February 14, 2011

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries)

There have been extreme reactions to the movie Dhobi Ghat. Some have liked it, like all Aamir Khan movies in recent times. However, there are a few who didn't like it. And there is nothing wrong in that. This is perhaps the boldest experiment yet from the production house - even more than Peepli Live. 'Peepli' had a rural charm, and an underlying topic to touch the hearts, Dhobi Ghat has none of them. 


The english title of the movie, Mumbai Diaries does more justice to name. Its a story about the city of Mumbai, and all those words thrown at you in the trailer of the movie. Its not a story about the protagonists, they are just used as a backdrop. Their own tale is incidental to the movie, and it could have been others in their place as well. We do not know much about any characters in the end, apart from the city. Anyone who has 'lived' in Mumbai, would relate to a lot of things - the relentless rains, the trains, the pace, the crowd, etc. Its a take on Mumbai from different eyes - the eyes of the four lead characters in the movie. 


If you are in love with Mumbai, may be this is a must watch for you. There have been many movies made professing their love for the city, and this may be the best amongst them. For all the Aamir Khan fans, this may be a let down as it isn't an Aamir Khan movie. In fact, he may be the most insignificant of the four characters in the movie. 



4 comments:

Linhy said...

I thought the movie wasn't so bad! I know a lot of people didn't like it so much.

SK said...

I liked the movie, but one would be disappointed if they wanted an Aamir Khan movie...it was a nicely shot movie, which I wanted to extend a little longer than it actually did...

Linhy said...

I liked the movie too.. but if was longer then people wouldn't watch it because it was already a slow movie you know. I think the director was trying to tell the audience that this is how its supposed to be like from beginning,middle and ending. Sometimes movie like to leave it as it is so for the audience wanting to think more of it.. why? or this and that? you know what I mean? Because this movie wasn't meant for every audience to watch.

SK said...

Haha, yup. Agree with you - it was intended to be like that, with the audience wanting more in the end...