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family melodrama Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Aman Verma, Divya Dutta, Sammer Soni, Yash Pathak and Salman Khan & Mahima Chaudhary Direction : Ravi Chopra Music: Aadesh Srivastav ReViewed by Akshay Shah |
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Indian
cinema often has the effect on viewers where it makes the audience
cry....no just a few teardrops, but literally evoke emotions to no end
and make the tears roll....B.R Chopras BAGHBAN is one such film!
Although BAGHBAN does have its fair share of flaws, it certainly isn't
a film to be missed as it is one of the most emotional films i have
witnessed in recent times...to add to that Amitabh Bachchan gives one
of his BEST performances in his post MRITYUDAATA phase. The idea for the film was concieved years ago by B.R Chopra who wanted to cast Dillip Kumaar in the starring role. BAGHBAN is the story of Raj Malhotra (Amitabh Bachchan) and his wife Pooja (Hema Malini). Raj and Pooja have been happily married for the past four years. Raj works at a bank job from 9-5 and is near the verge of retirement. Finally
the day comes and Raj retires.. he proposes the idea to his children
that he now wants to catchup on the quality family time he has missed
and wants to stay with his children.. But
little to Raj's knowledge none
of the children want to take their parents! After a small
meeting the sons come to the conclusion that Raj will stay with the
second eldest son(Samir)
and Pooja with the eldest (Aman).
Raj is distraught at this idea...the thought of separating from his
beloved wife is too much for him to imagine and this is not what he
had in mind for his retirement. Due
to Poojas persistence Raj agrees and he is separated from his
beloved.... Upon
reaching their new respective homes Raj and Pooja both realise that
their children have no respect for them at all. They look upon their
parents as burdens and mistreat them. Raj
makes friends with a local music cafe owner Hemant Patel (Paresh
Rawal) and his wife
(Lilette Dubey)
and slowly they become a integral part of Rajs life due to their
warmth and kindness. Raj
also has an adopted son overseas Alok (Salman
Khan). Alok was a
orphan who used to polish shoes on the street until Raj had taken him
as one of his own kids. Alok lives and breathes for his parents and
worships them more than god. After finishing his studies Alok heads
back home to his parents with his newly wedded wife (Mahima) On
the other hand with each growing day Raj misses his beloved more and
more...the separation hurts him to no end and Pooja too is not happy
with her new residence where she is shown no respect at all by her new
family and is treated worse than the maid... How
Raj and Pooja finally reunite forms the crux of the story. The
story by Dr Achla Nagar has been witnessed many times before and has
shades of many moves such as AVTAAR, SWARG and ZINDAGI. But it is the
manner in which it is directed that makes a difference. Also the
manner in which some of the scenes have been penned have a touch of
realism to them. Director
Ravi Chopra shows his mettle here as a director with a subject
which he is clearly at ease with. Right from the very first frame
Chopra knows what he is doing.
He is good at the light and comic sequence in the first half
and depicts the love between Raj and Pooja very well...but its the
emotionally charged second half where he shows his true trump card.
Scene after scene Chopra packs a emotional punch like no other which
will have even the hardest of men weeping. His direction is not
without flaws though. One feels that the portrayl of
the sons was a bit too over the top at times which makes it
less realistic. Also the excess of songs in certain areas and the
hotel room sequence drag the film longer. Where Chopra really succeeds is creating a love story which tugs at the heart strings...a love story about a married couple who even after 40 years of married life love each other just as much...who live and breathe for each other...who cannot live without each other. The manner in which the love story has been bought onto the screen is the true trump card of the movie alongwith the MINDBLOWING performance by Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malinis dignified performance.
