Black & White movie rating and review

Black & White (2008) Movie Rating and Review :

Rating :

Acting – 7/10
Direction – 7/10
Screenplay – 6/10
Music – 6/10
Technique – 7/10

Review :

Return of the storyteller

You step inside the hall not knowing what to except from Black & White. The film comes from a man who had once told great stories (Kalicharan, Karz, Karma ) to an entire generation with a larger-than-life flourish. And when then everyone moved on, he kept trying to recreate the yaadein in the name of showmanship.

Subhash Ghai obviously was not done. With an international film school, a huge production unit and the respect of the industry, he could have kicked back and relaxed. But three years after the debacle named Kisna, under the banner of his Mukta Searchlight, and with very low key promotion for support, Ghai returns with Black & White.

It is not a reincarnation story, not a revenge saga, not even and over the top musical. Tackling a topic which has such a strong benchmark in Santosh Sivan’s Terrorist, Ghai does what he used to do best – tell a story honestly. To make his stay in Delhi trouble-free in the days leading up to the attack, the Afghan be friends a much respected Urdu Professor Rajen Mathur (Anil Kapoor) and his feisty wife Roma (Shefali Shah). Thus begins the The Devil’s Own-inspired Black & White countdown to Independence Day.

If Terrorist was about Malli’s physical and emotional preparation as a suicide bomber, Ghai chooses to place a stone-cold relentless jehadi among a set of among a set of Indians with highly secular values. He was sent to send the world a terror tremor but instead he received a new message.

Even Ghai treatment is refreshing. It is not just about cameras, high contrast black-and-images and saturated frames; it is about creating a claustrophobic atmosphere in a very familiar terrain.

You cannot applaud Anil Kapoor enough. The man can jump around shiuting “be positive” in inane comedies but is still always on call for a solid performance. Watch how he comfort his young daughter in his scene in which Roma dies. Shefali creates great chemistry with Anil and makes the most of some intelligently-written husband-wife banter.

If the cinematography (Somak Mukherjee) is top notch, Ghai has not yet lost his ear for music. With Sukhvinder Singh, he churns out a couple of terrific tracks in Jogi aaya and Main chala.

Black & White is worth a try. Don’t worry, there are no close-ups of cola bottles and Ghai does not make that redundant appearance. This one’s clearly more truly felt.

Black & White is no Schindler’s List but it is an effort in the right direction, coming at the right time. Subash Ghai can now wander into Whistling Woods his head held high. Welcome back, Sir.

People who read this post also read :