The film commences with a nurse, Sophia (Aishwariya Rai) busy with her daily chores at the quadriplegic Ethan Mascarenhas’ (Hrithik Roshan) big old house. The background score tells us how her "heart aches" and yet "smiles" to see this man who was bed-ridden for fourteen years. His desolate house (reminds us of the Gothic architecture) with only four people, isolated from the world - is a stark contrast against the green landscape of Goa. This mood reigns over the plot structure till the end (Ethan’s farewell party)!
Hrithik here portrays the character of a world famous wizard, who was a victim of an accident. He was betrayed by his best friend, another wizard who followed him close behind professionally. Ethan’s acceptance of Life’s challenges is a proof of the fact that his spirit was unaffected!
Even though he filed a petition for ‘mercy killing’ (his only Guzaarish) as it could be his only source of relief; he was a source of inspiration for those special children, who believed in his book ‘Learn to Fly’ or for those listeners who were inspired by the bed-ridden wizard turned radio-jockey, to think positively! The lyrics of the song, "Sau Gram Zindagi" sung by Kunal Ganjawala said it all!
The gentle, caring look in Ethan’s green eyes, his regal air inspite of his physical handicap, and his smile that comes straight from the heart - touches one deep within! While watching the movie on a big screen, it only reminded me of Christ’s image!
Throughout the movie, we see Aishwariya communicating mostly through her eyes and subtle smile! The outfits she wore suited her persona extremely well. Her grace, poise, and yet deep & suppressed passion which later gets revealed through her dance performance (along with the song, "Udi" - sung by Sunidhi Chauhan & Shail Hada) at a bar! It only adds to the on-screen chemistry between Ash and Hrithik! The Aishwariya - Hrithik on screen chemistry is prominent in all three movies - Dhoom 2, Jodha Akbar and Guzaarish! Unlike that of ‘Dhoom 2’ and ‘Jodha Akbar’, the duo’s chemistry in ‘Guzaarish’ is subtle but mature!
Sophia’s dance performance brings a smile to Ethan’s lips but the eyes reveal the pain and helplessness of the "genius" magician for the first time, in the movie! It shows his inability to be a part of the choreography - a strong contrast to those heydays when he performed magic shows with Estelle (his assistant), mesmerised his audience with his on-stage romantic movements!
Aishwariya’s acting prowess has been well utilised in all the three SLB movies - ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, ‘Devdas’ and ‘Guzaarish’. And Hrithik has evolved as an actor over the passage of time - from the innocent looking Rohit and the dashing Raj of ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’, to the roles he played in films like ‘Fiza’, ‘Yaadein’, ‘Mission Kashmir’, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, ‘Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage’, ‘Na Tum Jaano Na Hum’, ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’, ‘Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon; to the roles of - mentally challenged Rohit in ‘Koi Mil Gaya’, the aimless Karan in ‘Lakshya’, the gifted Krishna in ‘Krrish’; the thief - Aryan with Greek-god looks in ’Dhoom: 2’, Akbar in ‘Jodha Akhbar’, Zaffar in ‘Luck by Chance’, Jay in ‘Kites’ and finally Ethan in ‘Guzaarish’!
I don’t know how majority of the audience would perceive the last segment of the movie - the rejection of Ethan’s petition, Sophia’s sudden decision to keep his Guzaarish and his decision to satisfy her innermost desire that had always remained unspoken! Platonic Love is enlightenment, salvation and purgation of soul thereby becoming one with the eternity! If the emotion is genuine and unselfish, then one wouldn’t hesitate to transcend all boundaries or sacrifice oneself for the sake of Love! This is so true for Sophia! She never refrained to offer her indefatigable service irrespective of all odds; and in the end she decides to help Ethan in his project "Euthanasia" even though she knew that she could be granted life imprisonment! Mercy killing is not legalised in our country but the heroine decides to set him free from the pain that suffocated him for fourteen years!
Like his other movies, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish’ has been also portrayed with artistic brilliance! The use of colours like black, bluish grey, brown and the transparency of the plastic sheet over the Ethan’s bed - act as contrast to bright red, green, beige, turquoise and white. The colours symbolise the slow poignant journey towards physical death, lifelessness of a paralysed human form - well contrasted against the suppressed passion, devotion and untiring service of Sophia who was "more than a lover", "more than a wife" for Ethan! A movie that justifies the phrase - "Art for Art’s Sake"!