If one was to ask an avid Hindi film lover about the most awaited movies of 2009, he would say My Name is Khan, 3 Idiots and Delhi 6! Yes, when a director has a film like Rand De Basanti on his back the expectations are huge. So does Delhi 6 live up to these expectations? Yes, in more ways than one. But there is a catch. Delhi 6 is a gem covered with mud and one really has to look through to see the inherent goodness and soul of this film, something which most people wouldn't be able to.
Comparisons are inevitable to two films Swades and Rang De Basanti. Delhi 6 and Swades have the similar storyline of the protagonist returning to their country of origin and rediscovering themselves, In Swades, the lead character Mohan Bhargav played by Shahrukh Khan had a very active presence throughout the movie but in Delhi 6, Roshan played by Abhishek Bachchan has a role which requires him to be passive for the most part.
Roshan Mehra arrives in India from New York with his ailing grandmother and is immediately enthralled by the place and the people of Delhi 6. He is a mere spectator to what's happening around him. In fact it wouldn't be wrong to say his character doesn't arouse the same amount of interest as the other characters of the movie. The director slowly and steadily weaves the story in the first half of the film by keeping it very character centric and that is made possible by some super extraordinary performances by the ensemble cast which includes the likes of Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Pawan Malhotra, Om Puri, Prem Chopra, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz and Atul Kulkarni. The aim is to put the viewer in those very by lanes of the walled city and experience firsthand the lives, culture, values and traditions of the people of this charming place. Rakesh successfully establishes and puts on screen the bonhomie that exists between the characters. It goes to his credit when half way into the movie the viewer doesn't have an idea as to where the film is headed.
A very important character of the story is of Sonam Kapoor who plays Bittu a middle class girl with high aspirations. She is like the pigeon with tied wings. It's primarily a role which requires her to do two things look cute and have a childish innocence. She is a girl desperate to break out of the shackles of conservatism but lacks the courage to stand up to her conservative parents. It is Abhishek who tries to establish that courage in her and over the course of the film a subtle romance between the two blooms. This romantic track between the two characters is again handled well by the director and is not given too much or too less attention.
Just like Rang De Basanti had the parallel Bhagat Singh story going with the main story we have the famous Ram Lila of Lal Quila running parallel to the storyline with each part symbolizing what's happening in the movie. But what drives the plot forward is the 'Kala Bandar' or the Monkey Man, a real life episode which created a fear psychosis in the Delhites in 2001 but was later declared as a figment of imagination by the Delhi Police. The Kala Bandar has an anecdotal presence in the first half of the movie but the way the director uses the 'Kala Bandar' and changes the gear of the movie is a stroke of genius! The 'Kala Bandar' symbolizes the triviality and the spark which destroys the fragile bonhomie that exists between the people. What follows is unanticipated, unsettling and shocking.
The film makes a superb comment on the social fabric of the Indian Urban Society. It mocks the caste system, conservatism, the autocratic power of the public servants, the communal tension where all it takes is a spark to set off the fire. It's an in your face commentary which almost makes one feel ashamed being part of that very society. It dares to show the mirror to your face and that is not what most people like being told they are dirty! And that is the biggest achievement of this film.
It is a movie where you can say that the seasoned supporting actors have out shined the lead actors. Sonam has a very endearing screen presence and plays her part well, though it's not the sort of role which fully exploits her acting skills, yet she shows tremendous potential which many did not see in Saawariya. It is tough to criticize Abhishek as his character is written in a way that leaves you asking for more but it is a suave performance nevertheless.
The art direction and cinematography are excellent. Attention has been paid to detail. The lanes of Chandni Chowk are characterized by what the protagonist; Abhishek Bachchan rightly calls when he comes from the US organized chaos. It is a fascinating world and captured brilliantly by the camera. The highlight is that dream scene where the makers show what Chandni Chowk would look like on a Times Square! Much has already been said about the music in the past few days. Masakali is endearing, Dil Gira Gafatan and Rehna Tu are ballads, Dilli 6 is an anthem and Arziyan is divine! A.R. Rehman has again outdone himself! 'Delhi 6' is bigger than its supposed minor or major glitches. It is a film made with the noblest of intentions. Watch this film with some patience, flexibility and leave the skepticism at home.
