Now this is an exciting movie and it was a big risk for Shah Rukh Khan to take as an actor; it was also his first role as a solo leading man. Baazigar is a tale of revenge and murder. The movie starts off with the back story during the credits (as I find is a common technique in Bollywood that, I think, is very effective) which reveals a family tragedy as a result of an uncle's betrayal of trust. Ajay (SRK's younger self) is left alone to find his way. His father and new born sister have died and his mother suffered such trauma that she is unable to speak, much less take care of the 10 year old boy. The story proper begins ten years later. Ajay (Shah Rukh Khan) is on his way to Bombay (Mumbai) to meet "success." For Ajay, success is revenge upon his uncle and his family.
Ajay proceeds to accomplish his design. He insinuates himself into his uncle's family. He secretly courts the eldest daughter. So far, so good. At this point in the movie, things change up a bit. The camera work becomes more edgey and there is some work with odd camera angles and different colored lenses. All this contributes to a feeling of edginess in the audience. The Uncle arranges a marriage for Seema (the elder daughter). She is very upset and goes to Ajay looking for solutions. Ajay proposes that she marry the fellow, she say's "What else can I do?" He explains there is one more way out, they could commit suicide together. She agrees and they write suicide notes. Then, Ajay laughs, rips his up and tells her that he was just testing her. He takes her note and proposes a trip to the court house to get married the next day. When they arrive at 1pm as arranged, the court is closed for lunch. Ajay proposed they wait on the roof. While on the roof, Ajay sets Preema on the ledge and proceeds to admire her feet. Then he pushes her off. Shocking. What happens from there is Doestoyevskian or like something from Hitchcock. Apart from the fact that the audience has been prepped by other audience goers to expect this episode, the murder was entirely unexpected and what happens after, even more so. This point is about 2/5 of the way into the movie. The rest is enthralling.
Shah Rukh took a risk in making this movie. Killing one's girlfriend on screen can do a number to one's career; however, SRK was so good in this role that it made him an even bigger star. In this movie SRK is goofy, serious, charming, heroic, tender, scary, deranged, loving, vulnerable, and charming. Wow!!! He makes it work, too. As the movie progresses, the rest of the back story is filled in and the audience grows in sympathy for Ajay. Briefly, Ajay (disguised as Vicky Malhotra) comforts the younger sister, Priya, after Preema's death. They become affianced and the Uncle opens his home and business to "Vicky." While "Vicky" accomplishes the destruction he intends, it all comes tumbling down. The suspense is very good; it does, however, become very gory with glass shards predominating. There is a tragic feel to this movie and even his fiance, inspite of her loss and heartbreak, comes to sympathize with Ajay. It's easy to hate a murderer; much more difficult to love one. SRK pulls off the feat. [One jarring note, there is a character in the movie put in for comic relief, I suppose, played by Johnny Lever. I think this man is a beloved comedian, but I don't like the humor. He's in a lot of movies and I could do without him.]
See this movie! It's not only well acted, but the direction and production is very good as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment