Let me be clear... This is certainly not a review for the recently released Hindi blockbuster (guess i can say it), Ghajini. For your information, I'm still a school kid when it comes to understanding Hindi!!! Basically, tt's just a review that i wrote some years back for the Tamil version. I 'hear' there's not much difference between the two versions except for the slightly different climax and the music as a whole. So, with the thought that my review will still hold true even for the newer version... here I am posting it...
What can be rated as a good film? A good film, in one sense should satisfy the entire spectrum of the audience. If that’s achieved, the producer is sure to reap a good harvest. But then, there is a thin line of difference between making a big hit and at the same time receiving the most important ‘critical acclaim’. A.R. Murugadoss’s Ghajini can be said to have ‘somewhat’ crossed that line for the good, though the director might have hit the bull’s eye if not for his marginally slack and lengthy (almost 3 hours) screenplay. So, how is the film on the whole? Is it just good enough to be viewed under the light of P2P softwares and broadband connectivity? Or is it worth stepping out?
To start with, the way the story has been told, is truly different, living up to the hype created before the release of the film. The director has once again come up with a movie with a difference; the story being that of a leading business man on the verge of taking revenge for the murder of his lady love. The catch here’s that he is suffering from what they call, ‘Short Term Memory Loss’ which not only makes this task of his daunting but also interesting for us to watch. The director’s prowess in story telling is clearly evident from the way he has brought out the vital medical nuances, around which the film is centered, as clear as the stream water.
Though the film is said to be based on a Hollywood flick, the director has to be patted on his back for adapting it well to the taste of the Indian audience. But, the irony is that, in trying to do so, (by using commercial elements) the director has faltered a bit to deliver the right goods. With the kind of stuff (that can easily run for more than 2 hours) under his kitty, the director could have depended less upon some songs (that are gaudy and mere skin shows) and the lengthy, unrealistic fight scenes. In doing so, he could have even averted the sagging that develops towards the end of the 'unusually' long first half. Anyway, the film is good enough to prove that A.R.Murugadoss’s last hit isn’t a run of the mill kind and that another unconventional director like Shankar is in the making.
As for the actors are concerned, Surya, the lead protagonist of the film clearly stands out as a gem. His dedication to his work clearly reflects the ease with which he has played the two personalities of his character, pre and post the trauma he suffers. In coming up with different genre of films, this lad is close on the heels of stars like Kamal, Vikram etc. Hope he keeps up with this reputation of his in future. Closely following him, in terms of performance, is the bubbly and expressive actress from the God’s own country, Asin. Apart from being a good feminine match for Surya, she has almost taken the movie on her shoulders with élan, whenever she gets the chance.
Be it the lighter sequences at the beginning or the more serious ones towards the end, the actress aptly proves why she’s sharing the screen, with all leading actors of the tinsel town, at present. Apart from these two, there’s not much to say as the other actors don’t stay in your mind except for the villain and Nayantara (of course, for the wrong reasons); the reason being, the director hasn’t given proper attention to the characterization of the supporting artistes, unlike the lead roles. Take for instance, the abrupt, unexpected end to Riyaz Khan’s character or the inexplicable dual role for the villain. So, at the end it’s quite natural to have both Surya and Asin, the two pillars of this story, still romancing in your mind.
When it comes to appreciating those behind the scenes, editor Antony comes first. The development of the opening scenes leading to the arrival of the police, at the scene of murder, stands a testimony to his brilliant work in this film. Then, hats off to the art director for bringing out beautifully, the actual trauma suffered by the lead protagonist. And of course, cameraman, R.D.Rajasekar must also be commended for his excellent photography. But, when it comes to Harris Jeyaraj’s music,(though two or three of his songs are charting well) he is still a long way to do a re-recording as good as the masters like Illayaraja or A.R.Rehman. If he had done so, the film would have surely gone a notch higher.
So, may be ‘Ghajini’ may not make your heart as heavy as ‘Ramana’ did, when you leave the theatres. May be it's not as perfect as you might expect it to be. But, this astutely made, racy, commercially viable presentation is worth giving a shot, for you get to see our modern Ghajini’s ‘never say die’ attitude, Surya’s yet another splendid performance, Asin’s true to life portrayal and a good A.R.Murugadoss’s film. So, you can certainly squeeze your time and pocket for this '3 hour' flick.
This Ghajini is still a two tries away from an outright victory...
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