Viruddh - A Movie for Mahesh Manjrekar

Went to Viruddh yesterday with friends. Liked the movie, in general. The papers seem to be right. Even I got the feeling that Mahesh Manjrekar has made this movie for his own satisfaction rather than for the masses.

The first half builds up the story of the retired AI employee and his ex-principal wife who lead a middle-class existence. They squabble over petty things and make up quickly too, getting mushy at times, a la Baghban. Then enters the only son who is here on a visit, with his firang girlfriend in tow. Hitler Mom makes them marry and everyone seems to be very happy. But then the son goes to a party and witnesses a killing. Trying to intervene, he gets shot in the ensuing scuffle. Down come their dreams in an instant when the news of the son's death reaches them.

The second half is about how the father tries to get justice for his dead son by fighting the corrupt system and a very unsympathetic police force. However, when all seems lost, the patriarch takes the law into his own hands and kills his son's killer in cold blood. I don't seem to understand the difference between the father and the son's killer. Murder for revenge should not be forgiven!!! And the court actually sets the father free without so much as a suspended sentence!!! Bad precedent for the young minds out there!! Tut, tut, Mr. Manjrekar, why the Vaastav mixed with Saraansh???

Performance-wise, John Abraham is surprisingly fresh and crisp. Maybe its those sparkling kurtas which give us that impression. ;-) Anousha fits the bill as the foreign girlfriend. Just keep out the overacting and unnecessary expressions, baby, and you will do just fine. Sharmila Tagore puts in a performance expected of her. Whether its as the stern wife/mother or the loving mother-in-law, she excels in every emotion expected of her by the director. AB is, of course, miles ahead of the rest. He renders the role of the grieving father with aplomb. Of note is the scene when he watches his laughter club members laugh, just days after the death of his son and tries to join them. How empty and full of grief that laughter sounds!!! AB, we bow to thee!!!