Cast:
Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush, Akshara Haasan, Rekha
Director:
R. Balki Music: Ilaiyaraaja Screenplay: Nigel Genis, R. Balki
Running
Time: 155 minutes
Every
time you shake and look through a kaleidoscope, you see a different and
beautiful pattern. Thus, in general, you repeat the process a few times and
pamper your visual senses. But, if the repeat mode exceeds the required loop,
will your visuals be still as entertaining? Will your mind, still absorb the
beauty or register the differences between two successive formations?
‘Shamitabh’,
the movie, is a brand new and excellent concept, captured by an excellent team,
with an amazing first half, but half baked and mindless iterations in the second
half, and an unnecessary sad ending.
Danish
(Dhanush) is a born dumb but not deaf Maharashtrian lad from Igatpuri. Since
childhood, cinema is everything to him, and his only dream and ambition in life
is to become a big Bollywood hero. Ironically, though his handicap in no way barricades
his favorite activity i.e. watching any cinema on any medium, it definitely
acts as a stone wall for fulfilling his dream. And this is exactly what he
realizes after coming to Mumbai, post his mother’s death.
Soon,
Akshara (Akshara Hassan), a young and feisty assistant director, enters his
life as the fairy Godmother. She not only realizes his potential, but also
provides the means to showcase the same. She introduces him to a new Finland
based technology, wherein implantation of a microchip in Danish’s throat and
wearing of Bluetooth type ear-devices by both Danish and an actual speaker, and
coordinated speaking by the speaker and lip syncing by Danish, will make appear,
as if the voice is coming from the latter’s throat! It does not need saying that,
as of now, this technology is a fiction.
Post
the implantation, the duo’s search for the right speaker ends at Robert aka Amitabh
Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan), a drunk old man with loads of attitude, but a strong baritone
voice. Ironically, around forty years back, Robert himself could not make it
big as an actor, as the film industry found his voice unsuitable!
Together,
Danish and Amitabh create ‘Shamitabh’ i.e. Danish’s screen name and presence.
Akshara plays the able moderator between them, as well as between them and
their first director. Together the ‘Shamitabh’ duo touch an altogether new
height in the film world, till their day-to-day minor bickering, take the form
of gigantic ego clash, wherein the voiceless actor and faceless speaker, refuse
to abide by or bow down to each other, with each striving to become the primary
beneficiary of new impounding limelight and recognition. Surprisingly, none of
them is bothered about the money part. It is left to see, who will win out of
the two and what has fate got stored for both of them.
By
sixty, most actors, either retire or shift from main leads to character roles.
Thanks, to R. Balki, Amitabh Bachchan is still playing the main lead, and that
too with dignified success (Cheeni Kum, Paa). By now, the director, R.
Balakrishnan aka Balki is very well versed with Amitabh’s physical and
theatrical extravaganzas and limitations, and he has used this knowledge to the
‘T’. Hats off to him, for working on a super fresh and unusual script and carving
out an interesting outcome out of it. But, since he is an ad man (Chairman
& CCO of ad agency Lowe Lintas) by first profession, he has vastly used his
movie canvas as ad films for products and services, like - Lifebuoy, Amazon
etc. It may be a smart financial move, but such, on the face, advertisements
cannot go down well with serious movie enthusiasts. Latter half of the movie,
focuses a lot on ego clash. Unfortunately, to support the same, neither Danish
appears thanklessly robust, nor Robert seems the one with the unfair deal.
Also, with his impeccable reputation, international recognition and designer
clad appearances, it’s a tad bit difficult to imagine Amitabh Bachchan thriving
and kicking for recognition!
Both
of Balki’s earlier movies were unusual, well appreciated and both showcased a
demise towards the end. This one follows the same trait. Now, whether this is
done to maintain the so-called superstition for hit movies, or, to appeal
better at international film festivals, unlike his previous movies, this one
does not create the aura of hope and good life towards the end.
The
movie has six songs and cameo appearances by various celebrated personalities
of Bollywood, including Rekha! ‘Sha sha sha mi mi mi’ and ‘Piddly Si Baatein’
tracks are nice. The latter is voiced by Amitabh Bachchan himself and its
picturization is full five minutes of toilet humor! Barring, Amitabh’s
performance, the remaining movie transcends considerable dosage of South Indian
sensibility. The movie also draws a lot of similes from its lead actor’s lives.
Like rejection of Amitabh Sinha for his voice vs. Rejection of Amitabh Bachchan
for his voice, by All India Radio; Danish working as a bus conductor before
becoming a hero vs. Dhanush’s father-in-law aka superstar Rajnikanth practicing
the same; etc. Art Direction is very good. Whether it is the swank new and
themed urban apartment of Danish, or graveyard situated and rupees five hundred
rented dump of Robert, there is distinct beauty and harmony in both the
establishments.
Amitabh
Bachchan is superb in soliloquy, as well as action-reaction scenes. Crossing
seventy and with evident wrinkles, this great personality still manages to look
quite a debonair, even when he is dressed in rags. In this film, arrogance,
mirth, humor, nonchalance, despair, going into oblivion, and every other
possible shades of emotion have been rolled into one and only Amitabh Bachchan.
Dhanush, is again a different shade card with his own rich plethora of
different shades. He simply stands out in the scenes, wherein he emotes
frustrated arrogance, and that too in a speechless mode. Not for a single
second, you as an audience will happen to miss the voice of his dumb character!
Managing to stand tall in front of Amitabh is no mean feat, and Dhanush has
successfully achieved that. Akshara, the debutante, appears a combination of
Riya Sen and Kareena Kapoor, from their respective debut movies. She looks very
young, boyish, genuine and strong minded. However, she will be required to work
over her South Indian dialect. Rest of the cast is good as well.
In
addition to, such great concept and execution, only if there was more humor,
less altercations, and that too packed in lesser duration, the movie would have
emblazed on an altogether different level.
