Guru

The beautiful photography of India, superb acting, and realistically told modern historical story make Guru a good choice as an eye-opener for someone who doesn't know Bollywood so well. And though the music is extraordinary, there is also somewhat less of it than sometimes.

Guru is the story of the rise of a man from a village to become the owner of maybe the most successful business in India (a textiles manufacturer), which also benefited its mass of middle-class shareholders in an unprecedented way. It spans 30 years. The film is said to be based closely on the story of a real person. It seems intended to inspire Indians to overcome the obstacles presented by corrupt practices, and it raises the question as to what is the appropriate response to a closed and corrupt system that forecloses legitimate opportunity.

It is a joy to find oneself in the hands of a master like Mani Ratnam.  I'd wondered if I'd find this movie at all dull or slow: I did not.  It moves along - there's a lot of plot going on all the time.  I would guess that we get from Guru's village origins to his years working in Turkey to his arrival in Bombay as an adult ready to go into business in less than 20 minutes.

Abhishek Bachchan gave a lovely performance as the son of a village schoolteacher who isn't much of a student, to his father's dismay. He declares his intention to have his own business, and disregards his harsh father's negative predictions about his prospects.  The character, Gurukant Desai, has a wonderful spirit - doesn't take no for an answer, also can laugh off irritants and obstacles, and the laugh is charming, at once boyish and manly.  He's "big" as a personality, and Abhishek is emotionally and physically up to it - you feel his great reserves of self-regard in the various ways he meets opposition, whether from family or business-world characters.

One of my primary responses to seeing the film today was gratitude to be able to see it on a big screen.  The movie occurs in city and countryside, the 50s through the 80s. Every visual image, and the whole field of the movie - scenes, sets, costumes, ambiance, acting style, music - worked together to tell an appealing story with a strong appreciation for India, as well as a potential inspiration and warning. 

I think a good test of a bio-pic, or pseudo-bio-pic, is whether or not somebody who doesn't know much of anything about the putative subject, which is me (in this case, the reference subject is a super-businessman named Ambani), experiences the story as having integrity, and for me this entirely passes that test.

And it's nice to see a Hindi movie in which parental disapproval is met with a "cut your losses" response rather than the sometimes maudlin kind of pining or carrying on about an "incomplete" life we often run into.  Moreover, this dynamic is not at all irrelevant to other levels of meaning in a story about a man in India who take on large defeatist cultural expectations to achieve success.  How should we respond to Father or principles or rules that are truly not serving our interests? It is also not irrelevant to how he plays his hand in relation to the corruption and cronyism he meets when he goes to Bombay to make his way.

Aishwarya is fine in a wife-from-the-village role who is a partner all the way, and I love her dancing. She also shows a definitely womanly aspect as the movie goes on. I am glad to see her in a role that does not confine her to the vulnerable-verging-on-breakable girl she is sometimes stuck in.

Mithun Chakravorty (of Disco Dancer fame) was  nothing but perfect as a newspaper owner who was a father figure to Gurukant and also significantly opposed some of his decisions.  The presentation of that complex relationship is a giant strength of the movie.  I don't recall running into this before, a scenario where an older generation figure is out to bring down a "son" and the love between them is dramatized as going on nonetheless.  I found it emotionally powerful, and insofar as there is a background allegory about India, excellent, about opposing and maintaining ties.

In a subplot that I couldn't find the rationale for, Vidya Balan as a lame girl and Madhavan as a journalist with high ideals and non-idealistic practices were appealing and romantic.

This movie celebrates Abhishek Bachachan, his father's son. When you are the son of one of the best actors of the world of all times, you have the pressure to step into the shoes of your father. It doesn't happen often that a son matches up to his father in stature.

In this film Abhishek Bahcachan does just that. He gives a performance his old man would've been proud of. Abhishek proves his pedigree. This is a difficult role. Not only because he has to portray a wide range in his character but also because his character has some of the cheesiest lines. But he makes you forget that the lines are out of place here and there. He goes flat out on this one, and gives a performance which is probably the best of this year. Probably matching up to Amitabh's in Black.

About the film. Its a Mani Ratnam film, which raises the expectations immensely and nearly lives up to it. Its a well written story and direction is up to the mark. There is a slight problem with screenplay and the songs and dance sequences break the flow of story telling. A good film nonetheless and a great viewing.

Though Abhishek steals the show; other actors are pretty good too. Mithun proves again why he is 2 times National Award winner. He is a legendary actor who has been wasting his time and talent in crappy movies for a long time now. Hope he would get better roles after this. Ash is good in the second half but her choreography is not up to the mark and she looks bland and unsophisticated while dancing. Vidya Balan is wasted and R Madhvan is good in a small role.

A word about cinematography is necessary. This is one of the best shot movies of last year, with breathtaking views and the last scene with Guru giving his speech to a stadium full of people looks more real than reality itself.

Over all a good movie, best since Munna Bhai 2.

Beautiful movie. The director ventures into a plot that is seldom touched in India: The plight of Indian Businessmen, the prejudice that the general public has towards them, the disgust with which they are seen. The directions and scrrenplay is very close to some great Hollywood biographies/life-stories like Aviator and Wolf of Wall Street. The director covers a lot of ground in 2.30 hrs and nowhere it feels that the story is getting ahead of itself. And last but not the least, Abhishek Bachchan is exceptional in the movie, from his expressions to his dialogue delivery to his body language he looks like he is in reality Gurukant Desai. I really wish that other directors take a cue from this movie and bring to forefront such stories in breathtaking fashion.

First forget that its based on whom and what? thats not needed to see this movie. It has every thing a good movie needs to have. Casting, music ,cinematography, above all a great subject, that is still relevant.

Its a story you may or may not think is great. But its a story that was told in great way. Don't try to judge, you can't judge something practical with something that is theory.

If you want a movie that can project life-spectrum in another angle, here it is.

What I can say is DON'T MISS IT.

***** (5/5 Stars) I'm going to have to disagree with the poster above -- "Guru" is one of the finest Indian/Bollywood films I've seen in a long time. I think identifying with "Guru" is easy to do from the start of the movie. What we have is a young person who wants to "explore" beyond his village and become great one day. The movie is about him trying to accomplish his dream of becoming great; this is surely a story that almost anyone can relate to. Abhishek's performance was absolutely marvelous, without spoiling anything, when you walk out the theater you will have actually felt moved by the last few scenes. No Indian film has managed to move me to tears -- this one did. My eyes got watery watching this character fight through all the struggles that come his way. The music was fantastic and really makes you "think." Indian movies have become clichéd with the 'love-sing-dance' style that has permeated to many movies. Also what you have is Indians copying too much of the American style films. What "Guru" is is a movie that takes pride in being Indian; it is an original story that more Bollywood movies should try to be. Be warned though: it is not a movie that is your typical "razzle-dazzle" entertain -- its a movie that makes you think, that has drama, and has strong acting, and that has a great plot. I loved Guru from the start to the finish; it wasn't a second too long or short. As an American-born with Indian roots, "Guru" fuses the best of both Indian and American cinema to produce a masterpiece. I hope you all enjoy it, Guru is a must-see.