Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Dhobi Ghat: an amateur's mini-review


A pretentious attempt at realistic cinema by a novice who made even Aamir Khan stink. Cinematic collage got a new nadir while Aamir's dialogue delivery is best left undiscussed. Monica Dogra is a breath of fresh air with her innocent yet sultry avatar. Prateik, although underutilized, impresses for a newbie.


The start is unreasonably dreary and the plot never really picks up. There is no story - we have no qualms about it - but the details are conspicuously missing from a movie that would want to go down as a collage. The dullest plot - that of Yasmeen - makes the viewer feel cheated when he gets to know that the entire melo has been for nothing. Actually, only when the 'secret' is revealed does Aamir radiate sheer brilliance: the eyes doing it the good old AK way.


Camera angles are weird but impressive - sometimes giving the feel of a documentary. There are minor patches of sheer excellence which is the least you expect from an Aamir Khan Productions' baby. Background score - or the lack of it in the most part - fits stunningly seamlessly with the theme despite the use of unfamiliar instruments.


All in all, probably an experimental blot on the production house that boasts of some real gems. But then, anything for the missus.
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53 comments:

  1. MeherFebruary 1, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Damn, I don't agree. =P . I kinda liked the movie. Aamir khan wasn't the usual aamir khan, but still, he was good.

    Btw, I would appreciate if you could comment on
    http://pensez.blogspot.com/2011/01/unusually-imperfectly-complete.html

    Would help me win the contest, Pleej. =)

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  2. Prateek BagriFebruary 1, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Wow, I yet haven't seen Dhobi Ghat. But yes will watch it to see it.

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  3. little devilFebruary 1, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    very mini!but wud still watch d moving going by the rule dat wat u dislike,i generally tend to like n vice versa

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  4. little devilFebruary 1, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    wen r WE going to watch d muvi again?

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  5. anatreekFebruary 1, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    I liked the movie!

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  6. viciousFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    perfect !

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  7. Blasphemous AestheteFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    Instead of watching the movie, all I have been doing is counting, the number of positive reviews against the number of negative.
    The score is almost even on my blog list 4(good)- 3(bad).

    Am still counting.

    Cheers,
    Blasphemous Aesthete

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  8. Alka GurhaFebruary 2, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Havent seen it...so cant comment. There are huge expectations from an Amir movie.

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  9. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Meher.. Well, you have the right to disagree. (:
    Commented...ATB!

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  10. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    @ Prateek: Trust me, man...Watch it only when you have lotttsss of time!

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  11. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    @ Devil: Yeah, I have a strong feeling that you're gonna love the movie. And why are 'we' watching this movie..me going through the shit again?

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  12. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    @ ana_treek: Good for you! (:

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  13. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    Vicious..thank you! (:

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  14. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:51 PM

    @ BA: That's at least better than the movie! Tell me the final scores once they stagnate!

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  15. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    @ Alka: Probably that's a reason as well why the movie sucks. With great banner comes great expectations and responsibilities.

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  16. hashirFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Dhobi Ghat- Not a bad directorial debut, few very promising new actors, great camera..thts it. the script is inconclusive theres
    no plot there is nothing to rave about this movie.. theres a lot of hype from people who wants to make themselves look intelligent art house film lovers.

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  17. DipaFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    If the movie was a novel I'd give it all stars. I loved the writing :)
    Having said that, for me it was a 'okay' movie.
    But still a little curious about the title..

    Watched it today :)

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  18. little devilFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    anything for the missus.dats y!

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  19. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    @ hashir: :D totally agree about the later part which applies to some of the people I know, though not all, hopefully!

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  20. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    @ Dipa: Well can't relate to that. I don't read, like, at all. The relavance of the title remains elusive to me as well! Good point! Probably just another name to appeal to the nri crowd in a peculiar desi way.

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  21. MangoManFebruary 2, 2011 at 11:38 PM

    Well an emoticon with the tongue hung out is all I can write to that, Devil!

