Guru : A term used to refer a teacher. Indeed this film does teach us a couple of things. Guru comes from the renowned Madras Talkies. A production house which has given us great films like Roja, Bombay, Yuva and now GURU. A couple of decades ago a man thought of making a film with some 20 odd children as the main cast. Handling children is always difficult and making a film with them was a challenge in itself.. The film released and went on to become a classic. Baby Shalini became a household name. The film was ‘Anjali’ and the maker, Mani Ratnam. If this person can make a classic with more than a dozen children, what would he do of he makes a film with seasoned and professional actors such as Abhishek, Mithun and Aishwarya? He would create a masterpiece and name it GURU. I believe (with my limited understanding of films) that one of the most important things in any good film is the casting. Mani Ratnam is a veteran in making good films and get this right straightaway. Guru needed a person who is street-smart (someone like Bunty), who had a fire inside him burning, much like a rebel.. (like Lallan in yuva). A person who can appear to be in control and have a screen presence. Now with all these things who could possible fit the bill… Abhishek, I believe fits it quite right. When you see him on screen it appears that someone has taken a backup of
Amitabh a couple of decades ago and now has restored him back now…. J Unrealisitic backup and restore eh.. You are right.. For such magical things we have Mani Ratnam and for other realistic backup and restore we have Symantec BackupExec. ;-) I think this has to be Abhishek’s best performance till date. Even better than ‘Lallan’ in Yuva. Mithun comes back in a big banner film after a long time. You think of it, its rather funny eh. The person who was called ‘Garibon ka Amitabh’ now share the same screen space with asli Amitabh’s son.. ….. Mithun does not need to give yet another National award winning performance (he has already given two national award winning performances). Actually he does not have much scope. But whatever he has got, he has delivered with conviction.
Then there is our girl, Ashie. I would not write much about her or it may come out as baised… ;-)But again no one could have fit the role better than her. The film starts with Guru in an empty stadium saying something. This scene is revisited at the end. So at this moment do not pay attention to Abhishiek, instead pay attention to A R Rehman’s voice in the background. What he has to say forms the crux of the film. Guru is a story of a boy who fails academically and opts to go abroad to work; much to the dislike of his father who is a headmaster of the school and wants his son to complete and do well in his studies. Guru gets the permission from his dad and goes to Turkey. Here Life teaches the lad many things in its real time classroom. No theory.. all hand-on practicals.. and the lad learns well. Guru comes back to India and marries Sujata. Ashie is ‘Sujata’ in this film. Guru has big dreams and comes to Bombay to fulfill them. He struggles to gain foothold in this city of dreams and goes on to become one of the topmost businessmen of the country. This is the story from say… a 10000 feet high bird’s eye view. I would hate to tell you more and take the thunder away.. So go watch the movie… Thumbs Up .. taste the thunder… Rather than telling the story, I would like to write about some other things which would help you to appreciate the film more. Let me try and bring it out for you.
The next song has our girl singing in the rain in a village in some part of Gujarat.. Mani has converted our local village to a visual spectacle and to add to that he has put Ashie in that.. Visual SEE PLUS PLUS.. Ashie looks just as innocent as the role requires.. Singing and playing in the rains…You will love this song.. Its been shot beautifully. Songs are placed at the right places.. there should be 4 songs in all. 3 are good.. You can take your break during the 4th song (‘Ek pe ek free’). The rest of the while you are going to be glued to your seat..
Mani is a expert in keeping the viewers glued to their seat when they are watching his movies... for everything else.. we have Fevicol… The level of detailing that has gone in making this movie is remarkable. I could not find a single item in the film that could have been available, in India, only after 1980. All the things, places, sets used; depict the time when the movie is set, appropriately. Madhavan wears bell-bottoms. His shirt pocket has flaps – a popular trend seen during late 70’s- early 80’s. Vidya balan is usually in salwar kameez. Abhishiek Bachchan wears safari when he is not in suit. The phone instruments used have the rotary dial. The local number written on top of the phone has 4 digits. Understandably as at that time phone was not a household things.. Far few people (rich) had the luxury of having a telephone at their home. The trading accounts which were used to be kept were all in hindi. The number on the telephone is in Hindi numerals.. Detailing at its best. Bombay is shown at its best times.. Of course we were not born at that time…..so it’s a delight to see Bombay as it once was.. ‘BEST” trams running along the roads, Less traffic, wide roads.. Maaaaaaaast…
Other notable things is the onscreen chemistry between Abhishiek and Ashie.. Its great.. She plays a typical India Wife (of the 80s). Sorry but the mention of time was important to make the statement correct.. Achcha lagta hai usko dekhke… Lagta hai…… Agar koi ho, to aisi hi ho… utni khubsoorat nahi ho, to bhi tension nahi…Uska bat karne ka daang.. kitna samjhdaari se.. aaste.. aur woh friendly smile.. Kitna respect ata hai usko dekhke… aur aajkal ke kuch logon ko dekha to.. akkha memory ka waat lag jata hai…. Anyways… Guru’s story on the whole is pretty much close to Dhirubhai Ambani’s. But Mani denies that, it actually is the same. Maybe we can take it as “Patro ke naam unke bhavnao ke kadar karte hui badal diye gaye hai”.. ;) Guru's company is called Shakti corporation.. and guess what, Logo of Shakti corporation bears close resemblance to logo to Symantec Corporation.. J Why would Guru choose such a logo for his company.. Unche Log Unchi Pasand!!!...;) hmm Maybe.. Khair.. aage badhte hai..
When he returns back from turkey, he informs his father that he would start his own business.. His father is shocked that his son has left behind a high paying secure job and is thinking of starting a
business of which he has no experience.. risky… His father tries to dissuade him and says painfully discouraging things. All this does not distract or disappoint him.. He goes ahead to fulfill his dreams.. In Bombay, when he is to start his business.. he gets abuses from traders and has to struggle to gain a foothold in the market…Everytime.. when strong hands try to push him down… Guru puts the spring of his tremendous positive attitude under him .. and forces the resistance to be removed ……so that he can rise.. and soar well beyond everyone’s dreams…The film teaches us criticism can be good or bad; depending on how we take it.. how we handle it.. I do not think it is necessary to suggest a film like this. It is just too obvious. If you have free time, and want to see a good film, you may most likely would want to choose GURU… diplomacy eh? Sidha bolna GURU accha hai, jaake dekho… I hope you enjoy the movie…
1 comment:
such amazing details and u have a very good observation.. i will have to see the movie again..
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