Who says that Indian film industry is all about dancing and singing around the trees.Bollywood is definitely coming of age.Today, there is a lot more variety for the Bollywood viewers.Topics such as HIV/AIDS and homosexuality are being discussed openly in today`s Bollywood films.After the critically acclaimed ’’Phir Milenge’’ comes another touching story about AIDS called ’’My Brother Nikhil’’, a small budget film with not such a grand star cast, but in the end of the film, you will relaise that nor is a big budget film and nor is a grand star cast, the factor for what you are looking in a film.A good story is what a viewer is craving for and ’’My Brother Nikhil’’, definitely serves you with that-a good and a heart-warming story.
Four Front Films. ’’My Brother Nikhil’’, directed by Onir, stars Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri, Lillette Dubey, Victor Bannerjee, Purab Kohli, Shayan Munshi, Peeya Rai Chaudhari and Shweta Kawaatra.This film has been produced by Sanjay Suri, for the first time, as the story touched his heart and he decided to finance it.Will the story be able to touch the audiences heart?
The film starts with Anamika a.k.a Anu (Juhi Chawla), introducing you to her life and to her brother Nikhil (Sanjay Suri) who dies about 11 years back, due to the most deadly disease called AIDS.The story then starts from the 1989, in the beautiful beaches of Goa, where there is a family, living very happily.This is Nikhil`s family.Nikhil is the state-level swimming champion of Goa.His life is filled with happiness.He is the most looked upon guy, in Goa.Everybody loves him.From his mother to his father and from his sister, Anamika to his friends.Swimming, laughing, spending beautiful moments by the beaches of Goa, talking about his ambitions with his sister and having fun time with his friends-that`s exactly Nikhil`s life.A life everyone would wish to lead, but everything changes in Nikhil`s life on 8th August 1989.From that day, his life becomes miserable.His parents (Victor Bannerjee, Lillette Dubey), disown him, his friends and girlfriend (Dipannita Sharma) turn their backs at him and life stops giving him happiness.The reason-he has been involved in a gay relation with his friend, Nigel (Purab Kohli) and as a result, he becomes a patient of AIDS, the disease from which no one has ever been able to escape.A disease which brings your life to an end.At this crucial stage, there is his sister Anamika, who goes against her family and supports her brother Nikhil and the guilty Nigel, also takes his side.During these miserable days, the bond of Anamika and Nikhil gets even more stronger and together they spend the painful moments of their lives.Anamika remains with her brother Nikhil, throughout his last days; watching him suffering from pains and torturous times.How does Anamika supports her brother, how does she feel when she sees her brother in pain and how she now feels without him, is what this film is all about.
Sanjay Suri deserves a pat on his back, for first of all producing such a lovely film and secondly, for giving such a brilliant performance.He shows the nervousness, the fear and the guilt of Nikhil, amazingly.He has never been so expressive before.He had always been an amazing actor, but I can`t figure it out that how can Bollywood waste such a good actor.He has never been given a chance to show his acting skills.He has never done a main role or a solo hero project before.Though, I have always liked his performance, in every film of his, but in this one he is simply superb.A performance which will sure win this talented actor his due.
Juhi Chawla is also no less.She proves yet again, that we can never find a replacement for Juhi Chawla.After excellent performances in ’’Jhankaar Beats’’ and ’’Teen Deewaarein’’ the actress hits the bull`s eyes once again.She has studied Anu`s character deeply and has come up with such a fantastic performance, which one cannot even describe in words.How she performs when she goes against her family and when she sees her brother going through painful time, in his last days, proves that she is an incomparable actress and a bundle of talent.It is good that after her marriage, she is not wasting herself and is doing meaningful films such as ’’Jhankaar Beats’’, ’’Teen Deewaarein’’ and now, this one.
Others also do a wonderful job!Purab Kohli as Nigel, Nikhil`s gay friend, gives a performance, worth noticing.The veejay cum actor is natural to the core and he should get to do more such films.A performance which will surely catch you unaware!Lillette Dubey as Nikhil`s mother Anita performs very well, as usual and so does Victor Bannerjee as a father who loves his son so much and then due to circumstances, disowns him and turns his back at him.Shweta Kawaatra as Nikhil`s lawyer Anjali, lends able support.Shayan Munshi and Peeya Rai Chaudhari don`t really get meaty roles but whatever little they`ve got to do.they have done it well.
Onir is a debutante director and very few films nowadays are well-directed.Very few films touch your heart and this is definitely one of those few films.The light moments in the first half, are brilliantly executed and are very real.They are not ?filmi?.The relations between Nikhil and his family look very realistic and identifiable.The second half, takes a twist and the sad part is also shown beautifully.The film is sad, the film makes you cry but it is not depressing.This is where, the director scores.Script is very well-written.All the scenes are very well-planned and all the characters seem very real.If there is a gay, Nigel, then his character is not at all, over the top, something which we usually, see in bollywood.the gay is shown like a normal human being and not a creature from other planet.I mean that there is no ’’Bobby Darling’’ here.The relation between Nikhil and his sister is very well shown and their scenes definitely touches the heart.I am sure that the hearts of even the stone-hearted will also melt.
Cinematography is excellent and the beauty of Goa has been captured perfectly, on the celluloid.Amitabh Varma`s dialogues do touch your heart and are very well-written, but very non-filmi (thankfully).Viveck Philip`s music is really soothing and peaceful but mind it, that there are no lip sync songs, here.
So, finally!There are some films, these days, which are made just for the heck of it.There are also some films, which have a good story but lack soul but there are also some films which are made with heart and have a soul and ’’My Brother Nikhil’’ is definitely on of them.If you are looking forward to watching a good film, in its true sense, this one is surely for you.Go for it!