Rituparno Ghosh, the very popular and successful Bengali film director, makes his debut as a director, in Bollywood, with ?Raincoat?.This time he also repeats his favourite actress Aishwarya Rai, who was there in his previous film, Chokher Bali, too.The film also stars Ajay Devgan, who has earlier worked with Aishwarya rai, several times, but in this film, we are going to see them in very different roles, for the first time.Does it make for an interesting watch?
THE FILM:
Shree Venkatesh Films. ?Raincoat?, directed by Rituparno Ghosh stars Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai, Mouli Ganguly, Sameer Dharmadhikari and Annu Kapoor.Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai, both of them need a hit, desperately.Will they get it in the form of this movie?
THE CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCES:
1.Manu(Ajay Devgan):Manu is a guy, who belongs to a middle class family and has come to Calcutta from Delhi, to find some job and to meet someone-someone whom he has not met since last 6 years.Ajay Devgan give yet again a brilliant performance, as the disheartened yet brave Manu.He is excellent in the scene, when he is crying in the washroom, and his friend`s wife is calling him for breakfast.After a very long time, I`ve seen him giving such a wonderful performance, because throughout this year, he didn`t get a solo hero project.We saw him in supporting roles, throughout the year, in films like ?Khakee?, ?Masti? and ?Taarzan-The Wonder Car?, but now this one will surely not disappoint his fans.
2.Neeru(Aishwarya Rai):Neeru is one such girl, who married a rich guy and for that she sacrificed her love, but one rainy day she meets the one whom she loved, after 6 years.She is a very bold girl who makes very bold statements and from her heart she is a very strong lady.Aishwarya Rai, also gives an awesome performance.She has shown a remarkable improvement in her performance, with this film.The actress whom we (and also I) used to find artificial and fake, surprisingly comes out as a very natural actress, this time.Her dialogue delivery and her face expressions are very different this time, from what we have seen her doing, earlier.Though this character of hers, in this film, has a striking resemblance with the character Paro, which she played in ?Devdas?, but seriously, her performance is better here.Let`s wait to see more of her in her forthcoming film ?Shabd?.
Mouli Ganguly (Shaina of the once very popular T.V serial ?Kaahin Kissii Roz? and also my favourite T.V actress:), as Sheila and Manu`s friend`s wife, makes her debut in a Bollywood film.This time I`ve found her very different from what I`ve seen her in her T.V serials.In all her TV serials she has played the role of a very emotional girl who has problems revolving around her all the time (like in ?Kaahin Kissii Roz? or ?Saaksshi?), but this time she and her role is very different.Here she plays a very cool and calm housewife, and she has done a fine job, in this film.Sameer Dharmadhikari, (who we earlier saw in the film ?Satta-The Game of Power?) as Manu`s friend Alok, doesn`t get a meaty role, but is passable in whatever little he has to do.Annu Kapoor does a fantastic job, in a very small role.The track involving his character is a fun to watch, all thanks to his amazing performance.
THE STORY:
The film is about Manu, who comes to Calcutta from Delhi, to get some money and to find a job.He stays with his friend Alok, who is a shareholder in a television serial company and who is happily married to Sheila.Manu also knows this thing that he willf ind the one whom he loved a lot in Calcutta too.One morning at the breakfast table, he tells Alok and Sheila that he misses Neeru, his love, a lot and that he wants to meet her.After discussions with both of them, he finally comes to the conclusion that he should meet Neeru.
Manu borrows a raincoat from Alok and Sheila, and on that rainy day, wearing that raincoat, he goes off to visit Neeru.It is after 6 years that both the lovers meet, each other.Now, it is time that they can talk openly to each other about their lives, about their feelings.Both of them show off each other, that how successful they are in life.Both of them act infront of each other as if they are very satisfied with their lives, but both of them also know that from their hearts they are not as happy as much as they seem to be.Neeru, used to be Manu`s neighbour, in Delhi, were deeply in love with each other, but due to shortage of money, Neeru had to marry someone who was rich and not Manu, who was still unemployed.How the both lovers meet, talk and finally speak out the truth about their feelings to each other, is what the film revolves around.
THE WORK OF THE CREW:
Rituparno Ghosh has done a very daring job, by making such as different attempt.The director`s job becomes very difficult when a film has no drama or suspense, and if the director succeeds in making such a film, then he deserves a thumbs up, and so a thumbs up to Rituparno Ghosh who has handled such a waferthin plot.The best thing about this film is that it is not melodramatic.Like, the scene when Manu goes to Neeru`s house and Neeru sees him after 6 years, there is no melodrama, at all, and her reaction is very cool and calm.
The characters and treatment of the film is very realistic.The film looks like a stage drama and has a striking resemblance with the Rahul Bose-Kareena Kapoor starrer ?Chameli?, whose story was based on one rainy night and this film is based on one rainy day.Screenplay is a bit half-baked.You will never understand that why does Neeru`s husband doesn`t remain at home?Also, the film is very dull and slow, which might bore you a lot.
Rituparno Ghosh`s dialogues are excellent and such a film where the hero and heroine keep on talking to each other, requires some well-written dialogues, and here the film deserves a 5 out of 5.Editing could have been more crisper, had the film not been stretched for so long.Cinematography is quite good and the camera and sound effects create just the perfect atmosphere for the movie.The film is songless, and that was a good idea, because songs in such a film, would have looked stupid.
ON THE WHOLE:
?Raincoat? is more of a stage drama than a movie.The film is dull and slow and has no entertainment, but at the same time it is a very well acted film, with some very well written dialogues.After ?Swades? this is another film which is for classes and not for the masses.If you like serious movies, if you like stage dramas and if you liked ?Chameli?, then watching this one is not a bad idea.