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Men In Black 3

It’s not a sequel that needed to be made, but thanks to the charm of its leads and a tone that harks back to the wit and humour of the original, it’s a pretty enjoyable trip.

Bel Ami

The excellent female support cast saves this patchy effort, which is let down by its leading man and a flat screenplay.

The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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Dhobi Ghat (Film)

by Mamta Bhatt | January 24, 2011 13:21 | Edited January 24, 2011 13:26

Devoid of Bollywood melodrama, this beautifully crafted story is just as much a portrait of the city of Mumbai as it is of its characters.

Defying Bollywood conventions of song, dance and melodrama, Dhobi Ghat is an ode to the bustling city of Mumbai. The film shadows four interrelated characters - a lonely, brooding artist (Aamir Khan), an ambitious but destitute clothes-washer (Prateik Babbar), an ex-pat photographer (Monica Dogra), a naive, doe-eyed bride (Kriti Malhotra) - as they navigate the mood, attitude and nuances of life in the metro.

 

Debut writer/director Kiran Rao brilliantly utilises Western filmmaking sensibilities of stripping away excess to depict a stark reality of city life. What results is an insightful portrait of Mumbai, exposing the varied hues and strokes - life, loss, longing, love, loneliness - that imbue the city with character.

 

In the absence of melodrama, the story is a beautiful ebb and flow of emotions, at times exuberant, and other times excruciating. Though there is disappointment in the lack of action, which crescendos intermittently but is dispelled almost instantly, and the lethargic pacing that results from this, Dhobi Ghat is never boring. Rather, the pace contributes to the impact of the emotions the narrative rouses.

 

The film is bolstered by the contribution of each actor, who - armed with nuanced characterisations - match the restraint and dignity of the story impeccably. But it's the fifth and most potent character, Mumbai, fleshed out, and at once humanised yet distanced, so thoroughly, which is the true triumph of Dhobi Ghat.