A standout lesson in narrative with its heart at its rightful place. It's a testament to the fact that the simplest of stories treated with a purpose has in it, enough to strike a chord in our hearts. Good news is that as opposed to many beliefs, the newest offering from Aamir Khan production has tons of it (purpose). In all fairness, during its pre release hype including the trailers, the press conferences and its Toronto International Film Festival opening, the creators never claimed this movie to be something it is not.
As for the movie itself, excerpts, based on a specific time derived from the stories of 4 central characters with Mumbai as its backdrop should sum up Dhobi Ghat in a nutshell. Throw in some brilliantly enacted sequences with a master craftsmen behind the lenses whose belief of the subject matter is magnified with her projection of the resplendent city in its true and overwhelming grandeur. Finally here is a movie that is honest to its genre. Some including me had severe reservations against its uncanny familiarity in tone to some of Alejandro Innaritu's previous gems. Gustavo Santaolalla's lilting guitar melodies from the trailers were enough to draw comparisons. Thankfully having watched it, I am relieved and can now claim with confidence that it deserves nothing but praises for its absolute and one of its kind treatment of a rather straight forward subject. The producer (AK) and the director (Kiran Rao) deserve top mentions followed by an ensemble cast befitting of the humane characters they portrayed in the most nonchalant but faithful way which eventually accentuates the effectiveness of the script to mesmerising levels.
My only request to the ones who have already watched it and to the ones who are contemplating a visit to the theaters, is to put all debate of whether this movie is an art-house or a mainstream commercial to rest and judge the product for what it is.
As for the movie itself, excerpts, based on a specific time derived from the stories of 4 central characters with Mumbai as its backdrop should sum up Dhobi Ghat in a nutshell. Throw in some brilliantly enacted sequences with a master craftsmen behind the lenses whose belief of the subject matter is magnified with her projection of the resplendent city in its true and overwhelming grandeur. Finally here is a movie that is honest to its genre. Some including me had severe reservations against its uncanny familiarity in tone to some of Alejandro Innaritu's previous gems. Gustavo Santaolalla's lilting guitar melodies from the trailers were enough to draw comparisons. Thankfully having watched it, I am relieved and can now claim with confidence that it deserves nothing but praises for its absolute and one of its kind treatment of a rather straight forward subject. The producer (AK) and the director (Kiran Rao) deserve top mentions followed by an ensemble cast befitting of the humane characters they portrayed in the most nonchalant but faithful way which eventually accentuates the effectiveness of the script to mesmerising levels.
My only request to the ones who have already watched it and to the ones who are contemplating a visit to the theaters, is to put all debate of whether this movie is an art-house or a mainstream commercial to rest and judge the product for what it is.