhare saath Manu. Tumhe aaj hi ka din mila?:On the eve of Neeru?s marriage, Manoj suddenly realizes that he can?t let go of her and when he tries to plead to her to come back into his life, Neeru sez these lines. What is noteworthy is the pain of this character, Neeru, when her heart wishes to accept Manoj?s proposal but, her circumstances stop her from doing it. A perfect situation of heard-rendering decision-making : )
Lies?lies?and more lies?: The scenes between the two lovers, Manoj & Neeru, in Neeru?s ?aantik??antique?furniture filled home (see the movie to unveil this mystery) is worth every bit of it! Never seen acting that?s so natural! Both actors have given a smashing performance and the dialogues have the effect of making u feel pain thru the laughter they pull from the audience. Watch it to believe it!! Everything, right from ?can?t travel in plane for fear of getting locked in bathroom? to ?dietician?s rules? to ?washing hands in fingerbowls??everything is worth it! U?ll never know how time slips by as u watch these two exchange lies in all it?s splendor & glory! :D
Thanks kise kahoon? Tumhe ya Govind ko?:Manoj sez to Shiela --(Govind is their servant who lends the raincoat)?But, I?d like to add to that? Thanks to the Raincoat, we have a story here that?s worth watching if u?re in the mood to take reality with a pinch of salt!
I?m CONFUSED!!:
There?s one thing that I was baffled about after watching the climax. It was that if Neeru could give Manoj her ornaments (watch the movie to know how the transfer occurs! ;) ) then, why couldn?t she use it to save herself from the miserable life of poverty that she was already leading??