Photograph

I would say the intention of director was good to make a movie as good as THE LUNCHBOX but director missed this time. It's still watchable but you will feel something is missing all the time. Some scenes are really too much like everyone is asking why dadi has stopped taking medicine and some more. Just watch it and don't expect much.

A photograph captures a split second. A series of photographs becomes a motion picture and tells a story.

The story that director-writer Ritesh Batra tells in "Photograph" is of a street photographer, Rafi (Nawazuyddin Siddique) in Mumbai, India's most populous city. He hawks his service to anyone who'll pay 50 rupees. One day he approaches a young woman (a mousy Sanya Malhotra) and offers her a cut-rate price. He snaps her and produces her portrait from his portable printer, but she's called away before he can complete the transaction.

On the way to his flat, which he shares with three or four other bachelors, he hears that his grandmother is not taking her medications because he hasn't found a girl to marry. So he sends his grandmother, Dadi, a copy of the woman's photo, claiming that she is his girlfriend. Dadi, who lives in a village several hundred miles away, notifies Rafi that she is on the way to check things out.

How can Rafi find the girl in a city of 20 million? Fortunately a photo resolves the problem. A billboard advertising an accounting school shows the young women, Miloni, as its top student. By persistently taking a bus that picks up people near the school, Rafi meets Miloni and persuades her to pretend to be his girlfriend as long as Dadi is in town. For various reasons, including that she can no longer abide her parents making decisions for her (even telling her what her preferred color is), Miloni agrees.

Dadi (a scene-stealing Farrukh Jaffar) arrives and starts asking questions about Miloni, whom she knows as Noorie, the name Rafi made up for his "girlfriend." Rafi and Miloni devise their backstory, and Dadi seems satisfied--or is she? Meanwhile, Miloni's parents have other plans for her.

"Photograph" takes the viewer all over Mumbai--from its squalor to its middle-class neighborhoods, which is where Miloni resides. Her family can afford to send her to the United States with a potential bridegroom who has difficulty controlling his weight. Rafi, on the other hand, is struggling to pay off the debts of his late father.

The film could use some judicious editing. A taxi scene with Rafi arguing with the driver seems out of place. And it takes awhile before you can tell that Rafi and Miloni actually have more than just a tentative connection.

"Photograph" has an unexpected ending. Yet it appropriately bookends its opening. Remember this is a motion picture, not just a photograph.

Rafiq (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a struggling street photographer at Mumbai's Gateway of India, convinces a reclusive youngster Miloni (Sanya Malhotra) to pose for a picture. Their chance encounter leads to self-discovery and a fascinating tale of slow-burn romance.

The pacing is frustrating and needs a lot of patience but Batra's unique take on love, with shades of Basu Chatterjee's Chhoti Si Baat..

What does stand out is the brilliance of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He is the master of his craft and conveys unsaid emotions effortlessly. Sanya underplays a bit too much but gradually holds her own in front of an actor like Nawaz.

If you seek purpose or motivation behind someone's certain behaviour, you won't find it here so Photograph eventually struggles to keep you engaged,,However, if you appreciate ambiguity, the film leaves a lot to imagination and interpretation, which has its own charm. The open-ended climax in particular is cleverly done. It makes you ponder and crave for more.

Photograph isn't a perfect shot but it's intriguing and takes you back in time. Like love and life, it's uncertain and hopeful.

PHOTOGRAPH REVIEW :-



The Lunchbox was a Gem, by the Director called Ritesh Batra and this tagline was enough to create humongous expectations from Photograph. Additionally cast names like Nawazuddin Siddiqui & Sanya Malhotra and Brilliant Trailer upraised the bar. But in a Film it misses something at the end, even if lives upto to the expectations throughout the narrative. However, Photograph is the Confirmation that Director Ritesh Batra is a Genius and he will never come up with mainstream product.

Photograph is a deep meaning tale which begins with the Photograph and then Flows like a stable River. In between many situational laughters, realistic humour and unusual screenplay keeps this one engaged. Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra are totally amazing as lead pair. Their Expression, thier accent, thier decency is surely gonna fetch them many accolades. Cinematography is pure realistic and smartly done job which can be noticed through angles, zoom ins and blur moments. Director Ritesh Batra brings another offbeat and Loveable film but he fails to bring the same convinction in the climax. But the good news is, he never loses the Quality, he keeps it intact for 110 minutes.

Deep meaning films are hard to digest for massy audience and some classy audience too doesn't really reach to the core. Photograph could be one of those film where the Final Impact is not that powerful. Little bit more detailing in the Cliamx and Photograph would have been a Classic. Unfortunately it misses the Big mark by short distance, still doesn't fail to give you experience of watching something unusual stuff. Overall, Photograph is another Deep and Genius film by Ritesh Batra, only 1 mistake doesn't make it bad or Average, it is still a Very Good Film by far.

RATING- 7/10*

The city's love affair with unusual encounters is an element that sets it apart, and having stayed in Mumbai for over two decades, like most other Mumbaikars, there exists a set of people, and stories, and conversations that I keep going back to.

To story of Photograph focuses on one such peculiar encounter that eventually translates into an unexpected connection. Rafique and Miloni meet by chance, and a product of that moment gives them disparate reasons to meet again. The screenplay convincingly lets the viewers comprehend the circumstances the protagonists are accustomed to through little, insignificant instances; Ritesh Batra's tendency to not be too loud and lucid replenishes the cinematic narration with a pinch of exquisiteness. The role of supporting characters is vital, because it is their expectations that largely dictate the protaganists' actions. To argue that the plot is unrealistic may not be entirely authentic, especially because almost every decision that Rafique and Miloni resort to is bolstered by the desire to divert from what is usual, to avoid what is mundane. However, if the writer compulsorily asks me to point out an element that is unrealistic, I would probably tell him that it is impossible for a CA Inter student to take out time for such lengthy hangouts.

The entire cast is spectacular. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a natural, and it is phenomenal to witness him stick to his character throughout the run-time. Sanya Malhotra wonderfully portrays the introverted Miloni, who also harbors a quotient of curiosity. Farrukh Jafar as Dadi, and Geetanjali Kulkarni as Rampyari put up brilliant performances. Saharsh Shukla and Sachin Khedekar are impressive as well. Vijay Raaz, in an unpredictable role, is refreshing as ever. Jim Sarbh is decent. Ritesh Batra, who delivers a convincing comeback, is an artist that the industry must be proud of.

Photograph is a film that thrives on silences, and it is beautiful to acknowledge how, at times, they overcompensate for the absence of words.