Guzaarish

This movie is all about looks- the wild eyed and haired look that Hrithik sports as the paraplegic magician Ethan asking for euthanasia, the look o... read more

This movie is all about looks- the wild eyed and haired look that Hrithik sports as the paraplegic magician Ethan asking for euthanasia, the look of his nurse (Ash) who is dressed in some kind of Portuguese-Aztec-ghagra combo ready to break out into a flamenco dance that the rose in her hair keeps instigating her to do or the look of the house with its moody blue lighting, stagnant ponds, wasted courtyard and a winding staircase.

What makes it more incongruous is that there is a TV in the house which shows that it is part of the modern world. When you see a normal looking TV news reader you are almost shaken out of the daze you are enveloped in. The lawyer and the doctor are the only two normally dressed people in this saga and the courthouse the only evidence that this is modern day Goa and there are cars and not horses on the road.

The script gives Ethan an ironic sense of humour that you appreciate and you would like to root for him. Unfortunately, his get up gets in the way. How I longed to spend time with the saner looking paraplegics from the hospital who were just getting on with it. Why should a paraplegic who needs round the clock care, have hair that needs to be washed while being strung up in a hammock? Given the absence of servants in the house, who puts him in it? Ash? This sort of look interferes with the character. Its the same grouse I had with the movie Anjali that gave the little mentally retarded girl wild hair that emphasized her condition and not in a good way.

Onto performances. Hrithik nods his head maniacally, has unfocussed eyes and except for the court scene generally acts more like its his head that is not in his control more than his body. Ash is tightly pursed red lips and a stern ward sister expression (aided by the long braid). We get no peep into her motivations, her feelings. Well, I told you, its all about the look. Shernaz Patel as the lawyer friend is fantastic and Aditya Roy Kapur whom I liked in Action Replayy repeats the same eager beaver expressions here. I am still cheering for him but one more movie with the same goofy grin and I may have to rethink my opinion.

I wish there were more flashbacks of Ethans magician days. Hrithik dances like a dream-a study in fluidity in the one flashback that I wanted to see endlessly. The other magic trick flashbacks are not that astonishing-a man sawing a woman in half. Come on! P.C Sorcar can show us better. Showing us some more of his glory days would have built up more sympathy and understanding for his decision to die.

The songs (composed by Bahnsali) are a drag except for the smoky flamenco-ish number at a nightclub (no rest for you dear viewer, the nightclub has not redecorated since 1950).

The movie has a good, engrossing story. My advice is, if you want to enjoy this, get into bizarre country, think its normal(it is after all a Bhansali movie) and then see it. Otherwise your sensory dislocation may just end up paralyzing your mind.
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movies fall in an entirely different genre, all together. His name is synonym of artistic brilliance and majestic grandeur.... read more

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movies fall in an entirely different genre, all together. His name is synonym of artistic brilliance and majestic grandeur. If he tasted sweet commercial success with 'Hum Dil Chuke Sanam' and 'Devdas', he also won million hearts with his creative masterpieces like 'Khamoshi' and 'Black'. With his last release 'Sanwariya', he also succumbed to his over-ambitious creative-mind and consequently, faced brickbats from all quarters. Few, even rechristened it as "Sanjay Bhansali ki AAG". Ouch!! That's Cruel. So it makes all the more important for 'Guzaarish' to hit the right tone with the audiences all over again.

'Guzaarish' targets niche audiences who atleast care to give serious-cinema, a thought. The film revolves around platonic relationship between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai; the pair stamps their effervescent chemistry, yet gain. Like majority of Bhansali's movies, Guzaarish also is a visual treat but is painfully slow, especially the first half. While watching this tale of a paralyzed magician, one would sense a feeling of 'so-near-yet-so-far'. Bhansali had an all-win 'crux-of-the-plot' at his disposal, but he frittered away the golden opportunity with a weak over-all content and a mingy screenplay.

If cinematography by Sudeep Chaterjee is of top notch, then duo of Tubby and Parik pumps life to the melodrama with their delicate background score. Bhansali also dons hat of music director for 'Guzaarish' and honestly, doesn't matches to the high standards set for his own movies. Since most of the songs are cut-short in the final edit, so they don't really hackles up anybody. Out of the lot, title track, 'Zikrr' and 'Sau-Gram Zindagi' stands out while Aishwarya makes 'Mil Gayi' watchable.

