What is it with the second half of many lovely films?

I recall how thrilled I was at half time during Rang De Basanti, only to walk out somewhat disappointed in the end. It was deja vu with 3 Idiots, another delightful one with unnecessary melodrama in the last half hour, as it was with Haider’s profligate killing at the end of the film.

And once again, today, the same feeling with PK… which after a spectacular first half had a weak resolution of the conflict at the end along with an overdose of preaching and predictability in many parts in the second half.

Alas, all of the above came so close to being great, brilliant films.They will, however, have to settle with the tag of being merely “very good”! Its about time Bollywood had more than an occasional masterpiece such as Queen.

PK is a quintessential Raj Kumar Hirani film- a humorous, warm and refreshing, outside-in, look at institutions, seen through the eyes of bewildered and wide eyed protagonists. Munna Bhai MBBS delightfully pointed us to what ails the system of treating ailments, with Sanjay Dutt who sparred with and questioned the gatekeepers of the medical fraternity. In 3 Idiots RKH set up a maverick student against the conscience keepers of the educational system and questioned the current generally accepted notion of “good education”.

PK is a bhojpuri speaking aliens’s look at us humans and our practice of religion. Its his quest of coming to terms with the rules and methods of planet earth and seeking help to return.

In PK, RKH asks questions again.

In particular the film is incisive in questioning the “managers” of the religion and the “company” they each run. I guess its Its time to call them out as – The G Company ( ie The God Company), arguably similar in many ways to the D Company? Religion today is run and interpreted by the G Compnay, a set of self appointed custodians, who first instill hope only to then instill fear- a sequence that allows them to make money and remain gatekeepers of God. That’s who PK exposes.

Its both ironical and courageous that in one scene the film warns about not openly talking about religion in India lest one gets a spike shoved in ones backside by religious bigots and then goes on to doing essentially that.

( You can read, on social media, the ludicrous shrieks of some ultra right idiots who feel that the film has hurt religious sensitivities- expected at a time when religious sensitivities are at an all time high. There is currently an FIR outstanding with the Police against RKH and Aamir Khan for the Shiva-on-the run sequence in the film! )

Once again Aamir Khan turns in a substantive performance adding to his incredible body of work, laying further claim to being one of the all time greats in Indian cinema.

Ultimately PK is great storytelling, honest and clearly painstakingly made (over five years), which warms the cockles of ones heart as did all his previous films. The rest of the cast does well too, the music is full and wholesome accentuating every scene’s drama, the pace is swift and the ending five minutes are delightful.