A strong score (with a 'Slumdog' pedigree) and absorbing thematic elements make the film a solid entry point for novices of Indian cinema.
On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 5:45 AM, Prakash Balaramkrishna < [email protected]> wrote: > > 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. > > >
