Nirbaak (2015) Reviews

• Love Needs No Language - Not Even A Sound

  abhirup_banerjee2015-05-10

  A film or cinema is described as the art of simulating experiences, that communicate ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty or atmosphere by the means of recorded or programmed moving images along with other sensory stimulations. Now the reason behind providing this definition is, today I am going to discuss about a film that took me to a state of contentment, a state of speechlessness, that continued several hours after the ride ends. The movie developed a world where the difference between life, death, human, non humans, tree, and even lifeless objects has been extinguished by one common theme: "love". Yes, I am talking about Srijit Mukherji's seventh directional venture "Nirbaak". Starting with 'Autograph', Mr. Srijit has successfully provided Bengali audience an alternative route in the busy traffic of commercial (Dev-Jeet) films, in the form of drama, comedy or thriller. Those movies, based on a strong storyline, excellent acting- direction, and also mind-blowing soundtrack (except 'Mishawr Rahasya'), provided a great entertainment to people of all ages. But not this one. This time Srijit has taken us to a world where the words are not required to express. In this fantasy drama, every subject (or object) is engaged in an abnormal possessive relationship, whether it is an aged man, a tree, a dog (female), or a lonely morgue-staff. A jazz musician is so obsessed about himself, that he admires his own reflection by kissing in the mirror, makes it look young and beautiful by shopping for new clothes, and even feels sexual pleasure while watching his reflection. A tree is in love with a woman, who finds comfort under its shadow. It fantasizes about her, feels jealous to find her with her boyfriend, and eventually dies when she decides to move away to Bombay. A dog (female) loves her master (literally) so much that she feels threatened when his girlfriend moves in. Remembering the past golden days with her master brought tears in her eyes. She tries to go back to those days; but the master has finally united with his girlfriend, so he does not need a dog to keep company. Watching them together in love brought so much hatred in her mind against the girlfriend, that she eventually attacks her. In another storyline, a staff in a morgue gets infatuated with a corpse. He fantasizes his entire future life with her, starting from dating to marriage to honeymoons. He talks with her inside the cold lifeless room, combs her hair, brings rose for her, enjoy old romantic songs, and finally gives his life while protecting her from the hands of a bunch of sadist hooligans. Each story revolves around an obsessed love, that exceeds the barrier of human language and finally end in a tragic note. One key point about the film is, it doesn't not need any prior knowledge about the Bengali language to understand it, because people in all over the world feel and express feelings the same way. The film has very few dialogues, and even they are not needed to be translated. The expressions of the actors and the background tune will make up for them. Hats off to Neel Dutt for an outstanding work. The film has no song in-between, but the background tunes to express emotions or situations is simply breathtaking. Anjan Dutt is brilliant, yet sometimes irritating (intentionally) as the aged 'Narcissus'. Jisu Sengupta (the boyfriend and the master) has taken his acting skills to the next level in the second innings of his career. Sushmita Sen, as the girlfriend and the corpse, has acted much better in her first Bengali film than she did in her entire career in the nonsensical Bollywood films. Ritwick Chakraborty has again proved, he does not need any supporting actors to perform. In his 'one-act play', Ritwick introduces us to a lonely persons bizarre, yet compelling fantasy around a dead corpse. His monologue with the corpse "I just wanted a little friendship, not love..... There's no love... No love at all...." gives you goose bumps. Also Anindya Banerjee, in his small appearance as the sadist hooligan leader, creates a lasting impression. But they are all professionals. The two newbies in the film who attracted the audience by their mind-blowing performances and carried the main theme of speechlessness in their shoulders, are the tree and Bingi the dog. The tree, in Srijit's vision, has been able to feel love immeasurable to the girl. And the dog, in her debut performance, has expressed her feelings, tears, insecurities, jealousy, and hatred so natural that even few professionals can develop. In conclusion, this film is all about possessive abnormal love. This is the first time Srijit has made a film which is not meant for everyone. So, if you watch this film and don't like it, don't worry. You are a perfectly normal person. But if you ever feel obsessed about something or someone, please give it a chance. You might like the film. And if possible, please watch alone. Because somehow if you were able like the film, a little whisper from your best friends or the loved ones would feel like a thorn in your ears. Finally like it or not, everyone at least agree to the point that Srijit, in this film, has walked to an uncharted territory that no other directors has ever dared to enter. So like him or not, at least give him that much respect.

