There are films that entertain. And make you happy. Then once-in-a-while you get to watch a film that makes you say – hey what the heck…Let’s give life another shot. In other words, you are injected with an unparalleled energy that bolsters your confidence and belief in the possibilities that one can create for one’s own self. In spite of boulders of odds in your way. There’s a multitude of emotions that Mani Rathnam’s ‘Guru’ generates as you walk out of the theatre with goose pimples and a stammer in the walk. And yes, the buzz surrounding Bachchan Junior is absolutely true. Abhishek’s priceless performance shall be reckoned as one of the all time finest acts in Indian cinema. The rumours surrounding the film being a biopic of Dhirubhai Ambani is true as well.
It takes courage to agree for such physical transformation as Abhi has undertaken totally in contrast to a conventional Bollywood hero image. He plays Gurukant Desai, the young-n-lean foreign returned villager with a funny moustache who gradually grows in years-n-stature as he treads on the road less traveled. He develops flab all over body unconditionally. Walks-n-talks in an awkwardly funny manner as he successfully climbs the ambitious stairs of his ‘bijness’. Just can’t take a No for an answer. And if a door doesn’t open by greasing then he doesn’t mind opening it forcefully.
Master story teller Mani Rathnam is in supreme command as he tells a gripping story in his trademark unusual style. He has used the Art Direction of Samir Chanda to perfection as he recreates the Mumbai Best trams of 1960s, coal engine powered trains and the old model cars on the marine drive promenade are also parked oh-so-casually. The area where Rathnam triumphs the most is his objective viewpoint while handling the context of Gurukant Desai’s success. He doesn’t justify or romanticizes the wrong means employed by Guru in moving up. And the final picture that emanates is that of a man who rose to the top to fall and then rise again. But he is not all black. Or all white. He has shades of grey with warts of blemishes. Yet his basic intentions are honest. The loyalty of the ordinary share holders of Gurkant Desai’s Shakti Industries germinates from transparency. And that’s Guru’s biggest victory.
In the final analysis, Guru’s audacity appeals and repels at the same time. You call him right and wrong in the same breath. But you still feel like favouring him as even if he is doing a wrong, mostly it is meant to oppose the unjust system that listens to nothing except ‘force’ or money power. And Abhishek Bachchan’s body language successfully enacts all these varies shades impeccably.
The irreverent talking style, impish simplicity, earthy warmth, constant focused approach and an ability to connect with people. Junior B is not a junior any more. He is a champion in his own right. For, he surrenders completely to his director’s vision. Check him out in his paralytic state or while interacting with Dasgupta’s granddaughter Meenu (Vidya Balan). And this is by far his best outing with Aishwarya Rai who although doesn’t have much to do, yet she impresses with her sincerity. Wish she had the guts to undergo somewhat similar physical transformation as Abhishek. A few wrinkles would have surely added to her beauty-n-believability.
A R Rahman’s music and background score is magical. ‘Tere Bin’, ‘Barso Re’ and ‘Ae Hairathe Zindagi’ are fantastic while the inspirational quotient is so high in ‘Jaage Hain’ that it can effortlessly make you cry (tears of catharsis and forward thinking). ‘Ek lo ek muft’ is a bit of a letdown, though Abhishek’s spirited dancing does a good job of making up.
‘Guru’ is a film beyond Box Office. It’s a film which comes your way once in a life time. Not everybody shall like it. For it’s not traditional entertainment. But if cinema is more than mere fun for you, then you shall surely treasure ‘Guru’. For a long time to come
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