|
|
 |
|
| |
Review of Guru
January 20, 2007
Lights, camera, action! On January 11th, over a thousand impassioned fans congregated on Yonge Street to partake in cinematic history in the making. Toronto played host to some of the Indian film industry's brightest stars at the world premiere of Mani Ratnam's highly anticipated film, Guru. The film was neither filmed in Canada nor produced by a Canadian. However, the producer, Bobby Bedi (Saathiya, Fire, Bandit Queen) chose Toronto for the film's premiere because it is one of the "most cosmopolitan cities in the world".
Following the gala screening of Karan Johar's film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Never Say Goodbye), which drew massive crowds to the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006, Toronto has become a hotspot for Indian filmmakers wanting to promote their films on an international level. Not only does Toronto boast a large and enthusiastic South Asian population, but the city is now also known as a hub for innovative cinema as a result of the Toronto International Film Festival and the numerous films that are shot here every year.
Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan arrived arm-in-arm for the event, foreshadowing their engagement which happened promptly upon their return to India on January 14th. Aishwarya, as luminously beautiful and ethereal in person as she is onscreen, looked gorgeous in a white and gold chikan churidar kameez, and Abhishek looked dignified in a dark grey suit. Guru's director, Mani Ratnam (Bombay, Dil Se, Roja, A Peck on the Cheek), arrived with his lovely wife Suhasini and his teenage son. Others present to grace the premiere were the multitalented music director, A.R. Rahman, dashing supporting cast member, Madhavan, and the Canadian distributor of the film, Roger Nair.
Toronto's mayor, David Miller, who attended the event and walked the red carpet with the stars, was exuberant about the twelve hundred-plus fans congregated around the Elgin Theatre on Yonge Street near Dundas. He commented that the "South Asian community is very important to our city and so is the film industry". Looking out at the crowds of screaming fans, Miller noted that "I've never seen anything like the adulation tonight!"
Guru is the inspiring story of a villager from Gujarat who goes on to become one of India's most successful industrialists. Loosely based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, founder of Reliance Corporation, Guru follows its protagonist's development as he faces the hurdles placed in his ambitious path by the bureaucracy and India's privileged elite, who, in 1951, controlled the business world.
Abhishek Bachchan gives a noteworthy performance as Gurukant Desai, and ages gracefully onscreen as he evolves from a naïve village youth to a wealthy Mumbai tycoon. Aishwarya plays his onscreen wife Sujatha with charm. For me, the strongest performances were by the film's supporting characters: Madhavan, one of my favourite contemporary actors, gives a subtle and nuanced performance as Shyam, a newspaper reporter who goes head-to-head with Guru over his sometimes corrupt business practices.
Mithun Chakaraborty, the eighties icon who is currently enjoying a career renaissance, is my favourite performer in the film, giving a stellar portrayal of a man torn between the bonds of friendship and his ethical commitment to honest journalism. Vidya Balan plays his physically handicapped daughter and is impressive though her role is limited.
A.R. Rahman's music is hypnotic and, for me, carries the film to another level. Songs like "Barso Re" and "Tere Bina" linger in my mind and haunt my memory long after images of the film have faded. The Mani Ratnam-A.R. Rahman combination works so well because Rahman is able to take Ratnam's cinematic work and expand it exponentially with his music.
Ratnam is one of India's shining talents, and is able to evoke unparalleled performances from his actors. Guru, no doubt, will change Abhishek's career forever and give him the credibility and experience to face more challenging roles. Abhishek's acting in the film surpasses his previous performances but still holds much room for growth. Aishwarya gives a stronger performance than usual, but falls short in her limited facial expressions. Overall, the film, while not comparable to some of Ratnam's other achievments (think Roja, Bombay, A Peck on the Cheek), is miles ahead of the usual Bollywood fare. It is evident that Ratnam challenges his actors and pushes them to new heights. Guru's story is inspirational, and its roots in real Indian corporate history add to its power.
When asked by a reporter if Guru was based on Ambani's life, Ratnam answered simply that "Guru is India". On the cusp of becoming an economic world star, India's rise from a third world nation to superpower is analogous to the ascent of Gurukant Desai. Ratnam's vision and his undying faith in India's tremendous capacity to achieve great heights are the true stars of the film.
|
|
|
Reviewed by
Amreen Omar
|
(Mayor David Miller)
(Director, Mani Ratnam)
(Music Composer, A. R. Rahman)
(Actor, R. Madhavan)
|
MENU