Interpreter of Maladies
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
My Brother Nikhil - a nice watchIt was nice to go to the theatre to catch a movie after a long time. Since the past few weeks (or maybe months) have largely been devoted to the sardonic movie watching experience on the CD player/laptop. I like debut movies since you always have an element of surprise in them. Like you watch "EK DOOJE KE LIYE" and though the movie is full of flaws, the way Rati Agnihotri performs in her role, takes you by surprise...its her debut movie !! On similar lines, Onir's maiden work also surprises you. Its not grand, not absolutely heartfelt but is made honestly and makes a sincere attempt to stay away from the trite. Sanjay Suri (the model turned actor: credentials include JHANKAR BEATS) puts in a good performance. For a change, he gets to play shades much more varied than the "oh so charming, oh so nice" roles that he generally gets to play. Nikhil is a character, most people would identify with. The pampered boy, the ambitious man; in love with his family but wanting an identity of his own. Sanjay has brought out the multihued dimensions of Nikhil beautifully and I believe the most important part has been the transition (from the state swimming champion to the AIDS victim) phase. It doesn't make you sympathetic but you cringe with fear; the fear of being so close to death. Juhi has this mass sweetness aura and the movie plays well upon that. Juhi comes out well as the loving but strong sister of Nikhil. Victor Banerjee and Lilette Dubey fit their roles.
The lurking theme of the story also revolves around homosexuality, the misrepresented (like the way it was in PAGE 3 or the likes) and under-represented reality that the society hates to come face to face with. The chemistry between Nikhil and Nigel is enigmatic. No, there is no touching, no "hot" scenes or masala material but the relationship is majorly picturized in the extent to which Nigel is able to feel Nikhil's pain though I personally believe the role of Nigel could have been better enacted by someone other than Purab. The best part and I applaud the movie for this is, instead of discussing why Nikhil catches the HIV virus, the major discussion is around, what happens to him after he tests positive. Maybe, thats where PHIR MILENGE failed. There was too much attention at the justification of why Shilpa Shetty tests positive rather than the whole problem of AIDS as such.
The movie is picturised beautifully. Worth watching are the scenes shot in semi darkness, transparent blue around, and the locales of Goa beaches. Best scenes: the one where Viktor Banerjee is playing with his grandson and Lilette Dubey asks him, whether he not misses Nikhil. Or the one where Nikhil tries to seek solace in Juhi after his doctor informs him about him testing positive.
A good effort. I have a personal inclination for such movies and My Brother Nikhil does a better job than most of the flicks in this genre.
