’’Wonderful reviews! Smashing movie! A must watch!, ’’ my cousin told me over the phone, reading out the catchiest phrases he could find over the internet. He paid for his actions. After all, I wasn’t going to pay for my own ticket.
Black? An unusual name for a movie, especially a hindi movie. I’ve always discovered that I’ve to tread cautiously to see highly-rated movies, because they have a tendency to dash my hopes. I lost my fears two minutes into the movie, the unfolding magic on the screen taking up all my attention.
Black the story of Michelle McNally, the eldest daughter of an Anglo-Indian family and Debraj Sahai, her teacher.
Michelle lost her sight and hearing as a result of a disease in her infancy. From the age of two, Michelle has been shut out from the world, in the cage of her mind, binded by her limited senses.
Her father, Paul McNally (Dhritiman Chatterjee) frustrated by his daughter’s disability, is beginning to lose patience with his “wild child.” Her mother, Katherine McNally ( Shernaz Patel is finding it increasingly difficult to convince her husband not to send the child into a mental asylum. She pleads to him for a last attempt to bring a change to their daughter. He agrees to let her call Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan!!!!!, a teacher from a school in Dehradun, specially trained to teach deaf and blind children.
While Michelle searches for a glimmer of light in her life, Debraj searches for a miracle. He knows his potential as a magician, the different kind of magician; one who can bring direction into the lives of the directionless and one who can bring sight into the life of the blind. Debraj hasn’t been able to work his magic as yet, not been able to prove himself to the world.
Co-incidence and the letter of a mother at the end of her wits, brings Debraj and Michelle together.
Would it be wrong to say that Bansali has created the perfect couple on screen?
Young Michelle (Ayesha Kapoor) is as wild, as stubborn and as immature as the bluntest meanings of the words. Her unwillingness to learn, to detach herself from her comfortable world of a pampered child drives Debraj into a frenzy. On top of that, he faces unwillingness of the child’s father to co-operate. Debraj, however isn’t about to give up on his miracle so easily.
And it’s a good thing he didn’t, because then there would be no movie. And that would be a great shame.
Amitabh Bachchan gives a superb performance. He has himself commented that the role has been one of his best performances. I don’t doubt it. He convinces us yet again, that he is an actor, not only of great ability and also of tremendous versatility.
Ayeesha Kapoor is a stunner. She plays the part of young McNally to the hilt. One gets perturbed by her amazing approach to the role.
Rani Mukherjee has lined up yet another hit for herself. {Bengali girl’s doing really well, huh?} Her performance as Michelle McNally was, at the least, breath-taking.
Of the supporting cast, Shehnaz Petal is the best performer, as the mother of Michelle. Dhritiman Chatterjee as Paul McNally plays his part to the utmost, giving a good performance. Nandini Sen as Sara McNally, the ignored younger daughter of the family, is also very convincing.
A special mention to the director, Sanjay Leela Bansali. His Hum Dil De Jhuke Sanam was a very colourful and entertaining film. I didn’t appreciate his direction in Devdas. However, Black is an outstanding film. The sound, the camera work and the cinematography were exceptional.
I can safely say that it will obviously be picking up more than a few Filmfare Awards, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the picking in this year’s Oscars.
This movie is a must watch! Start looking up the nearest theatre this is playing at. You won’t regret it!
No, I’m not getting paid to advertise this film. If you think my comment is hyperinflated, or not a good job in describing how good this movie really is (I wouldn’t be surprised!), please comment.