Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola
Three days ago, I watched “Omkara”. The film was so well made, so nuanced, so “bloody” good in all respects that, I along with the 22 others who were watching at our home theatre, gave a sitting ovation for Vishal Bhardwaj at the end.
[yasr_overall_rating size=”small”]
That was three days ago. Then came Mr Bhardwaj’s next- Matru Ki Blah Ka Blah. Sorry Vishal Bhardwaj, you were God for me for three days only as far I am concerned.
Firstly, the title is a bit irritating. Why have a title that one can neither remember nor comprehend? I am not sure it helps since its gimmicky. On the whole the film was well crafted and trademark Vishal Bhardwaj strengths came through again.
The film’s raw and rustic fabric and texture well knitted , the hindi gaalis didn’t jar, deep north India dialects sounded natural, the camera moved well, the background score punctuated the pregnant silence very effectively and of course the acting was, as usual, exemplary for most part for most characters ( Pankaj Kapur was truly exceptional. Feisty Anoushka is getting predictable).
What about the script? The script lost the script. The first half dragged. The second half didn’t excite. Both halves put together, one wasn’t sure.
Was it a film about commie vs bourgeois identities? If yes, a weak case was put forth. Was it a love story? If yes, it didn’t tug at ones heart at all. Was it about the ubiquitous nexus between government and business and how untrustworthy they are even to one another? Yawn. More exciting stuff surfaces on Facebook every ten seconds on this. Was it, finally, a story of one man managing to purge his demons? Now, I am seeing red as a bull, and its not a “gulabi bhains”!
So go see Matru Ki Blah Ka Blah, for some laughs, the vicarious pleasure of spewing hindi gaalis, terrific acting and some good craftsmanship. And forget it was from Vishal Bhardwaj. He will make a better film next year. I am sure he will.