Movie Review: Guzaarish (2010)

It does not have those floating colourful balloons, it does not have that pumped up will to live, it has serious illnesses, but it does not feel terminal. Guzaarish is what you would like to Anand, but it isn't it.

Source: IMDb


Quadriplegic ex-magician Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik Roshan) has had enough of life and its tricks for 14 years (no, he's not 14) and demands (guzaarish), or rather legally petitions for euthanasia. His dutiful nurse Sofia (Aishwarya Rai) is torn between her love for Ethan and his desire to die. Meanwhile, an aspiring magician Omar (Aditya Roy Kapoor) enters their lives to learn from the once greatest magician of all.

What follows is the journey of Ethan, as he garners support for his cause to die through his radio show Radio 'Zindagi' (life). What happens next? Watch on Netflix.

Guzaarish is no different from other Bhansali films. It has emotions ranging from tears to fears to cheers, it has beautiful Goan/gothic aesthetics, and it has a crème-de-la-crème star cast. Not all are A-listers, but the ensemble cast does justice to the film's gravitas in every frame. Even Aditya Roy Kapoor, who I had gone weary of seeing sullen and dreary in every film I saw (barring Action Replayy, which came out the same year as Guzaarish), had a cheerful presence and brought light into the dark undertones of the film. Aishwarya Rai looked gorgeous and was very realistic in emotional moments, and reminded me of the spark which was the chemistry between Rai and Roshan. Hrithik Roshan, in my opinion, does nothing unusual here. Great performance, but it still had that Koi...Mil Gaya hangover. 

The dialogues and writing of the film are nothing new for a Bhansali template. Theatrical dialogues, heavy-hearted moments and at least one sudden death. And although the Radio Zindagi setup does not end up being the butt of irony throughout the film, its dialogues seem to be contriving after a point. "Life is short" has become hackneyed. Move over the likes of Anand, Kal Ho Naa Ho and their ilk for a while. With its magical potential and unorthodox plotline, Guzaarish had scope for more insightful dialogues than this. On a positive note, the dialogues are filled with puns, and I love puns.

Since Radio Zindagi signs off every time with a song, let us discuss the music.

The music was not chart-topping stuff in 2010, but it had a soul. My picks would be "Udi" and "Tera Zikr". The music marks the debut of Bhansali as a music composer. Soundtrack debuts work well for Bhansali. 1999 saw Ismail Darbar debuting for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, 2007 saw Monty Sharma debuting for Saawariya and 2010 saw this. Although, Bhansali did not get any Filmfare musical award for Guzaarish, unlike Darbar and Sharma.

En fin, if you would like to watch a film that is a tearjerker, set in intentional dingy, dull sets reminding you of a Dickens novel, watch Guzaarish.

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