'Guzaarish' - big, beautiful, dazzling

(Movie Review)

By Subhash K. Jha

"Guzaarish" is the real thing. A big, beautiful, dazzling emotional movie experience. You won't see a better film this year.

Film: "Guzaarish"; Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Monikangana Dutta, Suhel Seth; Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali; Rating: *****
Breathe a sigh of relief. During a year when cacophonic crassness masquerading as comic entertainment has been sanctioned by critics and the masses, "Guzaarish" comes along to remind us that excellence is alive in our cinema.
Ironically this wonderful work of art, nuanced and magical in its portrayal of an unstoppable spirit's quest to juice life to its fullest, is about dying. If the journey towards death in art can be so mystically explored, then let's embrace mortality as a stepping stone to immortality and a film about dying as a sign of cinema not dying on us. Not yet.
Only those who suffer the numbing pain of isolation would know what it feels like. Dilip Kumar in "Devdas", Guru Dutt in "Pyasa", Meena Kumari in "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam" and Nutan in "Bandini" communicated to the audience the indescribable pain of solitude.
Ethan, as played by Hrithik Roshan in "Guzaarish", is so bemused by adversity that he can actually look at his own suffering with dispassionate humour.
"Guzaarish" is a joyous, rapturous and ecstatic celebration of life. Those familiar with the art of Sanjay Leela Bhansali know how ably and ecstatically he transports his characters into a universe of seamless drama played at an octave where most cinematic symphonies crack up and topple over into high-pitched extravagance.
Not Bhansali's cinema. Played at the highest possible scale, his drama unfolds in wave after wave of rapturous splendour. His characters occupy a space that defies definition and seduces audiences into celebrating a state of sublimity and splendour. Ethan's inert physicality is alchemized into an ambience of animated joy. His spirit dances and sings at the sheer pleasure of every moment that is given to him to live. He radiates joy. We feel his profound happiness at the gift of life.
No film in living memory has brought out the sheer blessing of being alive with such spirit and glory. While Shah Rukh Khan's "Devdas" in Bhansali's opulent opera was a character broken in spirit, Hrithik's Ethan in "Guzaarish" is irreparably damaged in body. But his spirit soars, his eyes light up like thousands of stars every time Sophie walks in.
That Sophie is played by Aishwarya Rai is a stroke of genius that goes a long way in giving "Guzaarish" its flavour of exceptional elegance. No other director brings out the quiet grace and the understated beauty of this screen diva's personality with as much intelligence and spontaneity as Bhansali. In "Guzaarish", Aishwarya is far more delicate and nuanced in conveying the unspoken pain of a love that has no tomorrow than she was in "Devdas".
Aishwarya imbues her role with a resplendent grace. Love in "Guzaarish" is expressed with subtle smirks, gentle smiles and hints of a smothered passion that could erupt any time, if only destiny didn't choose to be so mean to the spirited.
The scenes between Ethan and Sophie, the backbone of Ethan's spine-challenged life, radiate an inner beauty and wisdom and underline the director's enormous understanding of the self-negation that a love relationship requires.
"Guzaarish" is Bhansali's most tender and evocative film to date. It layers the pain of a dying body with the passion of an unstoppable spirit as manifested in Hrithik's skilled and effortless performance as a quadriplegic who pledges to make every moment of his limited "sau gram zindagi" pleasurable for himself an those around him.
Barring Amitabh Bachchan in "Black" there has never been a better performance in a Bhansali film than Hrithik's in "Guzaarish". He grabs Ethan's role and makes the dying character come alive in delightful waves of provocative histrionics. And if we're talking chemistry between Hrithik and Aishwarya, then let's get one thing clear - this ain't "Dhoom". It's something far deeper and satisfying.
The other performance that catches your attention is Aditya Roy Kapoor's. He is natural and vivacious and in-sync with the film's spirit of celebrating life. Monikangna Dutt is a looker. In her limited space, she lends some appeal to the proceedings. Suhel Seth, Shernaaz Patel and Rajit Kapur also make a lingering impact in a film that you carry home with you in an inviolable place in your heart.
A word about Bhansali's music score. The songs communicate the rich tapestried emotions of lives that are determined to smile through an extraordinary tragedy. Every piece of music and song in "Guzaarish" echoes the film's incandescent soul.
The film's technical excellence, particularly Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography, is not dazzling and flamboyant in the way it was in "Devdas". In "Guzaarish", the appeal is far more delicate and subtle. The deep but sober colours on screen reach out to you to enrich your life in ways that cinema was always meant to, until it was waylaid by the hooligans and imposters posing as filmmakers.

