Delhi 6

There is a character of a Fakir in Delhi 6 who roams on the street of Chandini Chowk with a mirror in his hand, asking everyone to find the almighty in oneself – “Jhak khud mein woh na tujhse door hai”. I think this was the best visual metaphor used in the movie and thus the makers could have eliminated the lecture sessions towards the end of the movie.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s third Hindi commercial movie (after Ask and Rang De Basanti) talks about a journey with in – with believable characters which makes the film work. Different shades of characters are the real heroes of the movie. The first half of the movie is very cut-paste shots of inside Delhi. There is no progress in terms of story but you get to know all the characters well in details – the two brothers, (played by Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra) who can't stand each other, their wives still bonds well and share foods and gossips through a loose brick in the wall that separates their homes, their kids who are readily perfect Delhi man-in-making. Look out for the discussion scene with a lit cigarette in ones hand on the topic of how they are ready to become a mard now. A smalltime photographer who is more interested in girls then his profession and spend afternoon with Laalaji’s wife. Laalaji (played by Prem Chopra) married to half of his age girl likes to show-off his status on public gathering. Gobar (played by Atul Kulkurni) a temple worker, always go for two one-rupee coins, if asked to pick up between the coins and one ten-rupee note. A sweeper girl (played by Divya Dutta) who knows the inside (places and people) of Chandni Chowk. A local policewala (played by Vijay Raaz) who makes his own rules and laws. And a Muslim jalebiwala (played by Deepak Dobriyal) who also worships Lord Hanuman. There is a definite brilliance required to hold on the audience when you handle so many complex characters around the film. The director again goes one step ahead by adding a secondary narrative in form of an ongoing Ramleela theater that juxtaposes the story in making.

What is interesting to watch in the first half is the superb camera work; which lot of time is hazy and blur, but wisely stays with the characters and the title. It is supported by the superb music and background score; where for the music lovers the plate is full served in the first half, with all the best tracks served out, making them wonder how the second half would go.

Similar to Rang De Basanti, the post interval session becomes a bit concrete and tight up with sudden love story springing up between Roshan (played by Abhishek Bachchan) and Bittu (played by Sonam Kapoor). Also you see more active and violent Kala Bandar and Hindu-Muslim tension. The characters change their colors and together film gets into a pace. The director finely balances the tension in Delhi 6 but fails to wrap it up. The climax becomes as if, it wasn’t scripted. It becomes a lecture sessions and discussion on Hindu-Muslim unity. At points, some dialogues come out of the blue, like “India works, the people make it work” - makes you wonder where the hell it connects. The long dragged senseless climax with cameo by Amitabh Bachchan falls flat. The script moves into a preaching mode, which doesn’t work.

Delhi 6 has fineness and weakness, in its both sessions. In nut shell, per interval pulls out Delhi with good camera work, good music, sharp script and brilliant performances but has a weak screenplay. On the other hand the second half of the film has some gripping moments which tighten the script but fails in climax. Same goes with the characterizations of the film too. The supporting cast of the film like Deepak Dobriyal, Vijay Raaz, Atul Kulkarni, Divya Dutta, Om Puri, Pavan Malhotra, Supriya Pathak, Prem Chopra along with Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman and Sonam Kapoor (yes, I don’t think she has any conventional lead female role) delivered picture perfect performance throughout the movie. But to me; Abhishek Bachchan was not the right choice. I am not saying he has poor screen presence but there is difference between performing a role correctly and a correct performer for the role. Roshan is a character who is born and brought up in New York to a Hindu father and Muslim mother. In the film he is shown jumping on the narrow terraces of Chandini Chowk and also has a rap song to perform. And thus Abhishek Bachchan seems an inappropriate decision.

If we talk of music; that’s the best Delhi 6 has to offer; needless to say with brilliant cinematography and special effects. Worth watching is the song Dil Gira Dafatan which shows the conflict in the protagonist’s mind where he sees auto-rickshaw and cows on the New York street; all digitally enhance but conveys what’s required. Even songs like Genda Phool and Delhi 6 are beautifully choreographed showing the in-house culture and outer world of Delhi respectively. Worth watching songs are Masakalli and Jaagaran Aarti which are my personal favorite.

Needless to say Delhi 6 is a good cinema but certainly not Rang De Basanti. It has some fine moments of joy and emotional brilliance but has a very sermonize end. It is strictly for those who don’t go to the hall for sheer entertainment.