Guzaarish is made intriguing by the sheer performances of its lead-pair. Bollywood's very own Greek-God Hrithik Roshan is back with the bang. With his stellar enactment of a quadriplegic patient, he has made sure that he is ready to sail high yet again, after 'Kites' had a crash-plummet. Nobody showcases Aishwarya Rai's breathtaking beauty in more exemplary manner than Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and Guzaarish is no exception. She looked gorgeous and acted best amongst her last few offerings. Aditya Roy Kapoor is one improved lad with his every outing. Shernaz Patel is just brilliant; Rajit Kapoor, Nafisa Ali and Suhel Seth were decent in their small but integral roles. It would be better for MoniKangana Dutta she doesn't treat this blink-and-miss role as her debut vehicle.

Maverick Verdict: First thing first, Guzaarish is low on Entertainment Quotient. So those seeking a masala flick (or in bolly-lingo 'Paisa Vasool'), kindly give it a miss. Those who love different genres of Cinema and willing to appreciate sincere performances while taking few loopholes in their stride, Guzaarish is a must watch.
Final few words: We are no-one to either advocate or refute Euthanasia (Mercy-killing), but everybody has right to quest for solace. Hence, let us beseech 'STAY IN PEACE' for all!!!
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Finally, after a lot of unsuccessful efforts, Bhansali has triumphed in giving Indian Cinema, an absolute masterpiece in the form of Guzaarish. Thi... read more

Finally, after a lot of unsuccessful efforts, Bhansali has triumphed in giving Indian Cinema, an absolute masterpiece in the form of Guzaarish. This film is not at all a box-office material and is meant for only a particular chunk of mass. Although a lot of people might not enjoy this film, but one thing is for sure that Guzaarish will be truly a treat to the eyes of its each and every spectator. Cinematographer Sudeep K. Chatterjee has done a commendable job of creating some amazingly enthralling, opulent and alluring visuals. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai have done complete justice to the characters of Ethan Mascarenhas and Sofia. Guzaarish will definitely prove you wrong if you thought that Jodha-Akhbar was their best in terms of acting and screen presence.

The film is set in Goa and revolves around the character of Ethan Mascarenhas who was a world famous in the past but is currently a paraplegic patient i.e who hosts a radio show christened 'Radio Zindagi' in which he talks about life, hope and sunshine to its listeners which is kind of ironical because soon after that Ethan files for a petition for euthanasia i.e. mercy killing with the help of his lawyer friend- Shernaz Patel who has acted tremendously well. This decision of him leaves Sofia flummoxed. Sofia played by Aishwarya Rai is a beautifully woven character who has her strings attached with Ethan in a very complex form. Sofia has been the care-taker of Ethan from past 12 years and is practically the epicenter of Ethan's world. There are a lot of layers to her character and she always dresses up flamboyantly in reds, blacks and maroons. The costumes by Fashionista Sabyasachi are absolutely flawless and wondrous. There is a subtle love story between Ethan and Sofia showcased in a very realistic and beautiful way and both of then exude an aura of dignity and passion through out the film

Ethan's house gives a very Charles Dickens type feel and oozes out with the Victorian essence. Just like the central characters and their lives, this house is also dreary but amusing. Hrithik has proved himself as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema by far by playing the role of a paraplegic patient with such ease and comfort. Acting on the basis of just one's face and expressions without the movement of any other body part is a very very very tough task which Hrithik has succeeded in doing very suavely and convincingly. Aishwarya Rai has also done an absolutely great job. Bhansali surely knows to get the best of out of his actors. Omar played by Aditya Roy Kapoor is a young lad who completely adores Ethan and comes to learn magic from him and over the period becomes a part of the small family. Aditya has done magnificently well and almost matched the level of performance delivered by Hrithik and Ash. Suhel Seth, Nafisa Ali, Vijay Crishna, Rajit Kapoor, Ash Chandler, Achint Kaur and Makarand Deshpande, all have done absolute justice to their small but powerful roles. However, Moni Kangana Dutta although looks stunningly gorgeous in the film, fails to match up the standard of act put up by her colleagues in the film.