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  22. spFebruary 6, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    It had its pros and cons. Nice acting by newcomers, but open ends in the story. Theme music is great, background music could have been better. Plot could have been more solid, but seemed like they wanted to make everything vague just to give it an 'arty' feel. Best thing about the movie: Dhobi's cat was really cute. ;)

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  23. PhoenixFebruary 7, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    partly agree with you... but for me what worked was the attempt to make someone different...the thought process..unlike the silly meaningless cinema that is dished out to us week after week! hope other film makers try and deliver better cinema

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  24. VIVEK VK JAINFebruary 9, 2011 at 12:50 AM

    I liked the movie..

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  25. AnishFebruary 11, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    hmm...i rather liked it...and i thought it captured bombay quite beautifully...but then movies are pretty subjective...
    http://thejuvenileadult.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  26. MangoManFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    @ Sushant: Well, I'll hop over real soon!

    ReplyDelete
  27. MangoManFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    @ SP: An even better and crisper review. Like.

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  28. MangoManFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    @ Phoenix: You cant just like a movie just because it tried to be different than the shit we shouldn't even talk about. It could have been much better especially when such big names were associated.

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  29. MangoManFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    @ Vivs: Alrighty! (:

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  30. MangoManFebruary 12, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    @ Anish: Give that to you! (:

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  31. vineetFebruary 13, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    yaa movie suxx man, big tym, i mean i wont gv dose sharp intrinsic details like uts bt fr nme dhobt ghat(iya)..

    ReplyDelete
  32. nilanjanaFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    The movie probably tried to do something different. Whether it succeeded or not is subjective. I liked the succinctness of your review. But then, I expected no less.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Chandrika ShubhamFebruary 15, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    I havent watch this movie. Interesting review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Komal AliFebruary 15, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    I didn't ever hear about this movie. :p
    And now when I have, I shouldn't watch it. :)

    Hope you are doing great!

    ReplyDelete
  35. KTFebruary 15, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    It's a different movie...and the opinion is highly subjective. But I appreciate your writing style and point of view:)
    I too have posted my views, though it isn't a movie review as such and would appreciate if you could comment on it...
    An amateur blogger's point of view:)
    http://shapingupsomesprinkledthoughts.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  36. MangoManFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    @ Vineet: That's blunt, man! :D

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  37. MangoManFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Thank you, Nilanjana (:

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  38. MangoManFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    @ Chandrika: Thanks! (:

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  39. MangoManFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    @ Komal: It's actually very weird. It's an Aamir Khan Productions baby which was promoted big time!

    ReplyDelete
  40. MangoManFebruary 15, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Thank you, KT. I shall hop over, real soon.

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  41. शिवाFebruary 21, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    I havent watch this movie. Interesting review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousFebruary 26, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Ok...have not seen it yet, didn't feel the urge to, so can't really say anything about it. But I think I should now, for everyone is talking about how bad it was!

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  43. chhipaMarch 8, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

    Surgical Towel

    ReplyDelete
  44. Vijendra Lakshmana RaoApril 9, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    Well, I have not seen the movie. Good post though!!

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  45. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Hey Mango Man, thanks for following my blog. I have now shifted to http://capturedalive.wordpress.com/ for my photographs...

    ReplyDelete
  46. PradipApril 29, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    i am damn sure you will understand both arun and yasmeen in the next couple of years...and may be then, like the movie, for as they say, a work of art is always few years ahead of its time...read this and may be you will find urself closer to the plot
    http://chand-lamhe-fursat-ke.blogspot.com/2011/01/dhobi-ghat.html

    ReplyDelete
  47. MangoManMay 2, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    Thanks Shiva!

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  48. MangoManMay 2, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    Thanks for spamming, Chhipa and Boundlesstech.

    ReplyDelete
  49. MangoManMay 2, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    Thanks, Vijendra! (:

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  50. MangoManMay 2, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    Alright, Phenomenon!

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  51. MangoManMay 2, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    For the sake of Kiran rao, I guess you're right, Pradip!

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  52. AkshharNovember 24, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    For the entire duration of the movie, I had no clue what was going on. It was like No Smoking from Anurag Kashyap. WTFFF

    ReplyDelete
  53. MangoManDecember 1, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Eggjactly!! That movie was hyper-abnormal too!

    ReplyDelete

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