Thursday, January 28, 2010

Black - starring Rani Mukherji and Amitabh Bachchan (2005)

Black that released in the year 2005, amidst tremendous hype and expectations, managed to set a new benchmark for Hindi films. Partly based on the true life story of Helen Keller, the film was tremendously appreciated by the critics and the general public. Hailed by many to be a cult film Black won numerous awards for all those who were associated with it.

The film begins with Michelle McNally (Rani Mukherjee) a blind, deaf and mute woman visiting her former teacher Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan). Debraj is shown to be in a hospital struggling with the deadly Alzheimer’s disease. The film then goes back to Michelle’s childhood. Michelle’s world from a very young age has been a world that is devoid of sights, colours, sounds and noises. With the passage of time, she becomes a prisoner of this soundless and sightless universe that makes her violent, hostile, and almost animal like. Her parents, Paul and Catherine are at their wit’s end trying to control their eight year old daughter whom they are unable to understand and who is unable to understand them. Into this helpless situation enters Debraj Sahai, a slightly eccentric man. He takes it upon himself to bring Michelle into the light.

Initially he has to use harsh methods as Michelle has become uncontrollable which meets the disapproval of the little girl’s father who asks him to leave. But Debraj asks for twenty days from Catherine to prove himself and stays on. By the 20th day, as he is about to give up, a miraculous break through happens and Michelle is able to come out of her dark world. Impressed by his success the McNallys decide to keep Debraj as Michelle's teacher. Michelle is a fast learner and is very soon able to expertly sign. Debraj even convinces the Principal of a college to grant her the chance to pursue Bachelor of Arts degree, the first deaf-blind person to do so at that university. Michelle moves away from home and lives with Debraj and one of her servants.



Over the next twenty years she struggles to gain her degree. As Michelle face many ups and downs in life, we see the beginning of Alzheimer affect Debraj’s brilliant mind. He is shown forgetting the way out of Principal’s office. Debraj leaves Michelle when one night she forces him to kiss her on her lips as she has never experienced passion and wanted Debraj to be the one to teach her the meaning of this word like so many others. The film ends with Michelle gaining her B.A. degree and her visiting the institution where Debraj stays. She shows him her degree and a glimmer of recognition appears in his eyes. The film ends with a complete role reversal as Michelle takes it upon herself to reacquaint Debraj with the meaning of words that he has long forgotten.

Cast of movie Black:

Amitabh Bachchan - Debraj Sahai
Rani Mukerji - Michelle McNally
Ayesha Kapoor - Young Michelle McNally
Shernaz Patel - Catherine McNally
Dhritiman Chaterji - Paul McNally
Nandana Sen - Sarah McNally

Movie Information:

Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Anshuman Swami
Written by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhavani Iyer, Prakash Kapadia
Music by Monty Sharma
Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran
Editing by Bela Sehgal

Black - starring Rani Mukherji and Amitabh Bachchan (2005)

Awards:

Black made an all-time record at the Filmfare Awards by winning eleven awards.

National Film Awards (2006)
Best Feature Film in Hindi
Best Actor - Amitabh Bachchan


Star Screen Awards (2006)
Best Film
Best Director - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Best Actor - Amitabh Bachchan
Best Actress - Rani Mukerji
Best Supporting Actress - Ayesha Kapur
Best Cinematography - Ravi K. Chandran
Best Editing - Bela Sehgal
Best Sound Recording - Anup Dev
Best Background Score - Monty Sharma

Filmfare Awards (2006)
Best Movie
Best Director - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Best Actor - Amitabh Bachchan
Best Actress - Rani Mukerji
Critics Award Best Movie - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Critics Award Best Performance - Amitabh Bachchan & Rani Mukharji (each)
Best Supporting Actress - Ayesha Kapur
Best Editing - Bela Sehgal
Best Cinematography - Ravi K. Chandran
Best Background Score - Monty Sharma


Video of Song:

Haan Maine Chhu Kar Dekha Hai



Haan Maine Chhu Kar Dekha Hai (link)

Lyrics:

Haan Maine Chhu Kar Dekha Hai

mausam ki adalaa-badali mein
pavan gulaabi ho jaati hai
(haan mainne chhuukar dekha hai) - 2

raat sarakakar chalate-chalate
bilkul aadhi ho jaati hai
(haan mainne chhuukar dekha hai) - 2
mausam ki adalaa-badali mein

garam gunaguni dhuup se baat ki hai mainne
paani ke bahane mein hansi suni hai mainne
sab kahate hain dip bujha hai
lekin baati so jaati hai
(haan mainne chhuukar dekha hai) - 2
mausam ki adalaa-badali mein

bin dastak ke aaye jo vo pyaar suna hai
bin bole man khole vo adhikaar suna hai
lamhon ki ungali thaam ke
yaadein aangan mein aa jaati hain
(haan mainne chhuukar dekha hai) - 2

thandha thandha rang buundon ka
mulaayam rang hai phuulon ka
chubhanevaale rang pahanakar
dulhan saj-dhaj ke jaati hai
haan mainne chhuukar
haan mainne dekha hai

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