Dynamism is such a bewitching trait. And when it combines with large-hearted virtuosity, the effect is quite heady. This is precisely what makes Guru special. As a whole, the film suffers on several important counts but what makes this film tick is a bravura performance by Abhishek Bachchan that grips you by the heart. Gurukant Desai (Abhishek Bachchan) is forever a man on a mission. Chasing his dreams with relentless drive, passion and pluck, theres an ironic sacredness to Gurus ceaseless struggle. >From very early on, Gurus self-belief is that theres no hurdle impossible to >conquer. Everything comes with a solution and to his innocent heart, theres nothing unscrupulous about his actions. This is one value system that Guru follows all through his life. A conviction, that both makes him as well as threatens to mar him in the end.
When Guru finds himself short of funds for his business, he offers marriage to his friends sister Sujata (Aishwarya Rai), in exchange of the prescribed dowry. Gurus logic is simple. Some other guy would be getting the dowry anyway so why couldnt it be him? Sujata, a spirited young girl, is in a state of disgrace after she flees away from home for a lover (who jilts her). When Guru accepts her, she is filled with gratitude, though she never shows it. Proud and free-spirited, she is piqued when Guru decides to leave for Mumbai without her. Of course, her reasoning with Guru at the station and eventually joining him is a testimony of her innate courage. Later on too, its clear why Sujata and Guru fall in love. Sujata sees Guru doing exactly what she would probably do, if she were a man. She sees in him the same audacity, which she has to curtail being a woman. gurung2.jpg Also, the discovery that he married her for the money, ironically, strengths their relationship. Sujata is hurt but shes grown to love her husband by then. Mind you, when Guru goes to fetch her back, he does it purely for love. Not because he repents his actions. Guru has limitless ambition but hes still not what you can call, cut-throat. Hes soft with people close to him, constantly overlooking their incompetence. The roadblock to Gurus flourishing business is publisher Manikdas Gupta (Mithun Chakraborthy), who starts off being his mentor (Nanaji). But when Gurus business expands at an alarming rate, eyebrows are raised and the first one to expose him is Gupta, along with hard-as-nails journo Madhavan. gurung.jpg The destruction of Gurus empire looks imminent to everyone, except him. In the end, Gurus self-belief wins and effectively makes a point about how one tends to forget the larger picture, in the pursuit of affected morality among other things. So finally, what works? Most of it, especially the first half that is simply gorgeous. The Abhishek-Aishwarya chemistry, that has always been a let down, sizzles on screen this time. The songs(A R Rahman) are wonderful and blend seamlessly with story. Though I do feel that the Bappi Lahiri track was completely out of place and not needed. Again, though Mithun and Madhavan are competent here, I didnt quite fancy their characters. Yes, they are idealistic (probably representing the old India and its ideals, standing up against newly emerging materialism and its evil forces). However, their clinical crusade of righteous justice against Guru, made them appear evil more than anything else. Somehow, these characters didnt work for me entirely in the scheme of the story. The film doesnt capture Gurus fall as adeptly as his rise. Also, what the heck was Vidya Balan doing in this film? Theres no relevance to her role here, unless Mani wished to establish Gurus bond with Nanaji better. Vidya is wasted, no two ways about it. Also, the pace really drops at this point in the film. The second hald is NOT as good as the first. Aishwarya is marvelous in the first half and competent in the second. gurung3.jpg< Now, for the heart and soul of this film Abhishek Bachchan. Move over Hrithik Roshan. Our Krrish can look like a Greek god and fly across skyscrapers but I doubt anyone can deliver just a real, straight-from-the-heart, superlative performance. Really, Guru belongs to one man only and he makes sure(just like in the film) that Manis vision never crumbles. (it could have) Rating: Three and a half Box office prediction: Semi-hit to hit (the morning show was packed) http://www.naachgaana.com/2007/01/12/%e2%80%9cguru%e2%80%9d-hindi-2007%e2%80%a6the-event/
