Some films are made to entertain the masses.Sum are made to earn a quick buck at the box office.And then once in a blue moon comes a film like DHOBI GHAT......This film which is an ode to the city of Mumbai is a film which deserves to be promoted.
Not because it is different from the rest of the films, but because it is a slice of life film which has been crafted so exquisitely that as the film progresses, the audience becomes the 6th character in the film...The other five being-Arun, Shai, Munna, Yasmeen & Mumbai.....
The film absorbs you and does not let you go even when it ends and you will mostly take the characters home with you and ponder about them long after the film is over.Moving to the characters, , , lets start with Arun played brilliantly by Aamir khan...
His character of a recluse painter who likes to work on his own terms is the fulcrum of the story.And Aamir is making a habit of mesmerizing the audience each time he makes an appearance on screen.
Shai played by newcomer Monica Dogra is a masterstroke as far as casting goes as she carries off the role of the New York returned investment banker on a sabbatical with elan.I am in love with her.
Yasmeen played by Kriti Malhotra has such pathos in her performance that it moves you and when her character ends, it leaves a lump in your throat.But the most definitive act of the film comes from Prateik Babbar who plays Munna with such rawness that you simply cant take your eyes off him.
And the fifth and the most imp character is that of Mumbai, , , the city...which is a silent spectator to the lives of these 4 people.....The lilting music by Gustavo Santaolalla helps create the mood and takes the story forward.....
But it is the amazing story and the brilliant direction of Kiran Rao which takes this film to a new level and keeps you hooked on to the proceedings right till the end....So...this weekend...do yourself a favor...Grab a ticket to Dhobi Ghat and fall in love with Mumbai....All over again...