From the two potent & powerful characters written scrupulously for
screen to plenty of interesting ‘Bollywood’ references from real life, there’s
a lot to feed your ‘filmy’ appetite in R Balki’s smartly conceived SHAMITABH. Had
it also been crispier, less messy & a little modest in its melodramatic
approach, it would have been much more than just a worthy mention in the list
of movies made in Bollywood, on Bollywood! As of now, let’s just settle the
score with ‘a good one-time watch’.
Balki is known to push the envelopes in terms of adopting uncommon ideas
for the screen. In SHAMITABH, it is all about two different talents coming
together for each other’s good but with their own share of egos and
apprehensions making it a difficult ride to step on. A small-town mute with average
looks, Danish [Dhanush] is your ‘not-so everyday’ cinema-crazy. As illustrated
in the film, he even turns at ‘48 frames per second’ speed [camera technique used
for a slow-motion effect]! On the other hand, it is Amitabh Sinha [the legend himself]
– a long-struggling actor with rich baritone whose shattered dreams and destructive
self-esteem have landed him in a deserted graveyard. Science & technology gives
both a golden chance to lend each other a hand in satisfying their urge to
become widely accepted & admired. But the question ruins the smooth walk, “Who’s
better? Who’s bigger? The voice or the face?”!
SHAMITABH interestingly takes references from real life and weaves it
with the screenplay to make it more intriguing. Danush playing a bus-conductor who
makes it to the heights of being a superstar can easily be allied with his real
life father-in-law and the megastar Rajnikanth’s inspiring life story. Likewise,
Amitabh plays his namesake who doesn’t forget to mention that he once was
rejected from everywhere for his very same tonal quality Danish needs and approves
of.
Balki also doesn’t leave any stone unturned to make viewers spellbound with
the elements of surprise at a consistent interval. In a scene, the ever-gorgeous
Rekha gives away the best actor trophy to Dhanush and when Dhanush starts
thanking everyone from the stage, of course in Amitabh Bachchan’s ever-mesmeric
voice; Rekha’s perplexedly stunned expression could tell you all those said-unsaid
romantic notions between the two without saying much. One of the most intelligently
envisioned and executed cameos I would say!
Dhanush though looks a bit shaky and blatantly too confident for the
role of an earnest aspirant. His mute act also works more on the entertaining
side and not equally absorbing in showcasing emotional outrage within the
character. And who doesn’t remember and rejoice Amitabh Bachchan’s drunken acts
from his previous superhits?? You will find the legend here practicing more and
more of such acts with the same amount of excellence and exactness. Akshara
Haasan impresses as a confident go-getter girl who can give it back to you, no
matter how big star you play on screen. She calls a spade a spade, Danush a ‘monkey’
for that matter and she means it. More power to women in Hindi cinema!
SHAMITABH despite being entertaining in parts, having blessed with
applause-worthy performances by the leads and a completely fresh & novel plot,
puts your interest off after a while. Bachchan’s monologues gets into repetitive
mode and some are really superfluous. A slack chopping hand on editing table
ends up lengthening the duration of the film anywhere close to 2 hours 40
minutes. Even the melodramatic climax looks strained enough to recreate the one
from Kamal Haasan starrer SADMA. At the end, SHAMITABH has Amitabh written all
over, and this one name guarantees and deserves a good one-time watch at any
given time! [3/5]
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