My Brother...Nikhil -- The movie left me in tears. It was refreshing to see an Indian film, dealing with a social issue that didn't try to make the issue out to be a exaggerated and hypocritical wrong thing.
I just remember seeing Girlfriend and being appalled at how the film portrayed homosexuals. I have friends that are homosexuals and they are some of the nicest people I've ever met, and that film making them out to be these insane horrible individuals was a real turn off...and that's another review!
But back to the main topic, My Brother...Nikhil was fabulous from the storyline, to the music (Le Chale - will leave your heart mourning with tears in your eyes - no matter which version you hear -- I like the Shaan version the best ), the acting is fabulous! Sanjay Suri is amazing! If he doesn't get a Filmfare or a nod from some sort of higher film academy it would be really sad. I mean, his acting, directing, everything. It's been a long time since I've seen a Hindi film that I walked away from and said "wow." There is a part of the film where Lillete Dubey who plays Nikhil's mom tells him that he was a weak baby and she wishes that he had died then as a child. This is after the family finds out Nikhil has contracted HIV...needless to say, the scene will make your jaw drop. Sanjay and Lillete are beyond amazing in this scene.
Kabhi is another song in the film... it's really a laid back tune...very Goa-Esq I think. Kind of like what Jack Johnson's music is to the US's coasts would be what Kabhi would be to Goa I suppose. It has that a beach like, laid back, but trendy sound to it. Juhi was good. She played the role as if it was made for her.
One of the things that I found the most interesting and the most refreshing about the film is the element of HOW. Meaning, the audience never finds out HOW Nikhil contracted the virus, they are just aware of the fact that he has it. I liked this dramatic element a lot because I feel that it doesn't take away from the virus or the situation at hand. It shows Nikhil has human, like you and I, a person with feelings...a golden boy who has been ousted by his surroundings. I'm glad we do not know, it leaves the mind to wonder.
I saw the making of the film on the DVD of it that I rented (it's on the Elite Films DVD version) and they were talking about how the story is based on a true story of something that did actually happen in Goa. I wasn't sure if it really was, but after wards I thought it was quite admirable to do a film such as this in Hindi cinema.
Another element of the film is the fact that it starts in the 1980s in India...which is the same decade that the USA has it own AIDS "scare".
Even if the subject matter bothers you, or you do not like Hindi films, go watch it just to Sanjay Suri portray what I would consider the role of his career!
10/10
I just remember seeing Girlfriend and being appalled at how the film portrayed homosexuals. I have friends that are homosexuals and they are some of the nicest people I've ever met, and that film making them out to be these insane horrible individuals was a real turn off...and that's another review!
But back to the main topic, My Brother...Nikhil was fabulous from the storyline, to the music (Le Chale - will leave your heart mourning with tears in your eyes - no matter which version you hear -- I like the Shaan version the best ), the acting is fabulous! Sanjay Suri is amazing! If he doesn't get a Filmfare or a nod from some sort of higher film academy it would be really sad. I mean, his acting, directing, everything. It's been a long time since I've seen a Hindi film that I walked away from and said "wow." There is a part of the film where Lillete Dubey who plays Nikhil's mom tells him that he was a weak baby and she wishes that he had died then as a child. This is after the family finds out Nikhil has contracted HIV...needless to say, the scene will make your jaw drop. Sanjay and Lillete are beyond amazing in this scene.
Kabhi is another song in the film... it's really a laid back tune...very Goa-Esq I think. Kind of like what Jack Johnson's music is to the US's coasts would be what Kabhi would be to Goa I suppose. It has that a beach like, laid back, but trendy sound to it. Juhi was good. She played the role as if it was made for her.
One of the things that I found the most interesting and the most refreshing about the film is the element of HOW. Meaning, the audience never finds out HOW Nikhil contracted the virus, they are just aware of the fact that he has it. I liked this dramatic element a lot because I feel that it doesn't take away from the virus or the situation at hand. It shows Nikhil has human, like you and I, a person with feelings...a golden boy who has been ousted by his surroundings. I'm glad we do not know, it leaves the mind to wonder.
I saw the making of the film on the DVD of it that I rented (it's on the Elite Films DVD version) and they were talking about how the story is based on a true story of something that did actually happen in Goa. I wasn't sure if it really was, but after wards I thought it was quite admirable to do a film such as this in Hindi cinema.
Another element of the film is the fact that it starts in the 1980s in India...which is the same decade that the USA has it own AIDS "scare".
Even if the subject matter bothers you, or you do not like Hindi films, go watch it just to Sanjay Suri portray what I would consider the role of his career!
10/10