Does the Gandhi, or can the Gandhi of 1916 survive in the environment of 2007? Do his ideals still exist? Does Gandhi have a solution for today?
‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’ attempts to answer these questions in the best manner it can. Although this sequel of one of the best comedies, Munnabhai MBBS, is a worthy successor, it also has a more profound and deeper meaning. The challenge of living up to a prequel is a daunting affair but to actually make the sequel tackle a contemporary subject in a philosophy that has been rejected by a major chunk of today’s generation is commendable.
Lage Raho Munnabhai is a brilliant movie, a movie that will make you sit back and think at least once after the arcs have dimmed and when all the Munnabhais and Circuits have been relegated to the back of the mind and therein lies the charm of the movie and the power of the philosophy that guides it.
Sanjay Dutt yet again proves that he is no less an actor than the Khans and Kumars of the industry. The actor manages to continue in the same verve as in the previous film but what actually takes the cake is the amalgamation of a soft and emotional heart to a tough exterior and a faith that can shake mountains.
Arshad Warsi dazzles in the role of Circuit that’s destined to become his calling card in the industry. The guy has always been an excellent actor and with this film it is clearly visible that no Munnabhai can ever be made without Circuit.
Boman Irani again proves a worthy antagonist to our heroes. As the loud but business-minded Lucky Singh, the guy is in full bloom. It’s very difficult to play a villain with positive attributes but to the credit of Boman, the actor manages to play the role evenly and ensures that at no time does the audience hate him as the evil man. Vidya Balan as Munnabhai’s love interest plays her role with conviction.
Rajkumar Hirani is a brilliant writer-director. Every scene is well-conceived and directed and the director actually ensures that the audience does not go home with fantasy in their mind but with their feet firmly planted in the ground.
Coming to another important part of the film– Mahatma Gandhi. The man proves that despite being humiliated, despite being scorned and laughed at, despite being written off and assassinated, he still remains a powerful force to reckon with. The answer is out there. Gandhi is dead but he still lives on. His philosophy still exists and surprisingly it exists in the minds of those who hardly care whether he lives or dies.