By now everyone knows the storyline of the movie. The girlfriend is killed. The enraged lover has a problem recalling his memory after fifteen minutes but is nevertheless in pursuit of killer of his love. Contrary to the conventional mode of building up of a Bollywood story this one declares its intent in the beginning and takes on the audience from there. It’s a tall order indeed and Murugadoss the director of both the versions of the movie has acquitted himself rather well but only just. Am I declaring my intent as well?
The weakest link of the movie is the villain. I would imagine that Pradeep Rawat has been faithful to his brief of playing the ruthless don but his characterization of a Haryanvi hoodlum falls a little flat. The consistency of his accent is missing which really caricatures him. One moment he is speaking normally and then in an instant the Haryanvi in him jumps out only to revert back to original drone. It’s extremely rare that a movie is named after the villain and his role could have been worked upon a little more. The characterization of this pivotal player is too loose to merit the title of the movie.
Jiah Khan was a disappointment, period. Bad acting, bad figure, bad clothes! Whoever is promoting her as a sex symbol needs to get his eyes and head examined. And surely the make up staff could have done a better job of making her complexion dusky. That just might have saved her from looking like an tired and a sweaty babe. I am being harsh on the poor girl but the director must share the blame. I also think that her character wasn’t really necessary for the story to develop.
The Malayalee beauty Asin Thottumkal seems to have continued her good work from the original 2005 version. As opposed to Miss Khan, Asin can act, her clothes could do with a little improvement but she looks like a million bucks. Saying anything else about her would be a-sin. She plays a bubbly budding model for small time ads who is also a Good Samaritan at heart. Her activism puts her in the cross hair of the don who becomes her brutal nemesis.
Enough has been written about the famous eight pack of Aamir Khan so I won’t waste any more space on it. Suffice to say that this time the method actor has surpassed even his high standards of preparation for a role. Anyone with lesser physical proportions would have looked ridiculous not to mention unbelievable playing the extremely violent role. The movie rests on the well muscled shoulders of Aamir Khan. He suffers from Anterograde amnesia, which the producers were kind enough to explain is a short term memory lapse especially after a physical trauma which he is subjected to while being a helpless witness to the death throes of his beloved. To keep in tune with the reality while lost in his amnesic and meandering mind he photographs and labels everything. There is only one constant. The name of his tormentor Ghajini and his relentless quest for revenge! The memory of his loss is so savage on his conscious self that his consequent frightening screams are reminiscent of a helpless and a caged animal overwhelmed with deathly remorse. Kill, says his mind and he blows away everything that comes in his way with ruthless and clinical efficiency. Aamir’s searing intensity is actually unsettling and invokes fear. The man is a true thespian and this round of the clash between the Bollywood Khans clearly belongs to him.
The story is based on a Hollywood movie “Memento” but this time I will close my eyes. It isn’t completely believable but the sequence of events provides a good platform for the players to display their wares. Some did and some did not which is alright but the length of the movie could have been shortened to maintain the pace which trips at times. The background score is appropriate and touches a nerve but the songs were totally unnecessary. It’s not often that A R Rehman’s music is overshadowed by other aspects of the movie but having said that Mr Rehman has certainly done far better stuff.
The violence in this movie touches a new level. Not after the famous massacre scene of Sholay have I seen such a brutally executed onscreen killing as Asin’s. The expressions of both the victims stab you in the heart. All the other fight scenes are extremely well crafted and computer effects have been used with spectacular results. Aamir’s exertions are like a Force 10 storm. Simply unstoppable. Despite its faults this one is a must watch because like all good movies it stays with you a while.