DHOBI GHAT

overrated but not really overwhelming - such is a movie named "dhobi ghat" which promises a lot but at the end of 95 minutes(with no popcorn breaks in between) u dont get a definite answer.the movie is poignant at moments but it suddenly meanders and is lost in a labyrinth.

the story revolves around four characters , a picturesque agglomeration of four lifestyles. A divorced painter(arun), an investment banker from america(shai) who proclaims her visit to mumbai as a sabbatical, a muslim housewife yasmin and the dhobi cum ratkiller(sounds quirky) munna

the story begins with shai visiting mumbai ,meetin up arun,little conversation,binge drinking and finally making love.

for strange reasons its moment of pleasure to one as for the other its a mere accident due to inebriety. they part and then

shai meets munna the dhobi(washerboy) .lonely hours, long coversations bring them close to each other . shais camera allures munna n he asks his newly made kith to help him make a portfolio. shai accepts his request and they are off for a shoot.but all this while she couldnt deplete her love for arun

the story takes a new direction when arun relocates to the apartment where yasmin stayed. he discovers few tapes amongst belongings of yasmin.curiosity driven arun plays the tape and unravels the pain of yasmins life. she recorded some precious moments of her life in a video camera in order to gift it to her brother.as she unveils her sorrow arun gets connected to her life. a quaint nexus develops between them , in a kind they are intertwined. but finally yasmin hangs herself from the roof owing to her conjugal frustrations.

munna realises that he is attracted towards shai and at the same time discovers that shai is seeking arun.being a victim of our social hiearchy a dhobi understands the gap between him and shai is too big for him to cover. the story then meanders with salim dying out of no reasons, munna and salims family moving to jogeshwari, revelation of the latent truth that munna actually kills rat at night, munna avoiding shai, running away from her.

i dont find reasons for it and if running away was justified then why did he meet shai again.the final hug follows and we see munna running frantically and handing over aruns new address to shai.

the movie ends and it haunts the soul with unanswered questions. the movie seems to be abstruse for there have been movies potraying unrequited love in a better way. as for acting pratik babbar is very promising, monica dogra manages to bait the audience in her american accent and hotpants, aamir khan is numb n has very less dialogues and dissapoints,the girl as yasmin is expressive .

the background score is awesome,cinematography is unparallel (mumbai explored in a new dimension).the whole concept of naration of yasmins story in tapes is very innovative and nice and as for the potrait it makes me spellbound

i have certain questions to ask

1. what was the significance of that lady who stayed inthe room next to arun?? wat was the reason for her silence

2. if yashmin recorded things for her brother why didnt she send it ??was her dying justified and moreover shooting that seems stupid

3.why call a bloody hapless infatuation quadrilateral to be dhobi ghat(mumbai diaries)

ps:- for those who liked it i respect their thoughts but we have seen many better bollywood movies(which are not mainstream).dhobi ghat is fresh but compells you to contemplate even after the end.