The screenplay penned down by Bhavani Iyer and Bhansali is remarkably good and Bhansali has framed the film shot by shot in a very opulent manner. Dialogues given by Bhavani Iyer and Vibhu Puri although hard hitting at times, will definitely touch your soul. Bhansali has followed the footsteps of legendary Satyajit Ray and Vishal Bhardwaj by creating the music of this film. The music is poetic, earthy and contemporary which will surely leave an impression in your hearts especially the songs Yeh tera zikra hai and Sau gram Zindagi crooned by and Shail Hada and Kunal Ganjawala. The background score by Tubby and Parik is subtle and Grey, complete goes in sink with the occurrence of events and acts as the pillar of this film. Guzaarish might have been inspired by little bits and pieces of "The Sea Inside", but it surely stands out on its own and has its own appeal.

To conclude with, Guzaarish is a slow paced film with a very dark shade to it. But it is extremely well crafted and beautifully executed with amazing visuals, music and performances. This film is a total total treat to the eyes, but will leave you with a subtle hint of sadness lingering in your heart even after you walk out of the theaters.

GO FOR IT:

1. If you love true hardcore cinema and don't mind watching something that is far beyond the typical stereotypes of Bollywood.
2. If want to see the crackling on-screen chemistry of Hrithik and Aiswarya once again.

IGNORE IT:

1. If you are looking out for only entertainment.
2. If you do not want to come out of the theaters with a gut-wrenching feeling. view less

For some time now I have been wondering that why does Sanjay Leela Bhansali make movies that can only make people cry. Either the protagonists in h... read more

For some time now I have been wondering that why does Sanjay Leela Bhansali make movies that can only make people cry. Either the protagonists in his films are always a 'shikaar' of some handicap or they are screwed over in love. But I guess he is just damn good in this genre and delivers a brilliant performance 'almost' every time he steps out of his house to make a movie. Guzaarish touches one's heart and is one of SLB's finest piece of work.

Ethan Mascerenhas (Hrithik) who was a genius magician of his time is now a bed ridden handicapped person. He suffers an accident during one of his shows and gets paralyzed from the neck down to an irrecoverable state. Ethan is supported by his nurse Aishwarya Rai and by 2 friends, his lawyer and his doctor. The movie is based on his request to the government of India to allow him death via mercy killing. During this turmoil of going through the process of fighting in court he comes across a young magician, Aditya Roy Kapur, who wishes to acquire wisdom from Ethan on the magic tricks front. Ethan decides to pass on his heritage before he dies.

Initially I was in a frame of mind that this movie was going to be one big rona-dhona party. But I was pleasantly surprised for the light moments that were put up in the movie. The dialogs added a zing of humor to the movie. Especially the satirical taunts which Ethan keeps shoving out from time to time are hilarious. Aditya Roy Kapur's character adds some light moments to the movie amidst all the emotions running high.

Musical reins, for some reason, were also taken over by SLB himself. He delivers a decent score but I was left wanting for more melody. I could not fathom why Monty Sharma who did such a wonderful job in Sawariya was not retained. The songs have the weirdest of lyrics but in a good way. Like for e.g. Sau gram ki zindagi, Tera Zikr hai ya itra hai, Jaane kiske khwab takiye ke neeche aaj rakhhe hai. They seem more like a poetry recitation than the conventional mukhada-antara-mukhada songs.

When Hrithik spoke his first dialog, I was like Oh no is this going to be another 'Mai Prem ki deewani hun'. But as the movie progresssed he opened his feathers like a peacock. By the time the movie got over, I could not help but feel sorry for SRK(My Name is Khan). The awards are going over to the Roshan household this year. Superlative is a small word for his performance. Aishwarya Rai definitely put up a performance that will make her proud and puts her back in the top actress bracket. Aditya Roy Kapur was a revelation. The guy just delivered a second terrefic performance in the space of 2 weeks. The rest of the supporting cast was damn good too.

SLB is in full form and has a strong story to tell. He narrates it with utmost brilliance. What I loved the most was that there were no huge sets and grandeur. It all looked very real and believable. If I had to complain then I would point out that Hrithik looked muscular in some scenes with his muscles tearing out of his T shirts even though he is shown to be paralyzed for 14 years. They should have worked on his costumes to make him look fat and out of shape. Other than that SLB guided this ship brilliantly and the end product is super.

Rating: Do Not miss this one.

Looking for a serious good story: Do not miss !!
Love the love in SLB movies: Go for it.
Date movie: Nope! Unless "you love to see her/him cry"
Hate rona-dhona movies: Not for you.