Comparisons are inevitable to two films Swades and Rang De Basanti. Delhi 6 and Swades have the similar storyline of the protagonist returning to their country of origin and rediscovering themselves, In Swades, the lead character Mohan Bhargav played by Shahrukh Khan had a very active presence throughout the movie but in Delhi 6, Roshan played by Abhishek Bachchan has a role which requires him to be passive for the most part.
Roshan Mehra arrives in India from New York with his ailing grandmother and is immediately enthralled by the place and the people of Delhi 6. He is a mere spectator to what's happening around him. In fact it wouldn't be wrong to say his character doesn't arouse the same amount of interest as the other characters of the movie. The director slowly and steadily weaves the story in the first half of the film by keeping it very character centric and that is made possible by some super extraordinary performances by the ensemble cast which includes the likes of Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Pawan Malhotra, Om Puri, Prem Chopra, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz and Atul Kulkarni. The aim is to put the viewer in those very by lanes of the walled city and experience firsthand the lives, culture, values and traditions of the people of this charming place. Rakesh successfully establishes and puts on screen the bonhomie that exists between the characters. It goes to his credit when half way into the movie the viewer doesn't have an idea as to where the film is headed.
A very important character of the story is of Sonam Kapoor who plays Bittu a middle class girl with high aspirations. She is like the pigeon with tied wings. It's primarily a role which requires her to do two things look cute and have a childish innocence. She is a girl desperate to break out of the shackles of conservatism but lacks the courage to stand up to her conservative parents. It is Abhishek who tries to establish that courage in her and over the course of the film a subtle romance between the two blooms. This romantic track between the two characters is again handled well by the director and is not given too much or too less attention.
Just like Rang De Basanti had the parallel Bhagat Singh story going with the main story we have the famous Ram Lila of Lal Quila running parallel to the storyline with each part symbolizing what's happening in the movie. But what drives the plot forward is the 'Kala Bandar' or the Monkey Man, a real life episode which created a fear psychosis in the Delhites in 2001 but was later declared as a figment of imagination by the Delhi Police. The Kala Bandar has an anecdotal presence in the first half of the movie but the way the director uses the 'Kala Bandar' and changes the gear of the movie is a stroke of genius! The 'Kala Bandar' symbolizes the triviality and the spark which destroys the fragile bonhomie that exists between the people. What follows is unanticipated, unsettling and shocking.
The film makes a superb comment on the social fabric of the Indian Urban Society. It mocks the caste system, conservatism, the autocratic power of the public servants, the communal tension where all it takes is a spark to set off the fire. It's an in your face commentary which almost makes one feel ashamed being part of that very society. It dares to show the mirror to your face and that is not what most people like being told they are dirty! And that is the biggest achievement of this film.
It is a movie where you can say that the seasoned supporting actors have out shined the lead actors. Sonam has a very endearing screen presence and plays her part well, though it's not the sort of role which fully exploits her acting skills, yet she shows tremendous potential which many did not see in Saawariya. It is tough to criticize Abhishek as his character is written in a way that leaves you asking for more but it is a suave performance nevertheless.
The art direction and cinematography are excellent. Attention has been paid to detail. The lanes of Chandni Chowk are characterized by what the protagonist; Abhishek Bachchan rightly calls when he comes from the US organized chaos. It is a fascinating world and captured brilliantly by the camera. The highlight is that dream scene where the makers show what Chandni Chowk would look like on a Times Square! Much has already been said about the music in the past few days. Masakali is endearing, Dil Gira Gafatan and Rehna Tu are ballads, Dilli 6 is an anthem and Arziyan is divine! A.R. Rehman has again outdone himself! 'Delhi 6' is bigger than its supposed minor or major glitches. It is a film made with the noblest of intentions. Watch this film with some patience, flexibility and leave the skepticism at home.