Story: A heavily pregnant Vidya Bagchi lands from London amidst a festive Kolkata; searching for her mysteriously missing husband in the bylanes and crowded underbelly of the City of Joy. Only to be told he doesn't exist.
Movie Review: While the truth is that most women would love to see their husbands 'missing', such is not the case with the dusky Vidya Bagchi ( Vidya Balan), whose search for her husband, Arnab Bagchi lands her bang amidst mysterious men and baffling clues in an unknown, sometimes unfriendly city.
If, after 'The Dirty Picture' you still needed convincing that you will miss a leading 'hero' in this one, get ready for another punch in the jaw. Once again, a 'pregnant' Vidya, ironically displays more 'male ornaments' (excuse the watering down) than most heroes. She takes on her role with power and pride. Living out of a suitcase, amongst strangers, she takes on the soul of the city. Her performance leaves you in awe of an actress, who walks through her role as easily as a stroll down Chowranghee Lane. And even that is perfected as a pregnant waddle, add to it her disheveled look and eyes dark with anguish.
Rana ( Parambrata Chattopadhyay) is the freshman cop who lets Vidya take the lead, while subtly and impressively leaving a mark of his own. Intelligence Officer A. Khan ( Nawazuddin Siddiqui) shows fine talent as a ruthless, unemotional agent.
However, if anyone matches Balan as a 'hero', it is the city of Kolkata itself. The rawness, beauty and grime of the city are stunningly captured by Setu (Cinematographer), from haath rickshaws, trams to Kalighat and Camac Street. With all its celebration and splash of red and white (symbolic for married Bengali women) spilling over the city.
Sujoy Ghosh's script and direction show no 'pregnant' pauses. It slams home a shock value that a thriller rightly demands. The story totally grips you and leaves you at a dramatic high.
The background score (Clinton Cerejo) is arresting; the music is used beautifully to amplify emotions and dramatize moments. Amitabh Bachchan's rendition of Tagore's 'Ekla Chalo Re' is powerful.
This one is Vidya's 'baby'. Ami shotti bolchi! |
