Cast: Hritik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Rajit Kapoor, Shernaz Patel, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Monikangana Dutta
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Producer: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ronnie Screwvala
Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee
Editing: Hemal Kothari
Writers: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (screenplay), Bhavani Iyer(Screenplay)
Art Directors: Sumit Basu, Rajnish Hedao
Costume: Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Production Design: Acropolis
Special Effects: Suchint Mandloi
Music: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Lyrics: Late Jagdish Joshi, A.M. Turaz, Vibhu Puri
Rating: 4/5
Review:
Yet another flavor from Sanjay Leela Bhansali - known for coming up with a wide variety of subjects and for his experiments with Colors and Lights in his films. This time the flavor is Euthanasia (Ethanasia as they refer to it in the Movie). Euthanasia or Mercy Killing is one of the disputed topics in India. Yet the movie takes this topic in a light hearted but notable way. The Movie does talk about whether Mercy Killing is ethical or not. But then it puts the point that not everyone asking for Ethanasia should be granted his right to death, but it should be considered for every individual. And nowhere in the film will you notice that the director has overdone anything to make this point.
Hritik Roshan plays Ethan Mascarenhas – once a renowned Magician, who falls prey to one of his magic tricks, betrayed by his best Friend and Magician Yasser Siddiqui. He is paralysed for 14 years and has no hope of getting back to a normal life as his condition worsens by each passing day. But he’s not living a life of misery as he has his own Radio Show where he gives everyone the hope to live. He is a person full of life.
Aishwarya Rai Bacchan plays Sophia – Ethan’s Nurse. But it is evident from the beginning that she’s more than a Nurse – a friend and a companion. A beautiful portray of unconditional and selfless Love and Devotion to her duties evident by the fact that she did not take a day off during her 12 year service.
The decision of Ethan’s appeal for Euthanasia strikes as a shock to his friend and Lawyer Devyani played by Shernaz Patel and his Doctor. But eventually Devyani, understanding the pain of Ethan appeals to the court for Euthanasia which is rejected at the first hearing.
Then starts the project Ethanasia – Ethan trying to gather Mass support for his appeal through his Radio show. To his disappointment everyone votes against it until his Ex-Girlfriend cum assistant calls him and votes in his support. The issue is taken to the public and once again the appeal is made taking public support. However the appeal is rejected again by the court on Moral grounds. And Ethan is left disappointed. What will he do now? Will he have to wait silently for his death until his entire body stops functioning? You will have to watch the movie to find it out.
The movie has some key scenes to be noted:
When a student of Ethan asks him to give Ethan a hug he says “No, I have too many attachments!”
Ethan trying to convince the judge, of his condition is through enclosing the public prosecutor in a trunk for 60 seconds saying “You could not bear the 60 seconds of my Life!”
Ethan telling about his first magic trick to his Student and when he asks so your first magic trick was a rain of coins and he says “No my first magic trick was to make my Mother Smile!”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali again made a fantastic use of colors and shades in the movie. For depicting Ethan’s present he mostly made use of dark and shades of Grey, however for depicting his Glorious past he has made use of Golden and bright shades. Sophia is not depicted in a typical Nurse outfit from the hospital but looks fantastic through the movie in a Goan outfit.
Songs in this movie are situational and are meaningful.
A good movie - worth watching. But again it is for the class and may not appeal to the masses.
Movie: Peepli Live
Star cast: Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuveer Yadav, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Vishal Sharma, Farrukh Jaffer, Sitaram Panchal and Naseeruddin Shah
Music: Mathias Duplessy & Indian Ocean
Cinematography: Shankar Raman
Editing: Hemanti Sarkar
Story: Anusha Rizvi
Director: Anusha Rizvi
Producer: Aamir Khan
Rating: 4/5
Movie Plot: Based on the conditions of people in India who are living below poverty line, this film revolves around the story of a family of two brothers, who are facing the risk of losing their land due to an unpaid bank loan. While trying to do everything in order to save their land, the two brothers Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) and Budhia (Raghuveer Yadav), are advised by henchmen of one of the local politician Bhai Thakur (Sitaram Panchal) on a policy of government. An Idea that changes the entire living ways of Natha, and also his family, as he choose to decide on executing the advice of committing suicide in order to get the benefit from a government program, which aids the families of deceased farmers. In order so that his family can survive, Natha is manipulated by his brother Budhia and is convinced to commit suicide. The story takes interesting turns from there and reveals, in a very comical manner the shocking nature of the media and politicians and the people in general who sees their business in a poor man's death.
In general nobody would have noticed the event, had it not been captured in a local newspaper by a reporter Rakesh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who is trying to succeed and progress in life. But this news comes out on the verge of state elections, and the news captures National headlines, with a report by a big English news channel reporter Nandita Malik (Malaika Shenoy). The news/report marks a chain of events where a media frenzy ignites around whether or not Natha will commit suicide. This debate engulf everything in it from the village to the nation, elections, people, with everyone wanting a piece of the action. Political bigwigs, high-ranking bureaucrats, local henchmen and the ever-zealous media descend upon sleepy Peepli to stake their claim. The question on everyone's lips - "Will he or Won't he?" As the mania escalates what will be the fate of Farmer Natha; nobody seems to care how he really feels? What all chaos it all leads to forms the rest part of the story.
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