Delhi 6

Humko Monkey Shakti Dena ;-)!

If one had to compare, I don’t think Delhi 6 is anywhere near Rang De Basanti. In fact, the friend with whom I saw the movie suggested that the direction looked like a poor replica of Rang de Basanti. I agree to the extent that the movies message seems to come in its last quarter and up until then it’s just a watchable film.

The film begins with the an aged Waheeda Rehman deciding to come back to Delhi 6, the place where she wants to die in peace. Abhishek Bachan, her grandson, decides to drop her there and comes to experience an internal journey. In Delhi 6, we meet an array of characters, a Old style house with Tulsi in the aangan, neighbours who practically live with you and stories of estranged brotherhood, lost love and ambitions crushed in orthodoxy. While this happens among the principal characters, on the broad level, Delhi is experiencing attacks from a black monkey, who no one has seen but all have heard of. There is also a Ramleela, which stops to accommodate speeches of politicians, there’s politicians looking to exploit the religious fundamentalism, a Baba who claims he can speak to the spirit of the black monkey. There’s also a ragpicker, who is still seen as an untouchable in Delhi 6. And, oh yes, theres also that love story between the two leading characters.

Too much? Precisely.

There seems to be a lot going on in this film for it to be a 3 hour experience. Too many characters, too many subplots, too many views and voices, too open for interpretation. To Delhi 6’s disadvantage, the characters are not as instantly endearing as those in RDB. Neither do they have those one liners like in RDB, which make them appealing.

Having said that, the film doesn’t lose your attention. Although it is not a very gripping experience, it is strictly watchable for the novelty of its form. Scenes from a Ramleela taking place in the city have been interestingly juxtaposed to match the main plot and give depth to the narrative.

The message that eventually gets delivered, is a good one. The black monkey is but a metaphor for what happens in our country. It is a source of news, then amusement, then commercialization, and eventually unrest and chaos. A fakir pops many a times in between to tell the audience to look into the mirror and see if the black monkey is actually within you, and not outside.

The films merit is its cast. Although both Abhishek and Sonam do justice to their part, it is the support cast that comes together in a perfect ensemble. Right from Om Puri, Waheeda Rehman, to Divya Dutta Atul Kulkarni and even the child actors, they all put together a great punch. The music of the film is very good.

The film has to its credit an aarti (Tumre Bhavan mein) which is first a creates the most comic moment with the male-chorus turning into a fight among two brothers, and then creates a very romantic moment with the serene recital and when Sonam Kapoor clad in white hums in the background standing in moonlight, as Abhishek watches. (Who had ever thought a Bhajan could sound so romantic!!)

Being fond of the newness that films have to offer, I would call it a decent film. It keeps you curios as to what message it is leading you to. In fact at a moment in the film when Abhishek Bachan cries on the shoulders of Waheeda Rehman and says, “Mujhe kuch nahi samajh raha hai”, that’s what even the audience feels actually! Thank God for the last 30 minutes and the pacy and meaningful climax with a ‘divine’ twist that saves the movie and in fact takes it to a new level.

Watch it. It’s different!

3 stars