I got the opportunity of watching the premiere show of the film in Mysore the day before its scheduled release. I felt happy for Mysore becoming a modern city with all the cultures of a big city and felt excited as well to watch this much promising film, based on the National sprinter Milkha Singh, who made his name in the 50's.
When particularly the package comes with the promise of some of the talented film makers, actors and technicians, you end up expecting quite high from it. The director Rakesh Omprakash Mehra is still milking his success of "Rang De Basanti" and we tend to forgive him for confusing us in "Delhi 6" by expecting again from this 3rd attempt at film making. Prasoon Joshi, the ace lyricist and script writer, has claimed to write the screen play for 2 years!! I dont have any clue as to what the hell was he writing? No doubt, a lot of research on the life of the "Flying Sikh" has gone into it but given the fact that Milkha Singh is alive in his good health, why would a film makers team take 2 years to come up with a script on the biopic of a living character, I keep wondering! This claim sounds more worthless when the biggest drawback of the film is its screen play stretching a not-so-complicated storyline unnecessarily for 3 hours! unnecessary song sequences, romance, irrelevant shots only prove that the diro-screenply writer combo didn't have any clear idea what they want to show: pretty much like Delhi 6!! He might have made the film for Milkha Singh or Milkha Singh must have been a part of the script writing team, influencing a good deal to keep every damn thing happend in his life, including second-by-second depiction of his life!!
The attempt and intention behind the film is commendable. It depicted the struggle of once-hero-now-forgotten athlete champion Milkha Singh; how he made it to the zenith of his success and did his country proud in international arena. His life is full of stories, events which truly call for a bollywood rendering: losing parents in violent riot, growing up in slums, witnessing all the dark patches of down-trodden life, then joining Indian army ( though the film didnt show how he got into army!), army life and sports, neighborhood love and losing it, then with his ambition, determination and painstaking struggle making it to the Indian team, then foreign trip, sleeping with the "foren girl" on the very 1st night and then followed by a series of success and failure, self-control and going back to the root: all are there to make it a complete bollywood film. And thats how it has been made, though with a dash of excellent cinematography by Vinod Pradhan, amazing art work and of course stellar performance by the lead actor Farhan Akhtar.
The primary take away etched in your memory would be Farhan Akhtar's determination and preparedness for doing justice to the role. That hardship, which he claims to have had for the last 2 years for this film, is very prominent throughout the film, particularly in the slow motion running sequences, where his well-developed muscular body and suitable expressions on his face is sure to make you feel attached to the film. Though it might have resemblance to Salman Khan in Dabang type films, the essence of a true story on a living legend will make it go beyond the mediocrity of a mere masala flick! In the end, after 3 hours of yawning dramatic sequences, some forcefully added humours and carefully punctuated romance, you would probably utter one phrase: " Farhan Akhtar worked very hard for this film!" And you know, its not a very positive sign of a good film!
I'm sure if anyone is asked to see the film once again, s/he would reject the offer straight away, if not for watching Farhan Akhtar in six packs! Those who are blessed with LAN connections in hostel rooms, can watch it with forward button active. Plz dont ever try to watch the full 3 hours version! I cant guarantee the availability of a mug of beer or a dispirin!
Overall rating: 3/5
Direction: 3/5
Screenplay: 2/5
Acting: 3.5/5
Music: 3.5/5
Cinematography: 4/5
When particularly the package comes with the promise of some of the talented film makers, actors and technicians, you end up expecting quite high from it. The director Rakesh Omprakash Mehra is still milking his success of "Rang De Basanti" and we tend to forgive him for confusing us in "Delhi 6" by expecting again from this 3rd attempt at film making. Prasoon Joshi, the ace lyricist and script writer, has claimed to write the screen play for 2 years!! I dont have any clue as to what the hell was he writing? No doubt, a lot of research on the life of the "Flying Sikh" has gone into it but given the fact that Milkha Singh is alive in his good health, why would a film makers team take 2 years to come up with a script on the biopic of a living character, I keep wondering! This claim sounds more worthless when the biggest drawback of the film is its screen play stretching a not-so-complicated storyline unnecessarily for 3 hours! unnecessary song sequences, romance, irrelevant shots only prove that the diro-screenply writer combo didn't have any clear idea what they want to show: pretty much like Delhi 6!! He might have made the film for Milkha Singh or Milkha Singh must have been a part of the script writing team, influencing a good deal to keep every damn thing happend in his life, including second-by-second depiction of his life!!
The attempt and intention behind the film is commendable. It depicted the struggle of once-hero-now-forgotten athlete champion Milkha Singh; how he made it to the zenith of his success and did his country proud in international arena. His life is full of stories, events which truly call for a bollywood rendering: losing parents in violent riot, growing up in slums, witnessing all the dark patches of down-trodden life, then joining Indian army ( though the film didnt show how he got into army!), army life and sports, neighborhood love and losing it, then with his ambition, determination and painstaking struggle making it to the Indian team, then foreign trip, sleeping with the "foren girl" on the very 1st night and then followed by a series of success and failure, self-control and going back to the root: all are there to make it a complete bollywood film. And thats how it has been made, though with a dash of excellent cinematography by Vinod Pradhan, amazing art work and of course stellar performance by the lead actor Farhan Akhtar.
The primary take away etched in your memory would be Farhan Akhtar's determination and preparedness for doing justice to the role. That hardship, which he claims to have had for the last 2 years for this film, is very prominent throughout the film, particularly in the slow motion running sequences, where his well-developed muscular body and suitable expressions on his face is sure to make you feel attached to the film. Though it might have resemblance to Salman Khan in Dabang type films, the essence of a true story on a living legend will make it go beyond the mediocrity of a mere masala flick! In the end, after 3 hours of yawning dramatic sequences, some forcefully added humours and carefully punctuated romance, you would probably utter one phrase: " Farhan Akhtar worked very hard for this film!" And you know, its not a very positive sign of a good film!
I'm sure if anyone is asked to see the film once again, s/he would reject the offer straight away, if not for watching Farhan Akhtar in six packs! Those who are blessed with LAN connections in hostel rooms, can watch it with forward button active. Plz dont ever try to watch the full 3 hours version! I cant guarantee the availability of a mug of beer or a dispirin!
Overall rating: 3/5
Direction: 3/5
Screenplay: 2/5
Acting: 3.5/5
Music: 3.5/5
Cinematography: 4/5
