If you didn’t get the title – let me explain because the last thing I want is for you going for this rather sad offering from a stalwart director just on a mis-interpretation. Truth is, I literally felt like swearing after the movie was over and given the over emphasis on the gulaabi bhains I am sure you have already seen in the promos – I felt this title covered it nicely
Mr Vishal Bhardwaj is the same one who got us gems like Omkara and Kamineyy (I’d add Maqbool to the list but for some reason I am still to watch it). Hence his credentials are only of the highest quality. However, when somebody like Mr. Bhardwaj offers a product like Matru ki Bijlee..it defeats all meaning and purpose. Without a doubt, this one is his weakest offering yet..yes, including Saat Khoon Maaf
The biggest flaw for Matru lies in its rather weak script – if you can call it that even. There are 3 supposedly central characters, but there is close to nil character development. There is no understanding built on why they are the way they are and by the end of an agonizing two and a half hours you’d happily shoot all three of them yourself if it meant you could get out of the hall faster.
The first half is slow to a point where I can tell you what happened in just two sentences, including any obvious twists and turns. The second half tries to do a lot more but its so apparent that you are caught wondering why the movie takes so long to get to its climax. Coming from the maker of Kamineyy, this is a real shocker in itself. Gone is the tight packaging, the underlying tension and then earth shattering impact. Instead you get a motley bunch of sequences ranging from comedic to serious to inane to insane
The songs are average to below average and even the gulaabi bhains stops appealing after a while. If the movie is somewhat bearable, its for precisely two reasons. For one, Pankaj Kapur puts in a highly commendable performance as Mr. Mandola and is able to display the range of emotions required by his rather complex character. The other reason is that there are bits of good humor/ satire of the intellectual variety which tickles the senses every now and then
That’s it. There’s nothing else to look forward to. Anushka on this rare occasion, looks out of place and doesn’t look her character as well. Imraan is strictly okay though to be fair to both, their characters don’t give them much room. Shabana Azmi is in good form and plays her role like the veteran she is – but in my view her character really didn’t suit her
There you have it then. I say this with a heavy heart, myself being an ardent Vishal Bhardwaj fan. If you don’t want to start off proceedings for 2013 in the worst possible way that’s one item you can tick off the list. Best to wait for his next..
Except for Pankaj Kapoor, there is nothing else in the movie.
ReplyDeleteA good and true review. :)