Normal is boring. The clue is to make the new generation of filmmakers breath afresh and try something new and experimental. This has not been on celluloid for long.
There have been few films in the past though that dared defy the set norms of Bollywood. However, to give a new image to Indian cinema persons like Sanjay Suri, Vicky Tejwani, Onir and Raj Kaushal have joined hands and made a banner of their own called Four Front Films.
Stalwarts like Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza also made a combine called Dreamz Unlimited. So also Shekhar Kapur, Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Verma joined hands and formed India Talkies to produce ’Dil Se’. Four Front Films is an innovation as all the four partners of this banner are not very big names, but still dare to set an example for the luminaries of the glamour world.
RGV, Shekhar and Mani could not continue with their Indian Talkies though and even Shah Rukh had to make new company like Red Chilies to make ’Main Hoon Naa’.
So, is ’My Brother Nikhil’ yet another attempt to deviate from the stereotype? The answer lies in the way this film has been made and in its topic that is very urban but contemporary.
’My Brother Nikhil’ also marks debut of a new director. He is Onir. His technical brilliance is at par with any other sound director. He distinguishes himself from others in the shot- taking.
’My Brother Nikhil’ is set in picturesque locations of Goa. The setting is in eighties and the main protagonist is Sanjay Suri who has been seen in ’Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi’ and ’Jhankaar Beats’. But he has always been denied the share of success by the box office dictates. In ’My Brother Nikhil’, Sanjay Suri has worked on a character that is not a commoner but looks line some of us.
The film deals with AIDS and more so with the mental agony and emotional turbulence of its victim. Once Nikhil has tasted positive after indulging in gay activities (even the solo hit of the year ’Page 3’ deals with this issue in parts), people, relatives and even near and dear ones turn away from him.
He gets peace in the company of his sister (Juhi Chawla), but the his sufferings are far more from the psychological imbalances and social rejection than the real disease. To make a film on AIDS is not an easy task. Revathy lit the torch in ’Phir Milenge’ and now the messiah of Four Front Films attempts one.
While analyzing ’My Brother Nikhil’, one comes across many notions and nuances of filmmaking. Onir mesmerizes you with his filmmaking technique. Not much is known about him, but the people will want to know more about him once they see his movie.
Taking a sports (swimming in this case) champion as a hero of the film has not found favor at the box office in the past. But, Onir who has written the script, besides directing and editing it, made the character of Nikhil look more real in his lines and through his lenses.
He tests the so-called family bonding in difficult times and explores ties among blood relations and friendships. Onir gets good support from his cinematographer Arvind Kannabiran.
With his help, Orin tries to make Goa look more like a natural habitat than that of a tourist place. So, ’My Brother Nikhil’ stands apart from the oldies made in Goa. In this film, location is treated as the undercurrent of the story.
Another newcomer Viveck Philip leaves his mark by composing some very soothing and melodious tunes. The music becomes part of emotions as soon as the tragedy occurs. Shaan, Sunidhi and K.K. have done their parts well in lending their voice to the lines of Amitabh Verma who has written some very touching dialogues.
Among actors, ’My Brother Nikhil’ belongs to Sanjay Suri. He is a surprise element of the film. People have witnessed his efforts to make a role look closer to life in the past.
But through this movie Sanjay Suri has announced his arrival in a big way. Kudos to him and his director who has written such a role for him! Sanjay Suri will definitely benefit from this role and maybe he gets some meaty roles in commercial cinema too.
Juhi Chawla too makes a good comeback on the celluloid. In the role of Anu all her expressions add to the beauty of the film. She also makes Nikhil’s character look closer to real life.
She is the catalyst as all her reactions create chain reactions. Purab Kohli too leaves impression while seniors like Victor Banerjee and Lillete Dubey, are marvelous as always. A film worth watching this weekend, so you may take along your close ones to witness a smooth, emotional and humane story.