The story somehow reminds me of that Leonardo Di Caprio movie, Aviator. though DiCaprio wasn't really a middleclass boy in it. But then it is a Maniratnam movie, so it ought to be something different.
--- In [email protected], Gopal Srinivasan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Film Review: Guru > > By Sanjay Ram > (12 January, 2007) > > Film: Guru > > Director: Mani Ratnam > > Rating: 4/5 > > This is the week you are just glad to have the option of watching a movie that does not bore > you or kill you. Guru has released all over. > There is film and there is cinema, Guru is the latter. A cinema that has truly raised the bar > of what Bollywood cinemas should aim to be. > > Guru set in the 50's till the 90's orbits around the life of Gurukant Desai (Abhishek Bachchan) > a middle class man with the dream of making it big in life, a dream of being better than the > best. > > In the beginning Gurukant Desai approaches his father to tell him that he has decided to start > his own business in the textile industry. But with a refusal from his father he decides to go > ahead with his plan and thinks of an ingenious way to amass the money needed to set up his > business. He decides to marry Sujata (the flawless and gorgeous Aishwarya Rai), as she would > bring with her a dowry of Rs 25,000, which would be sufficient to make a small beginning. > Convincing her parents and Shakti, who is bummed because the love of her life decided to betray > her and leave her stranded (he must be crazy to leave her), Gurukant successfully marries her > and now has the money to start off his business. > > With their bags packed, the newlyweds leave for Bombay (Mumbai) to start a new life and a new > business. On reaching and trying a thing or two to start his business Guru realizes that things > were not going to be easy. With his traders license application rejected, a sad Guru finds > himself wandering on Marine Drive cursing the union leader who rejected his application in > spite of promising to look into the matter and getting it approved. > > At this point Mr. Das Gupta (Mithun Chakraborty) who is walking his dog overhears Guru; > impressed with him he gets Guru a trader's license (still figuring how though). With the > license in place, Guru marks his beginning and begins to grow strong. So much so that he > manages to reopen the trade market by blackmailing and pressurizing the IAS officer who shuts > the trade market by declaring it as a place of gambling. > > Sujata, who throughout essays her character remarkably reminding the viewers of her performance > in Iruvar (her debut movie), forms the backbone for Guru's success. With great profits Guru > sets up a textile factory (named after Sujata, now that's true love), soon emerging as a high > roller in society with tremendous support from the public. > > Sudden growth leads to a gradual fall... the same was true for Guru. Strong and undeterred by > his surroundings, he was the business king but as luck would have it his move of killing > competition by publicizing their negativity gets Mr Das Gupta angry. > > Thereon the war of right against the wrong beings. Shyam (R Madhavan) is appointed to snoop > around and uncover the truth of Guru's instant success. Guru, still undeterred, finds ways to > grow till things get out of hand and finds himself among a group of unhappy employees and share > holders. > > With reports blown out of proportion in the newspapers, Guru succumbs to the negativity and is > paralyzed. Now in the hospital with nothing more than Sujata's support, Guru is slowly > recovering but the final blow occurs when he is summoned to the court and is set to be tried > for all his business malpractice. > > Unable to speak, paralyzed and shaken all he has for defense is his will to succeed. On the day > of the hearing the panel of judges charge him with unfair trade practices, but with faith in > himself he stands up to them and confronts them with his version of the truth. In typical > `filmi' style he accuses them of holding back growth of a nation and blames them for the > extensive reliance on imported goods. With this over empowering speech, he gathers once again > the support of the public and the judges see him as not a thug but a hero. The final verdict > declares Guru free of all charges and orders him to pay a fine of a few lakh rupees. > > What is remarkable is not only the story but also the way it has been narrated, the film is > stylistic and beautiful. Each frame is well constructed and well executed. For all those who > wrote off Abhishek and Aishwarya's pairing, it is time you eat your own words as they not only > share an amazing chemistry but also do complete justice to their characters. The only injustice > done was to Minu (Vidya Balan) who is of no significance