Film Review: BLACK (Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee)

'Black Film' Reviews by Gunjan Kumar

	Black Cast : Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Ayesha,   Shernaz, Dhritiman chatterjee, Nandana Sen Director : Sanjai Leela Bansali Music : Mychael Danna Screenplay : Prakesh Kapadia Producer : Applause, Bhansali Entertainment

Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a tribute to the famous blind and deaf laureate, Helen Keller. The story is the directors interpretation of Helen's remarkable life and the role her teacher Annie Sullivan played in her life.
The story begins as the protagonist Michelle McNally (Rani Mukerji), a blind and deaf woman born in an Anglo Indian family reflects on her life. She is in search of her lost teacher Debraj Sahai( Amitabh Bachhan) who made her what she is. She finds him after 20 long years, near her home with his memory completely gone that he cannot even recognize her.
Michelle as a little girl is totally confused and angry cause of her handicap. Her parents doesn't  know how to deal with the little girl as she becomes more and more destructive and wild. When things get out of hand --once she topples a candle and creates a fire at home and at another time she hurts her little baby sister-- her father (Dhritiman chatterjee) decides to put her in an asylum. Her mother (Shernaz Patel) fights for a last chance for her daughter. She summons a teacher, Debraj from a deaf and blind school. He is slightly eccentric, but is dedicated to his profession.  The teachers meeting with his ward is far from pleasant. But the teacher is tough with the obstinate girl and slowly reaches a truce with her. He gradually changes the wild thing into a presentable young lady. Though the father was at first against his rough handling of the girl he later accepts him when he sees the positive progress in her. Debraj slowly introduces her to the world of light and sound. With his help she tries to make sense of the pitch dark world around her.. she learns her first words. The teacher becomes her constant companion and he has big ambitions for her. He helps her to get into a regular college and sits with her during class interpreting the lessons to her through hand contact to fulfill their dream to make her a graduate. But a quirk of fate awaits them as he slowly begins to loose his memory. He succumbs to Alzheimer's and one day she looses him completely... Black is a beautiful movie from a brilliant director. The direction, editing, cinematography, sets, background score, performances are all outstanding. The film touches you to the core and it is an experience one shouldn't miss. The movie as a whole has an international feel to it. Credit goes to the director for taking on such a theme and making it a beautiful piece of art. Performances are exceptional. Rani as Michelle shows a depth that has never been seen in any of her characters. It is the role of her life and she has done complete justice to it. Amitabh as her teacher once again proves that the big B still reigns. He is superb in his role. Debutant Ayesha Kapoor playing little Michelle is a revelation. Others including Dhritiman Chatterjee as Michelle's father, Nandana Sen in a small role as her jealous but kind sister, are flawless and Shernaz Patel as her agonisized mother is especially touching in her  role. The movie could expect to win some of the coveted awards next year. Commercially it may not be a success in India but it may run well abroad.  Overall a must watch film. We rate this movie excellent.