Ghajini
Sunday, 4. January 2009, 15:30:37
Ghajini is the Bollywood version of the Kollywood (The Tamil film industry) version of the Hollywood classic "Memento". It was one of the year's most anticipated Bollywood releases. And, does it live up to he hype? Yes and No. Let me expound furthur:
It is true that I judge Bollywood movies with a lower standard. Bollywood are marketed for the mass audience and subsequently changed to suit their tastes (The concept of "independent movies" is still in its nascent stage).
The main character has anterograde Amnesia, a condition brought on by a severe blow to the head, which basically implies that he can't form new memories (a 15 minute memory). He spends his every waking minute, in the quest for his fiance's killer. Yes, the revenge plot again. This story is unfolded by a series of flashbacks (and extremely detailed diary entries). But, that's where its resemblance with Memento ends.
While Memento was a thriller that dealt in the morally ambiguous, Ghajini pretty much stuck to the 'Bad guy' vs 'Good Guy' act. While, Memento had incredibly complex character development, with even more complex sub-plots, Ghajini has mainly two-dimensional characters - The wife is unnaturally good to everyone around her, while the baddie is unnaturally bad and the rest are just forgetable.
Ghajini also concentrates on the romance between the leads. And, even though that makes the movie package-able to Indian audience, it tends to dilute the unfolding of the story and the pace of the film. At 3 hours, the movie is about half an hour too long. The movie does lag in the first half. But, the last 45 minutes, beginning with the killing of his fiance and then concluding in the 'vanquishing of the baddie'
in his 'seemingly impregnable fortress', is fantastic.
Ghajini is all about Aamir Khan. He's built up, looking like the Incredible hulk. Even though his look might be a marketing gimmick, it does lend credibility to the carnal, raw, almost animal like aggression of the 'hero'. He screams around for every little reason and, mostly, roams about shirtless. But, his performance stands out in the movie (especially in the climax when he snarls at the villain). The supports are average at best, with Jiah Khan as a medical student (who breaks all laws of medical ethics by divulging medical records to random people) being totally wooden.
Overall, I would say that the movie was a little better than average. It should have been tauter, better edited, with probably a song or two removed. But, with slim pickings this season, it is a pretty enjoyable watch.
6 out of 10
1 star removed for bad pacing.
1 star removed for being an unoriginal concept.
1 star removed for bad acting (Jiah Khan being responsible).
1 star removed for some pretty inane dialogues, small plot holes (screenwriter's amnesia).
(0%)
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