Pink- I wasn't too sure what to make out of the film when the trailer had released as it was all over the place and I was left disappointed because it was the Bollywood debut of one of my favourite directors-Anniruddha Roy Chowdhury. However,great reviews again made me curious of the film and now after watching the film, I am so happy and content that Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury did not disappoint with his Bollywood debut.
Pink moved me a lot emotionally and made me think about a lot of things way past the film was over. I loved how brilliantly the film revolved around a simple two letter word-NO. A word that we are not bothered about when it is said by a woman in our patriarchal structure of family and society. The best part about the film was that it always kept you guessing about what actually happened on that particular night because of which the three girls are so worried and I think it's commendable how effortlessly the makers managed to retain that curiosity till the end of the courtroom drama (pretty visible from the audience who got up as the credits rolled but again sat down as they started showing what happened that night.) I think at the script level itself, Pink is a winner.
The terrific storyline and setting was equally supported by a strong cast-one fantastic performance after another.Amitabh Bachchan,Tapsee,Andrea were all so good but I need to single out Kirti Kulhari and Dhritiman Chatterjee and praise them seperately because of their performance; I thought they both were brilliant! I still can't get over the Falak breakdown scene in the court-Kriti was just WOW! And that lump in the throat voice with which Dhritiman effortlessly played the judge-WOW!
I also loved how they touched so many things starting from the girl from the north east, to the housing society neighbours and their prying eyes over the 'bachelor girls', the emotional harassment and s**t shaming of victims in court among other things in the film. For me, this film isn't about women empowerment, it's more got to do with clearing it to people that let men and women do whatever the hell they want to do without being judgemental on the basis of gender. I also read many reviews where they said the film could've been more subtle and less dramatic in the courtroom scenes-something I don't agree with. With idiots not being able to understand the meaning of NO and that no means no,I don't think subtlety would work with such a film.You need a dramatic and melodramatic setting and a lawyer like Sehgal to drive home the point that when a woman says no,it means no-soemthing I feel the makers have managed to do successfully in the film.
It was heartwarming to see that most of the audience in the houseful show I went to were men and there was a huge applause every time the girls retaliated. After the shamelessness with which the whole Suzette Jordan case was handled by the media,Government and the public, a film like Pink was needed.
4/5
P.S- I forgot to fit this in the review but I think another major character in the film was that of the landlord of the three girls. Despite the threats and accidents, he still supported the girls and let them stay.Also Falak is now one of my favorite Anirruddha Roy Chowdhury characters along with Brinda from Antaheen and Kuhu from Aparajita Tumi.
Excuse the typos.Lazy to go back and edit.
comment:
p_commentcount