Dhobi Ghat [2010]

(A short review for a change)

Cast : Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar (Genelia's bro in Jaane Tu...), Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra

Direction : Kiran Rao
Description : Dhobi Ghat (or Mumbai Diaries) revolves around four characters: Munna (Prateik), the Dhobi; Arun (Aamir), the painter; Shai (Monica), an NRI investment banker in the US who's in town on a sabbatical to explore the city for her passion, photography; and Yasmin (Kriti), a young girl from U.P. who has moved in after her marriage, and is recording a video for her brother back home.
The stories of the four characters display many a facets of the Maximum City, the everyday hustle-bustle of its inhabitants, class differences, lifestyles of the (so called) lower class and the upper class.

Review : It was quite bold on the part of Kiran Rao to debut with a movie distant from the mainstream cinema. It is not an entertainer, it is an art film; not meant for everyone. Watch it for the cinematic experience. The Screenplay and Editing are excellent, Background Music well suited, good Cinematography. All the actors have done justice to their roles. Prateik and Kriti were particularly remarkable. However, Aamir looked a bit uncomfortable. Maybe he just wanted to downplay his part and highlight the other characters, like in Taare Zameen Par, but the effort seemed too conscious this time. The pace of the film might seem slow, but it suits the gradual development of the story. The only weak link seems to be the unconclusive end.
It is aptly titled Mumbai Diaries, for it depicts the city very well, almost as the fifth character of the story. Be patient, let the story develop, and you'll like it.
My Rating : 3.5/5