Never since the 80’s directors like Basu Bhattacharya reclined from making films, has a simple but effective film been made. Many have tried but they all have either buried themselves beneath the glamour or morbid reality. Nothing has come close to fantasy reality of Golmal or if one reaches higher still then, Rajnigandha. And we are not even going into the complex domain, Ghar and Gharounda. Remember Guddi which through simplicity brought to light such a complex subject with multi dimensional explorations into infatuations of a young child. Although MDDBCH is more of this genre but it is starkly more real, perhaps a modern day version of such a genre of films.
Main Madhuri Dixit Banana Chahti Hoon is just about everything you can imagine with a title like that. Aspiration, craze, passion, quest, heartbreak, understanding and more than everything else, a desire to succeed against all odds. What sets the film apart is its two wonderful characters. Chutki is naive but also determined, she is not the one who will sit empty or let her dreams die, but she does not know how she should go about it. Her spirit is the one which is there is spirit of India, the spirit of dreaming and daring to pursue those dreams. In a way she is not naive too, since she attends a marriage of convenience with Raja and plays a game or two with men around as well. And an absolute charming character of Rajpal Yadav as Raja, her child hood friend and one whose dream is to see her happy, almost carries the burden of the film on his shoulders. As her confidant and supporter who gets robbed of all his dignity for his love, the character is a number of such naive in their own way. Along the way some caricatures come but the main one of them in Raman Trikha is subtly written and enacted as well. It is these three principal characters whose real life quality gives the film the freshness and vitality. And the film does not leave at that, almost like a novel continues probing aspects of existence as it is as opposed to it should have been.
The films strength is its screenplay, very effective, subtle and laced with subtle hidden wit and emotions. Some of the scenes are well enacted like climax and scenes leading to it along with hurried marriage and eloping scenes. The sturggle for a movie and film industry have never been captured so stoicly without a comment on screen before. Editing is just fine although the later half can do with a cut or two. Cinematography is splendid, it just sets the right mood and is remniscent of 1947 Earth. Some of the interiors however, could have been captured better. It has a rustic earthy feel to it and gels with the mood of the film sufficiently. The background score is effective as well. Directorially, the film gets distinction marks since it is tough to extract performances, manage subtlety and also keep the tempo for major part of the film going at same rate. Considering its the first attempt, this is a masterpiece and with experience one can expect some polished stuff. Overall, a fairly decent technical job, and one cant complain much about it. A special mention of the small town sensibility being so sensibly portrayed on screen.
Antara Mali is largely good, imitating Madhuri fairly well in dances and nuances and acting well for major part of the film. Raman Trikha is good as well though he has a small role. But it is Rajpal Yadav who is scene stealer and comes up with the best male performance along with Hrithik in KMG this year. The support cast do just that - support well.
Finally a sensible film which does not shout from top that it is a multiplex fare and not for ordinary folk. Everyone can watch it and enjoy it and still feel heavy. That alone should mean a good success and worth ticket price.