The
term ‘Incredible India’ can never be classified to only its breathtakingly
colorful places of cultural or natural heritage; or even to the very fact that
despite being stung by corruption, crime and constricted behavioral social and
over-emotional issues, it is still very much on its feet. In fact, the other
and the most significant characteristic of our nation have always been the
legends of implausible efforts turning the impossible into the possible. The
courageous case of Dashrath Manjhi of Bihar is most likely the most inspiring saga
of undying spirit, nerve-wracking guts, survival against all odds and the
triumph of true love in modern India. Ketan Mehta’s MANJHI- THE MOUNTAIN MAN is
a visual documentation of Manjhi’s arduous 22-year long struggle to bring a
considerable change in the society he’s been rooted in. But in the stricture of
a Bollywood film that also craves for approval of the entertainment-seekers! A
win some, lose some situation!
Dashrath
Manjhi [Nawazuddin] is an angry young man traumatized by his beloved wife’s
unfortunate accidental death and tormented by the haunting memories of good old
times spent with her. Describing the pain better in his own words, Manjhi
states in the film, “Kuch bhulaye nahin bhoolta. Fillum si ghus gayi hai humar
khopadiya mein, kabhi bhi kahin se shuru ho jaati hai…aage-peechhe,
peechhe-aage’. The same vouches for another reference to the film’s back &
fourth narrative. The remedy lies in the revenge. Manjhi must fight the evil;
in this particular case, a mammoth, invincible and insensitive mountain. The true
love needs to pass the test and the only way out is, “Don’t stop till it’s
over.” And thus, begins the wrestle between the two taking 22 years to reach a
climax in favor of the most unbeatable spirit of a helpless looking man with
just a hammer and a chisel in his hands.
Ketan
Mehta is blessed with an eagle eye to look out for inspirational real-life
stories from the past [SARDAR, MANGAL PANDEY- THE RISING, RANG RASIYA] but this
time, his luck takes a giant leap in terms of finding Dashrath Manjhi in
Nawazuddin’s chameleon-beating talent of owning a character so much that it
could blur all the lines in between the two. The film gets off-track more than
a couple of times when Ketan decides to provide some half-hearted, easy, filmy
and feeble elements of desperate entertainment values [His buffoonery act on
the first encounter with his would-be wife, for instance] but don’t lose your
faith in Nawazuddin as he constantly manages to surprise you with his
unimpeachable acting skills. If watching him romance with one of the most
sizzling actresses of today’s times Radhika Apte is delightful, then his
monologues with the mountain are simply worth-whistling. You can’t afford to
miss any of the expressions he wears on his face so responsibly. His
performance can only be expressed better in his own words on screen, “Shaandar!
Jabardast!! Zindabad!!!”
Radhika
Apte as Manjhi’s wife is here again to win some serious accolades. Though she
misses a shot or two while perfecting the pitch and parlance of a rural-tribal
inhabitant, she is in good form. Tigmanshu Dhulia repeats his GANGS OF
WASSEYPUR role as the mean & malevolent Mukhiya of the village. Late Asharaf-ul-Haque
as Manjhi’s Father is pitch-perfect. This is probably the best and the
lengthiest role of his lifetime. Heartbreakingly, he couldn’t be here to enjoy
the praise. Prashant Narayanan does his bit good in first part but later, returns
only to kill it with a typecast transformation. Deepa Sahi surprises in her one
and only appearance. Music is one big letdown. They try hard to sound
authentically connected to the pace and the place but sadly, never reach the
mark of satisfaction.
MANJHI-
THE MOUNTAIN MAN is undeniably Ketan Mehta’s one of the bests; mostly because
of two individuals. In Dashrath Manjhi, he finds an extraordinary hero who
never surrenders to anything in his road to deliverance. And an excellent
player of unswerving performance in his screen version Nawazuddin! Had it been
less theatrical and more profound in its nature, MANJHI- THE MOUNTAIN MAN would
have been definitely the best film of the year. The task is not completed but
you’ll love the MAN at work! [3.5/5]
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