Enough words to understand

 

 

It can happen, you know. It happens. Maybe, it’s not practical. But love never claimed to be that, anyway. Ramu leaves it at that. No risks. This love story of a 60-year-old man and an18-year-old girl, one that’s supposed to be based on Vladimir Nabokov’s sizzler, has no unpredictable twists and demurely toes the line of Indian sensibilities. Apart from the age difference, Ram Gopal Varma’s Nishabd is no Lolita, and certainly no Last Tango in Paris. Nothing one can’t watch with his/her dad, except for, probably the subject itself.

Shot in home territory – Kerala – Ram Gopal’s choice of the serene estates of Munnar could be one of a) he was feeling homesick, b) to heighten the contrast with the turmoil in Vijay’s (angry young man turns lovable old man!) household, or c) attempt to camouflage/temper the provocative theme (disappointedly played safe with). Whichever option be ‘locked’, mere refreshing locales could not have proven to be Ramu’s lifeline anyway. His brilliant camera craft, however, does seem to add a breathing dimension to an otherwise severely underplayed romance. Apart from that, it’s only Bachchan who makes it difficult for you to turn away from the dilemma of a man caught in the throes of a foregone emotion rekindled by insouciant intimacy with adolescent daughter’s friend. He guffaws, he cries, he sings . . . with every bit he makes it real. Debutante Jiah Khan is typical RGV find – beautiful and hot, with foundational acting skills, but somehow not too fazed by the superstar’s aura. The supporting cast including Revathy and Shraddha Arya deliver their parts well. At best, a movie to watch for just one ‘tall’ reason. Though the writer recalls the audience clapping at the end.