Wednesday 1 April 2015

Film Review - Shamitabh


Background Voice

Film: Shamitabh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush, Akshara Hassan
Directed by: R Balki
Duration: 2 hrs 33 mins
Rating: * * 1 / 2

With films like the eminently likable Cheeni Kum and Paa, R Balki established himself as a director who had something different to say and tell. He continues in the same vein with Shamitabh but this time there are some hiccups with the screenplay, it is just not meaty enough for a two and half hour film. He does get marks though for trying and credit to the leading men for saving the day.

Even though the basic premise is waver thin the plot did have potential had it not been so self indulgent. The story about a highly successful actor (Dhanush) whose voice is the familiar baritone (of Bachchan) is told in flashback.  As a kid, he always aspired to be an actor even though he is mute, a delightful montage song tells us about his passion for cinema. 

After his mother’s death he moves to Mumbai to chase his dreams and catches the eye of an assistant director (debutante Akshara Hassan) who is highly impressed with his acting skills but since he can’t speak, it is an impediment.  Off they go to Finland for a tryst with new technology which enables him to speak but in someone else’s voice. Back in India, they are hunting for the suitable voice and when they bump across an unkempt old man  Amitabh Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan) who lives in a graveyard and is a alcoholic. But he has just the right voice.

So basically once they use the talking equipment, whatever the old man says will come out of the actor’s mouth in the same voice.  A little fanciful idea but then this cinema.  After the initial hiccups they strike a deal, the old man pretends to be his valet so that he can be around and enable the actor to speak. Soon the actor is rechristened as Shamitabh and becomes hot property after the success of his first film.  Their arrangement remains a secret which obviously means it will be revealed at some point.

The old man was an aspiring actor at some point, Bachchan even refers to his real life incident when his voice was rejected for radio. Even though he is only lending his voice to the actor, he wants to be an equal partner in the success. At one point he rejects a script which the actor then unilaterally decides to sign. That results in a severe clash of egos culminating in the climax.

While on and off there are some interesting episodes (like the award ceremony for instance with Rekha in a brief role or Bachchan’s soliloquy in front of Robert De Niro poster), the middle portion of the film goes around in circles for a bit.  Thankfully there is no melodrama or romance and for a change the songs are catchy and well picturized.  What could have seriously helped is trimming the film since it gets repetitive. 

Akshara Hassan reminds you so much of Sarika but only as far as her looks are concerned.  As an actress she still has a long way to go. The film then solely rests on the shoulders of Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush who carry it off admirably. Even after all these years, no one comes close to doing a drunken scene the way Big B does it. 

Shamitabh attempts to do something different and although the outcome may not most satisfying, it is still a watchable film.

Published in The Navhind Times, Goa on 8th February 2015

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