November 20, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):The Hindi film industry is currently in a phase where laudable directors/writers are concentrating on mental inconsistencies and physical deformities that plague unfortunate individuals. Sensitive films such as Paa, which demonstrated the legendary Amitabh Bachchans character named Auro suffering from progeria; My Name Is Khan, which depicted the superstar Shah Rukh Khans character being plagued by the Asperger Syndrome and Kartik Calling Kartik, which portrayed the multitalented Farhan Akhtars character being troubled by schizophrenia, come to the mind. Of course, there have been sensible and moving films such as Taare Zameen Par and Black as well, which have dealt with dyslexia and Alzheimers.
Guzaarish is another addition to this list, with the ace director, Sanjay Bhansali, delving into the physical ailment named Paraplegia, which debilitates the protagonists (Hrithik Roshans) character, Ethan Mascarenhas, who is a renowned magician. Ethan has to endure an absolute paralysis of the lower part of his body, which includes his legs, as a result of severe damage to his spinal cord during one of his magical renditions. Ethan, who loses the determination to live contentedly due to this disorder, is nursed back to vivaciousness and optimism by his nurse named Sophia (Aishwarya Rai).
It is quite evident that Bhansali has devoted every ounce of devotion in his mind to create this intelligent and touching film, which is bereft of the glitziness and lavishness of the architecture of his previous films such as Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But the paucity of glossiness and richness in the sets in this latest venture is compensated by the heartbreaking yet inspirational progression of the film, which is revealed via a sequence of flashbacks.
The film, positioned in Goa, depicts Ethan, in his handicapped condition, hosting a program on Radio Zindagi, a FM station. Ethans program has an uplifting tone, which illustrates the wonderfulness of hope, positivity and brightness in individual lives, and that such messages emanate from Ethan make them all the more important and elevating as Ethan has been victimized by a spinal debilitation for the last 14 years of his life.
The film deals with the issue of euthanasia as Ethan yearns to terminate his existence with his self-respect intact, for which he launches a plea for mercy killing in the court. Only a director, with significant knowledge of human emotions, could have tackled as complex and divisive a subject as euthanasia. Some of the scenes in the film that are outstanding and that are the generators of tears are the moments in the courthouse mixed with Sophias outpouring of emotions in the end, the magical mishap that nearly slaughters Ethan but leaves him paralyzed and the finale. Sophia and Ethan admire each other, with their unvoiced love exhibiting sophistication and decency that is reminiscent of an earlier era.
The film has a sizable number of English dialogues, which may position impediments in the path of this film, preventing it from becoming a comprehensively embraced film. Nevertheless, it is worthy of appreciation for several reasons, one of which is the soulful and lilting music of the film, created by Bhansali, which displays his dedication towards this project. Udi and Sau Gram Zindagi are two songs that will gradually seep into the viewers minds and become a part of it due to their musical excellence and poetic personality. The dialogues of Bhavani Iyer and Vibhu Puri befriend your heart and make you feel like taking a stand on mercy killing. The cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee is breathtaking, with spectacular images of Goa and visuals that will fascinate the thinking viewers.
Sophia and Ethan, completely devoid of glamorousness and showiness, with Ethan in a thick beard, make the film realistic and associate the viewers hearts with them. There is a colossal degree of respectability and self-respect attached to their characters by Aishwarya and Hrithik. Hrithik needs to be lauded for courageously embracing this character, which can be quite risky, as the audience is used to seeing Hindi heroes in a handsomer and dashing condition, who magnetize female attention better than a magnetic substance. He has bequeathed grace and poise to Ethan with a splendid enactment of Ethans joyfulness, naughtiness, lugubriousness and hopefulness. Sophias character has been enacted awesomely by Aishwarya with oodles of gracefulness and classy sensuousness that never becomes uncouth. Aditya Roy Kapoor, as the aspirant magician named Omar, is likable, while Nafisa Ali, as Hrithiks Mom, who endorses his yearning for euthanasia, is poignant.
Guzaarish is, on the whole, an excellent creation that is unlike other crass Hindi films, with its likability undeniably enhanced by the sophisticated chemistry between Sophia and Ethan. Bhansali has engendered a film that talks about human emotions and tribulations and how one must try to live and die with ones self-esteem intact. It can be watched. For sure!
--Sampurn Wire