to the movie but still manages to do a > remarkable job. > > Here's hoping that Mani Ratnam will continue to set the bar higher each time. > > Film Review: Guru > > By Sanjay Ram > (12 January, 2007) > > Film: Guru > > Director: Mani Ratnam > > Rating: 4/5 > > This is the week you are just glad to have the option of watching a movie that does not bore > you or kill you. Guru has released all over. > There is film and there is cinema, Guru is the latter. A cinema that has truly raised the bar > of what Bollywood cinemas should aim to be. > > Guru set in the 50's till the 90's orbits around the life of Gurukant Desai (Abhishek Bachchan) > a middle class man with the dream of making it big in life, a dream of being better than the > best. > > In the beginning Gurukant Desai approaches his father to tell him that he has decided to start > his own business in the textile industry. But with a refusal from his father he decides to go > ahead with his plan and thinks of an ingenious way to amass the money needed to set up his > business. He decides to marry Sujata (the flawless and gorgeous Aishwarya Rai), as she would > bring with her a dowry of Rs 25,000, which would be sufficient to make a small beginning. > Convincing her parents and Shakti, who is bummed because the love of her life decided to betray > her and leave her stranded (he must be crazy to leave her), Gurukant successfully marries her > and now has the money to start off his business. > > With their bags packed, the newlyweds leave for Bombay (Mumbai) to start a new life and a new > business. On reaching and trying a thing or two to start his business Guru realizes that things > were not going to be easy. With his traders license application rejected, a sad Guru finds > himself wandering on Marine Drive cursing the union leader who rejected his application in > spite of promising to look into the matter and getting it approved. > > At this point Mr. Das Gupta (Mithun Chakraborty) who is walking his dog overhears Guru; > impressed with him he gets Guru a trader's license (still figuring how though). With the > license in place, Guru marks his beginning and begins to grow strong. So much so that he > manages to reopen the trade market by blackmailing and pressurizing the IAS officer who shuts > the trade market by declaring it as a place of gambling. > > Sujata, who throughout essays her character remarkably reminding the viewers of her performance > in Iruvar (her debut movie), forms the backbone for Guru's success. With great profits Guru > sets up a textile factory (named after Sujata, now that's true love), soon emerging as a high > roller in society with tremendous support from the public. > > Sudden growth leads to a gradual fall... the same was true for Guru. Strong and undeterred by > his surroundings, he was the business king but as luck would have it his move of killing > competition by publicizing their negativity gets Mr Das Gupta angry. > > Thereon the war of right against the wrong beings. Shyam (R Madhavan) is appointed to snoop > around and uncover the truth of Guru's instant success. Guru, still undeterred, finds ways to > grow till things get out of hand and finds himself among a group of unhappy employees and share > holders. > > With reports blown out of proportion in the newspapers, Guru succumbs to the negativity and is > paralyzed. Now in the hospital with nothing more than Sujata's support, Guru is slowly > recovering but the final blow occurs when he is summoned to the court and is set to be tried > for all his business malpractice. > > Unable to speak, paralyzed and shaken all he has for defense is his will to succeed. On the day > of the hearing the panel of judges charge him with unfair trade practices, but with faith in > himself he stands up to them and confronts them with his version of the truth. In typical > `filmi' style he accuses them of holding back growth of a nation and blames them for the > extensive reliance on imported goods. With this over empowering speech, he gathers once again > the support of the public and the judges see him as not a thug but a hero. The final verdict > declares Guru free of all charges and orders him to pay a fine of a few lakh rupees. > > What is remarkable is not only the story but also the way it has been narrated, the film is > stylistic and beautiful. Each frame is well constructed and well executed. For all those who > wrote off Abhishek and Aishwarya's pairing, it is time you eat your own words as they not only > share an amazing chemistry but also do complete justice to their characters. The only injustice > done was to Minu (Vidya Balan) who is of no significance to the movie but still manages to do a > remarkable job. > > Here's hoping that Mani Ratnam will continue to set the bar higher each time. >