Guzarish Review

The Story:
Ethan Mascarenhas, a radio show host, is aided through every moment of his present life by the epicenter of his world – his nurse, Sofia D’Souza. On the fourteenth anniversary of his accident, Ethan decides to seek control over his own life. He makes a petition to the Court that shocks the world and leaves Sofia in an impasse that challenges their relationship and their love. Alongside all the tumult that follows, a young man named Omar Siddiqui bursts into Ethan’s world with a single-minded desire to learn magic from the very best. While on one hand Ethan passes on his magical legacy, on the other, he fights tooth-and-nail to demand the most basic right that every human being is entitled to – the right to his own life.
Cast & Crew: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Shernaz Patel, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Monikangana Dutta, Rajit Kapoor
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
The Verdict:
Anupama Chopra, NDTV: ‘Guzaarish’ is the kind of film that demands that we create a separate category for it. Because there is much to admire here.
Pankaj Sabnani, Glamsham: “This film is special for more reasons than one. It sees the reunion of two of the finest actors in the film industry- Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.”
Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India: “one of the most unusual love stories”.
“More unusual is the spirit of the film which supposedly articulates a plea for death but ends up serenading life and love with tenderness and restraint,”
Bharat Chronicle’s Rating: 3 out of 5
 

Shriya dates a Telugu guy secretly

When the news of Rana and Shriya roaming around together came out as both are dating, it was Rana who was so hurry to deny this as a Simple Rumour.
Recently when HosurOnline's reporter had an opportunity to discuss this with Shriya, Shriya went one step ahead and said "Who is this Rana?  I am acting in Tamil, Telugu, English, hindi etc., etc., and people from Hollywood... Japanwood... Singaporewood... wood - wood are calling me to act in their movies and I do not have any time to fall in love or date with any one...  Please don't come to me with such silly questions"
Now, officially its confirmed that Shriya will pair with Rana and that too this latest Tollywood news is coming just in three days after the above said statement of Shriya.

Prabhu deva, Ramalath marriage was not Registered

Prabhu Deva and Nayanthara have been issued court summons through Nadigar Sangam to appear before the court on November 23rd, 2010 based on the complaint filed by Prabhu’s wife Ramlath

At a time when there is a strong anticipation if the two would appear before the court of law, Prabhu shocked everyone by claiming that the marriage between him and Ramlath is not legal as it was not registered. He is discussing with legal experts to proceed with the case filed by Ramlath seeking restitution of conjugal rights based on this claim.

His wife is gearing to counter this claim by collecting all the necessary documents like the ration card and her children’s birth certificates which indicates that Prabhu is her husban

  Guzaarish Review

 

What it's about: Trust Sanjay Leela Bhansali to think out of the box even when he takes two superstars to play the lead roles in his film. His new offering, Guzaarish, doesn't aim to address the problems faced by paraplegics or promise to make their lives better, or to even make people sensitive to their problems. If you are hoping to see a film about all that, you would be disappointed because Bhansali's take is something else. This is the story of Ethan Mascarenhas (Roshan), once a famous magician who is now bedridden for the last 12 years, following a fatal accident on stage while performing. Sophia (Aishwarya), his caretaker, has devoted her entire life to taking care of him. Ethan hosts a show for a radio station from his bedroom, where he takes calls and helps people find solutions to their problems and fills their lives with hope and happiness. Then one day, out of the blue, he asks his lawyer Devyani Dutta (Shernaz Patel) to file a petition in court for mercy killing or as he calls it, 'Project Ethan-asia'. His nurse, lawyer and doctor (Suhel Seth) are all against this decision. His fight with the law and the people around him to let him have his way forms a large part of the film.
What's hot: For starters, Guzaarish is nothing like Bollywood fans have seen before. It's admirable because Bhansali treads the dangerous path by daring to make a film with his 'hero' fighting to die. The director's triumph lies in handling a sensitive subject with a lot of care and caution. Although the fear of death hovers over the entire film, the treatment isn't maudlin, so the film is neither grim nor depressing. It is a movie about conversation and simple observations. Ethan's character, with his irrepressible wit and dry humour, is endearing. Hrithik Roshan fits the role comfortably and adds his own nuances to it, making it larger than life in its own way. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan delivers a sincere performance but her character isn't consistent. What also works against her are her hairstyle and costumes. You just can't help constantly thinking that she is wearing clothes borrowed from Penelope Cruz in the film, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Despite the inconsistencies, the best part of the film is the relationship between Ethan and Sophia. Their interactions with each other, the fights, arguments and the banter touch the right chords. In terms of setting, the film is spectacular -- the music and dialogues serve as perfect embellishments.

What's not: Here's a man who wants to die, who is so unhappy with his life that he is fighting to be allowed to die. But there is not one wet eye during the entire course of the film. Guzaarish is clever and relevant without being moving. It is bit too calculated to make the emotions really ring. Bhansali has ample scope to enhance his screenplay and spruce up the emotional quotient without getting melodramatic. The second half of the film is tiresome. The courtroom drama is dull and predictable. The track of the other jealous magician (Ash Chandler) is forced and unnecessary. Even the character of Omar Siddiqui (Aditya Roy Kapur) seems incomplete. Ethan's mother (Nafisa Ali), appearing out of nowhere, only to die 10 minutes later adds nothing to the story. Monikangana Dutta is wasted in two scenes, which are barely there. Makrand Despande is grossly miscast as Sophia's husband. Instead of an ensemble piece, Bhansali ends up making a film that is focused on just two characters.

What's that: Why is Ethan kissing his assistant/girlfriend while on stage? There is so much emphasis on him going out for the first time. He has the means and the help so why doesn't Ethan step out more often? And considering his physical condition, why is he housed on the top floor instead of the lower level in that big a house?

What to do: Guzaarish may not be perfect but somehow, it wins you over in the end. Make it your weekend watch!