Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Dor

What a movie! Nagesh Kuknoor delivered an uncharacteristic genre of filmmaking. The young faces were absolutely awesome and showcased the nuances of acting. The plot did not have any masala but that did not take away the zing from it. It was perhaps the lack of climaxes that made the movie special and very very realistic.
Those who have the appetite for big-budgeted, opulent, star-studded, melodramatic Bollywood movies may not find pleasure in watching a relatively small-budget, realistic film with Ayesha Takia, Gul Panag and Shreyas Talpade in the lead roles.
The story majorly revolves around two women- Mira (Ayesha Takia) whose husband has been accidentally killed by the husband of Zeenat (Gul Panag) who wants her husband to be acquited by a 'mafinama' from Mira. Both have different personality types and complement each other. Zeenat is a headstrong woman who has always struggled to live life her way. Mira is a domesticated character who plays a meek, submissive widow with muffled desires but she is the one who choses a life of independence in the end. Behroopiya(Shreyas Tarpade) dupes people with his antics but helps Zeenat to find Mira. In the end Mira gives 'mafinama' to Zeenat and Zeenat finds a friend in her forever.
Music is fantabaulous and there is something nostalgic about the song 'Yeh hausla kaise jhuke...'
This movie is a cinematic treatise on how to realize that there is can be life beyond the metros without any antagonism intended. The happy dancing of the trio in the deserts on the song 'Kajrare..' was hilarious. It was delightful to find a docile widow breaking the shackles of widowhood by enjoying a bit. The message was good that loving someone after the lover's death is not lost because of a few happy moments.
The locales of Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have been picturised beautifully.
Hats off to Nagesh Kuknoor and the entire unit for 'Dor'!