*
The meeting the four sons have and who will keep the parents and upto
when *
The scene where Amitabh and Hema both separate for the first
time...the use of eyes here is brilliant. *
The scene where Amitabh Bachchan breaks and Lilette Dubey read the
letter to him-that sequence and the one where Bachchan tries to read
the letter will have draw tears from most people as it is one of the
most emotional scenes i have ever witnessed. *
The scene where Hema Malini goes to the night club and brings her
grand daughter home. *
Hema visiting Aman at his office and the argument that follows *
ALL the interaction scenes between Paresh Rawal and Amitabh Bachchan
and last of all Amitabhs speech in the finale which deserves a
standning ovation as it is outstanding. These scenes alone make the
film a MUST SEE! On
the acting front the entire movie belongs to Amitabh Bachchan.
If KOI MIL GAYA was Hritik Roshans movie all the way then BAGHBAN is
Amitabh Bachchans movie inside out! In nearly each and every frame
Bachchan is there and his screen presence is as electric as ever. Even
though Amitabh has played the head of the family before in films like
EK RISHTAA and KKKG-this is indeed his most indepth and well developed
role and Amitabh is simply outstanding. Never have i seen so much
energy in a man of his age
and be it his dialogue delivery, body language, expressions,
dancing and singing Amitabh Bachchan LIVES the role of Raj Malhotra
and brings it to life. His performance will make you laugh....and make
you cry-that is a promise. Without Amitabh Bachchan there is no
BAGHBAN and indeed this is his best performance since AKS and is bound
to bring him a few BEST ACTOR nominations. Hema Malini gives a very mature and subdued performance. It is great to see the dreamgirl after such a long hiatus and she still looks as young as ever. Looking stunningly gorgeous at her age she puts most of the younger actresses to shame. Her chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan is simply outstanding and one forgets while watching the movie that they are not husband and wife. Thats how natural they are. Their tender moments together are indeed golden moments. Just witness the scene where Hema Malini goes into the nightclub to back up her grandaughter.......the lady sure has a LOT of talent still left in her. Salman
Khan in a extended cameo leaves a mark. After TERE NAAM he plays a
role of a son too good-to-be-true and whats more he plays it with
conviction. He is extremely restrained and sober here and his
emotional sequences are extremely natural which is a surprise. Mahima
Chaudhury is wasted in her role of no substance. From the sons Aman Verma leaves a mark with his role of the eldest son. Samir Soni also plays his part well although his looks arent very camera friendly. Suman Ranganathan as one of the daughter-in-laws is average although she looks HOT onscreen. The casting of Rimi Sen as Suman and Amans daughter is VERY unbelieveable. Divya Dutta is leaves a impression in her b*itchy role. Salil Chaddha and Nasir Khan have no scope to perform. The rest of the cast do their jobs accordingly and support the lead pair well be it Sharat Saxena, Asrani, or Mohan Joshi. Technically
the film is good. Barun Mukerjees cinematography is slick and capture
the ambience of the movie well. Adesh
Srivastavs music is surprisingly great. Although it didnt leave an
impression on first listening, after watching the picturisation it
grows on you. This is one of the first albums in a LONG time which has
the BACHCHAN stamp throughout and that works very well to the films
effect. The
HOLI track, CHALI CHALI and and MAIN YAHAN TU WAHAN are the pick of
the lot.
The picturisation of these songs are rememberable and it is
mindboggling to watch Amitabh Bachchans steps in CHALI CHALI and the
HOLI track......his dancing is still FANTASTIC and I cannot believe
how much energy and zest the Big B still has in him. The Salman Khan
track could have easily been deleted and the title track is used in
good effect as it comes in various stages of the movie. All up BAGHBAN is a MUST SEE for all. Although it does have its share of flaws, the film has to be seen for Amitabh Bachchans spectacular one man show which alone is worth the price of the ticket as with some of the emotional sequences mentioned. For fans of Amitabh-BAGHBAN is a MUST OWN on DVD when it comes out
THE PANEL ROOM
PANELROOM SCORE: 3/5 X-tremely Good: 0 Positive: 3 Mixed : 1 Negative: 1 |
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