http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-delhi24-2009feb24,0,6609938.story
Anchored by a fascinating score from Oscar winner A.R. Rahman ("Slumdog
Millionaire"), naturalistic performances and a wide cinematic palette,
"Delhi-6" is a fair introduction to Indian cinema for outsiders -- who will
have no clue at times why the audience is laughing.
American-born Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) takes his ailing grandmother back to
her old neighborhood in Delhi (the title refers to a postal code) and falls in
love with the city and its people -- in particular the gorgeous daughter (Sonam
Kapoor) of his grandmother's neighbors. Meanwhile, an apparent monster
terrorizes the town, stoking tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities.
And those are just some of the movie's elements. Several stories go unresolved,
and perhaps the most interesting thread -- involving the still-present caste
system -- doesn't fully integrate into the film's tapestry. Still, the songs
and score are memorable, and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has a deep bag of
cinematic tricks to illuminate the distinct patterns, such as flights into
Hindu mythology or a dream sequence blending New York and Delhi.
For the uninitiated, watching "Delhi-6" in a packed house can be surprising, as
when a wise old uncle who purchased his beloved's home after she left tells
Roshan: "Tell her you love her -- or you'll end up buying empty houses like
me."
That got the biggest laugh of the night. Go figure.
