FILM REVIEW: BLACK (2005)

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Applause Entertainment
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Shernaz Patel, Dhritiman and Ayesha Kapoor

Radio Sargam Rating: 9/10

BACKGROUND:
Quite possibly the most awaited movie of the year! After the success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, the talented director Sanjay Leela Bhansali bravely changes route and tackles something darker and more subtle in his latest flick Black.

SYNOPSIS:
Paul McNally (Dhritiman) and his wife (Shernaz Patel) have a daughter who suddenly goes deaf and blind as a child. They are aghast. Paul wants to send the child Michelle to a school for the deaf and blind… he even considers a mental asylum! But his wife wants to try getting her a tutor.

Michelle (Ayesha Kapoor) needs a tutor because she is has a wild and angry soul. The tutor does arrive in the form of Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan) who wants to derive different ways of teaching his pupils.

There’s a clash between Paul and Debraj and it seems things won’t work out between them. However Paul leaves town for twenty days and during this time, Debraj starts teaching Michelle words and their meaning. By the time her father is back, Michelle is ready to expand her dictionary. She eventually grows up to be a fine lady and inculcates manners and etiquettes from Debraj.

At a Christmas Party, Debraj gets Michelle introduced to a principal of a famed college and wants Michelle to study there. Michelle is obviously not like other students, and hence has to go through a test. Debraj who has been her interpreter for long has to sit out and another person is used as an interpreter, and Michelle comes out with flying colours to gain admission.

However she is not able to do well in her exams despite a few attempts and Debraj is angry with her. Slowly she works hard … but in the meantime Debraj is losing his stability… his eye sight. He even leaves Michelle in the middle of the road once and returns home without knowing about it. He is suffering from the Alzheimer’s disease.

Michelle’s sister is about to get married and when Debraj explains to her about the concept of the groom kissing the bride at the altar, she feels the need to get into a physical relationship and wants Debraj to kiss her lips. Debraj refuses, but after Michelle throws a tantrum, he kisses her and the shame of doing so, gets him to go away.

And when he returns 12 years alter, he cannot remember anything. He does not recognize people and he is a complete wreck. Now Michelle who is now a graduate takes it upon herself to teach her tutor.

ANALYSIS:
There is so much depth in this tale. Bhansali tries to find colour in black. Definitely, one needs guts to make a film like Black after making Devdas and I agree that the film is the beginning of a new era for Hindi cinema.

The film has many dialogues in English which might be a deterrent for viewers in rural India, but elsewhere, the movie is bound to rock. The film should definitely win awards at a few international festivals and could easily be the confirmed entry for this year’s foreign film at the Oscars.

The director takes us through a breathtaking experience and even though the film is a little slow, the tale demands the pace.

The film is also an experience in itself for people to know about the dark and soundless lives of people who are deaf and blind. Dedicated to Helen Keller, Black will indeed move you.

Performances are brilliant. For Amitabh Bachchan, this is easily the best performance of his career. He has various shades in the film and displays a variety of emotions. His performance can make you cry for ever in the film. Amitabh Bachchan has entertained us throughout his career. But in this one, he surpasses himself.

Rani is a real revelation. After all the soft, fun and frothy roles that she has done, a deaf and blind protagonist who has no make-up in the film for more than 80 percent of the time, she is like a dream.

The scene where she gains admission into college, the scene where she asks Amitabh for a kiss on her lips, the scenes where she gets angry at her sister at the time her wedding is being planned are scenes to remember. Rani’s performance is indeed great. She will definitely win multiple awards for the film in which she has no dialogue where she says a full word.

Shernaz Patel returns after a long time in oblivion to deliver a bravura performance. What a role! The girl who is seen often in theatre has done extremely well. Ayesha Kapoor as the child Michelle is also terrific. Not many children her age can carry off a performance like this and that too while working with a legend like Amitabh Bachchan. And there are scenes where she dominates proceedings with utmost ease. Others are competent.

The background score in the film has been used intelligently and helps in the flow of the film. Ravichandran’s cinematography reminds you of certain scenes that you have seen where VK Murthy’s lighting with the aid of natural forces has warmed the cockles of your heart in Guru Dutt’s Kaagaz Ke Phool.

The film is also reminiscent of the Sanjeev Kumar starrer Koshish and Bhansali’s earlier film Khamoshi. But Black is miles ahead of these films. If there is anyone here who thinks that Devdas was good, Bhansali has surpassed himself by leaps and bounds.

CONCLUSION:
The hype for Black has become immense now. The film opens a new chapter for Indian cinema and deserves to be watched!

Reviewed by: Tony

Related Links
Black - Micro Site