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'Guru' - An Exceptional Film

By Naresh Kumar Deoshi
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

What words shall be used to describe a cinematic masterpiece like ‘Guru’. Mani Ratnam’s flawless direction and Abhishek Bachchan’s superlative performance simply leave you speechless by the end of the film.

Firstly, ‘Guru’ will silence all those detractors who say that Abhishek doesn’t have a talent for acting. The actor not just surprises you, he shocks you with his extraordinary performance. Gosh, how come this hidden potential of Abhi never came forth before? Perhaps it is Ratnam who knows how to get the best, or even more than that, out of Abhi.

Secondly,

Mani Ratnam, the master of his craft, arguably surpasses all his previous works in ‘Guru’. Apart from its technical soundness, ‘Guru’ tells a story that is deeply gripping and highly inspiring. It is the tale of a man who never gives up. The protagonist of the film is a perennial fighter and an incurable optimist.

Beginning in 1951, ‘Guru’ is the story of a boy who goes to Turkey to work in a petroleum company after failing his school exams back home in a small Gujarat village. With sheer hard work Gurukant Desai (Abhishek Bachchan) rises in ranks and gets promotion. But Guru is a man of big vision. He quits his job in Turkey and comes back to Gujarat to start some business of his own.

So fixated is Guru about his dream that he marries Sujatha (Aishwarya Rai), a village girl, simply for the dowry sum that he could use to start his business.

With their minimal belongings, Guru, his wife and her brother go to Mumbai to start some business. By hook or by crook, by persuasion and by his sheer charm, Guru overcomes all hurdles and progresses in leaps and bounds. He is unstoppable. And this attitude of Guru doesn’t go well with some people.

Manikdas Gupta or Nanaji (Mithun Chakraborty) runs a newspaper called The Independent. He likes Guru’s determination and straightforwardness. He almost begins treating Guru like his own son. But when Guru uses Nanaji’s newspaper to achieve his business motive, Nanaji vows to stop the unstoppable Guru.

Journalist Shyam Saxena (Madhavan), who works for Nanaji, uses his power of pen to bring Guru down and expose his ‘truth’.

At the same time, Nanaji’s handicap daughter, Meenu (Vidya Balan), who suffers from multiple sclerosis, is the only one who loves Guru unconditionally.

The war between Guru and Nanaji heats up as Guru’s public venture company, Shakti Corporation, increases in size and proportion to become one of the best polyester making companies in India. It is a war that will claim much from Guru. But the perennial fighter in him succeeds in the end.

A film like ‘Guru’ has not been seen on the Indian screen before. With its powerful story, awesome performances, melodious music (A R Rahman), splendid cinematography (Rajiv Menon) and skilled direction, the movie leaves you spellbound. However, two songs in quick succession at the film’s very beginning do make for a bumpy start.

The story picks up when Guru goes to Mumbai where he starts his clothes business. How this visionary with an indomitable spirit fights against all odds and succeeds, makes for a riveting watch. And full credit goes to Abhishek Bachchan who has given the best performance of his career so far. His Guru is full of energy, vivacity and optimism.

What’s commendable is the conviction with which Abhi gets into the skin of his character. His bulky frame moves with a swagger, his penetrating gaze reflects his shrewd business acumen and yet there is a vulnerable side to Guru that shines through now and then. Abhi’s performance is particularly excellent in the second half, when his business begins to sink and he is paralyzed. His monologue in the courtroom (with his lip twitched and his one arm incapacitated) makes him truly deserving of an award.

For the first time, ‘Guru’ offers something to write about chemistry between Abhishek and Aishwarya. There is almost an electric vibe between the two actors and it could verily be seen in the film. Apart from this, Ash’s performance, too, is commendable.

Mithun Chakraborty has a domineering presence and is effective in his performance. Madhavan and Vidya Balan are very natural. Mallika Sherawat provides her brand of entertainment at the film’s beginning.

To sum it up, ‘Guru’ is one of the best movies to have come out of Bollywood recently. It is a perfect treat for the dreamers. A must-watch.

A gem of a film.

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