Repeat Value: Probably not. view less

What exactly is the purpose of the existence of 'Guzaarish'? It is a Bollywood film, so commercial and critical fame obviously top the list in that... read more

What exactly is the purpose of the existence of 'Guzaarish'?

It is a Bollywood film, so commercial and critical fame obviously top the list in that order. Is it perhaps Bhansali's attempt to regain past glory post the disaster that was 'Saawariya' (2007)? Could be some wanton urge of Mr. Roshan to show to the world that he too can act; characters with disabilities aren't the prerogative of only Khans. Maybe the Goa tourism board needed one hell of an expensive advertisement....that doesn't really show Goa. Maybe Mr. Bhansali just wanted to make the audience weep like babies; make you reach for those handkerchiefs at the drop of a hat. There could be a thousand reasons, but for me it only serves as a reminder of the pretentious nature of Sanjay Leela Bhansali who in his career has only sought to shamelessly pilfer movies outright from across the globe (including old Bollywood films) and present them as schmaltzy overblown intellectual films with a so called heart. Not to forget the strange la-la land most of his movies are set in where flowing drapes, the color blue and vintage houses seem to be in overwhelming abundance.

Having watched 'The Sea Inside' I'm going to be blunt, 'Guzaarish' doesn't even come close to matching the emotional appeal or connect the former film created with me. For a long time after I had watched 'The Sea Inside', it affected me on a level raising questions that only instigated some sense of personal morality in me. Right, wrong, everything seemed to merge into one in an attempt to find my own answer for an invisible question omnipresent in the movie but never thrust in your face.

What if I hadn't watched 'The Sea Inside'?

'Guzaarish' would still fail to convincingly address its own core issues. The primary plots being of euthanasia & the budding romance between Ethan & Sofia. In trying to make the movie far more accessible to the general audience, the movie simplifies the concept too thus creating a superficial monster that's all talk and no show. The romance is never allowed to blossom properly, the emotional connect is far too superficial. Just watch the unintentionally hilarious penultimate scene that's as much an attempt to make you cry as an ode to American Football.

The sub-plot about magic and passing on the torch of wisdom to another is pure hokum. Not a shred of credibility exists for anyone even remotely aware of the tricks of the world of professional magicians. Plus the hurried manner in which the eager apprentice's woes are resolved only makes you wonder, when did that happen?

Life is worth living is repeated over and over again, but none of the characters can make a strong enough point for the case; neither do they manage to put up a convincing argument for Ethan wanting to end his life. Yes, he is quadriplegic but hes been like that for 14 years, so did he just wake up one day and decide he wants to kill himself? If one court rejects it, hasn't anyone heard of appealing in a higher court? Oh wait I forgot this is la-la land, Bhansali's wonderland, wheres hes judge, jury and executioner.

While the cinematography is good and the film looks beautiful; its all make believe. Making already picturesque locations look beautiful should be the least a competent cinematographer can achieve. The indoor sets are a treat to behold for their Victorian elegance but lack any sense of time, place, purpose or people. What was wrong with everyone's clothing sense in the film? The music is below-par and not a single song did I find hummable.

Hrithik Roshan huffs and puffs with wide eyes through the role, though he fares better in the comic moments. But his uncharacteristic smiles & laughter when compared to the dead-pan look on other quadriplegics, seem pretty over-the-top similar in the vein of Mr. Khan's 'hey-look-I'm-acting' bit in the underwhelming 'My Name is Khan'. The physical characteristics of a quadriplegic are not totally convincing either (though if I hadn't seen 'The Sea Inside' I might not been able to gauge). Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fares somewhat better, but still suffers from her 'tilt-head-when-emotional' syndrome of acting. Aditya Roy Kapoor grins his way through yet another mediocre performance while Shernaz Patel's truly hilarious scene occurs when she stuffs her mouth with a piece of toast right in the middle of an emotional outburst; Though credit should go to her for having not choked on the bread. Ash Chandler in a cameo appearance would be guaranteed to walk away with this year's Worst Actor Award and Worst Hairstyle awards if there were any.

Rather than watching this pretentious excess of emotional artillery directed straight at your tear ducts, go an rent a copy of The Sea Inside and know that real cinema doesn't come in blue bubble-gum wrap.
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