Movie Review: Aligarh

-

I generally write movie reviews only on films I see in the theatre. But I think I am going to make an exception for Aligarh. I saw it yesterday and am still so affected by it, that I had to put my thoughts on paper. Though it would be very difficult to describe what I felt and am still feeling - all the helplessness and the sadness.

Aligarh is a masterpiece, and an understated one at that. It takes a very sensitive topic and presents it to us without any melodrama. Just as it is. And it touches you. When you finish watching it, you are affected, you are sad. And not because the movie showed sadness. But because it didn’t.

Aligarh is based on the true story of an AMU professor, who was suspended after being unlawfully filmed as being a homosexual. He was treated unfairly by the University and society. He fights for himself and wins but is found dead before he can take up his job at the University again. In the movie, this is shown through the eyes of a journalist who wants to bring justice to him and becomes his friend as he interacts with him.

The handling of the movie has been done in a very sensitive and slow manner, uncovering the truth layer by layer, uncovering the professor layer by layer. The truth about what happened to him has its own linkages to University politics. This is the basis of the movie’s story. But what is more impressive is the portrayal of the professor himself.

The character of the professor has been so perfectly crafted, and so slowly unravelled, its brilliant. He is not a hero, he is a simple man with his own simple likes and ideas, faults and prejudices. He loves Late Mangeshkar and whisky. He loves his poetry and it is given an important place in the narrative. As he opens up to his journalist friend, he uses poetry to bring out his feelings through his words. As he tries to be himself and share his feelings with someone for the first time, it also slowly brings out all his loneliness of having to live his life alone, hiding parts of himself.

Manoj Vajpayee plays this role with his whole soul, he is totally in it. His eyes, his body language, all of it brings out these feelings of helplessness and loneliness so gracefully, its brilliant. And he does this with few words, but with silences, slowness and simplicity. There is no hurry in the pace of the movie, it takes it time to tell its story. But inspite of the pace, you are riveted to your seats, you want to know more about what happened and why. You really have to watch the movie to understand what I mean.

I think what I loved about the movie was there was no drama to show the sadness. There is no crying and long sentimental dialogues. Its all portrayed in a very matter of fact way which gets to you more than if there was too much of the melodrama. Thats why it stays with you more, because its so simple and real.

Watch this movie, definitely the upper end of Indian cinema. Would go for 4.5 stars for this.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie Review : 3 Idiots

-
Given the hi-profile launch of this movie, as well as the raving reviews it received, I went in with very high expectations of the movie. But the movie failed to deliver upto those built-up expectations (Am aware that many people do not agree with this at all, but unfortunately that's my view:) ) The acting is fine, the concept is fine, the story is fine. But it lacks something, which sets apart a great movie from a good movie. There were some parts in the movie which stretched just too much, there were flaws in the story flow and lot of things which were just so unrealistic. Not to forget the fact of course, that 40 year olds were playing 20 year olds! Thats just too hard to digest. Of course, some of the jokes were very funny, and the point about our flawed education system did come across, and in quite a light manner which is quite good. So full points for that! Would give the movie just 3 stars, which given the kind of reviews the movie has received elsewhere, dont match. As...
Read more

Some of my favourite artists

-
This article is an incomplete list, of some artists I have encountered while visiting museums (mostly in NY Met and the Prado in Madrid), when I liked some of their paintings and noted it down 😊. I hope to keep updating and adding to this list as I explore more art. Older Artists Juan di Espinosa:  I liked his still life paintings at the Prado museum in Madrid. He painted fruits on a table, like grapes, figs, plums and apples, each one of the fruits appearing life like. As much as I generally don't get drawn to still life paintings, his were different. And I would love to have one in my dining room. You can see these paintings  here , and my favourite of these were Grapes and apple and Octagonal still life . Leonardo Da Vinci: To be honest, I have seen a lot of his paintings, in National Gallery in London, in Florence, Louvre and so on. But I was never drawn to them. When reading his biography though, I understand why he is known as a master. Some of the effec...
Read more

Delhi Daredevils are back!

-
The Grand Indian Tamasha (IPL) is back again! A couple of months of total entertainment, that's what it is. Hate it or like it, its here to stay! And to enjoy:) I have been a follower of IPL almost since the time it started, more so since I was staying in Mumbai during that period. And when in des , its tough to not get involved in the whole hoopla. I have been a Delhi supporter since the beginning, because of staying in Delhi for a long time, plus being a Sehwag fan. Not because he is the best Indian batsman out there (he isn't) but just because there is no one like him out there. To be fair, Delhi did perform well in the first couple of seasons too. Never winning the trophy or getting close to it, but putting in a decent effort at least! And so was a lot more fun following the IPL. Last year was different though, they sucked thoroughly, and were at the bottom of the heap. And with it, went through the window, my interest in IPL too! It's tough to follow so many match...
Read more