  More

• An ambitious attempt... but doesn't live up to expectation

  priyanka-babin2015-05-05

  Bengali movie goers always have high expectations from Srijit Mukherjee, who recently won a couple of National awards for his wonderful 'Chotushkone'.Having watched the trailer and the shadowgraphy title before, I knew that this movie would be different. And it was, different that is, from what we normally see in Indian movies. But being unique is one thing and being great is another. Coming to the positives. Though I prefer hyperlink narratives when the stories are shown concurrently, I do not mean to take away anything from Srijit's storytelling in the movie,where the stories are shown one after the after and the hyperlink narrative isn't exactly a necessity. Performance wise,Anjan Dutt was absolutely marvelous. However, it would be better if Srijit did not make the shower scene at the end of the first story so predictable. Ritwick Chakraborty is always a delight to watch on screen and this movie was no different. And one cannot help praising the way Bingy the dog was shot. And of course, this being Srijit's movie, there are brilliant scenes scattered throughout. Now the negatives. None of the stories had a lot of substance and depended solely upon the direction. The second and the third sections seemed repetitive, just different expressions of the same feeling. And for a movie in which each narrative is a tragedy, it is very strange that one does not empathize with any of the characters. Srijit has taken up a unique concept this time, which he should, considering he is one of the few Indian storytellers who is most likely to succeed in creating a great end product. Sadly, not this time:-(

  More

• Sorrry Salvador Dali

  shambosen-shambo2015-05-07

  1) One person loves himself, that doesn't mean that he have to kiss himself in the mirror. To show his love the director doesn't have to show him naked, and also doesn't have to use 'jerk off scene' in the movie. If one really loves himself he would go for exercise or do something that he loves to do, and would have a healthy lifestyle, instead of consuming alcohol at morning. Its showing nothing but 'hate' for his own life. A totally worthless story and a very week attempt also. 2) Here the director tried to show a relation between the two different entity tree and a woman. Good thinking and again worthless attempt and very bad direction. First of all why the hell susmita sen is here??? There was nothing special at this role. Secondary to show Tree's love, the director doesn't have to show so much useless staffs. That would be better if those things would have been an abstract one. And the death of the Tree was also very cheap attempt. 3) Dog doesn't behave like that… Not at this extent. In the name of "TRANSFORMING LOVE" the basic characteristics of the nature and human beings are violating. 4) This story is very well known and we have seen this story before in lots of movies. It is not the issue. The issue is, the director destroys the story, the love, by squeezing it forcefully again and again. There is nothing but some unnecessary things and some completely madly behaved human. 5) And the most important part is the director have done these stuffs In the name of "Salvador Dali". The intellectuality level and the abstract thinking of his painting cannot be compared with this Worthless movie. This hurts the most.

  More

• Good, Bad and now stupid.

  vsa-744822015-05-01

  There are good movies, there are bad movies and then there are some that render you speechless. Besides fighting the dilemma that why is it that Srijit Mukherji directed this, you'll also find yourself scratching your head linking the sub-plots in the story. The first forty minutes move with an underwear clad, bathing, kissing himself, Anjan Dutt,and the next hundred minutes will definitely make you twitch in your seats with the question of 'What exactly is going on?" (Sarcasm here). Well, Mukherji does link the four sub-plots but in a way beyond comprehension, ranging up to the impossible. Impossible really! You'll also notice the plots being dragged continuously and you might be forced to get up and use the washroom. And if you have been a Mukherji fan, please avoid this movie or be brave to face the question -"What was Srijit Mukherji thinking?" Oh yes, Don't forget, Dogs can Love truly too.

  More

• Bad....worse.....worst.....Nirbaak

  arupmandal19832015-07-12

  "Nirbaak" is not a mere film, its a medicine for cinephiles. Its a film which makes one understand why good is good and why bad is bad. A film you can watch after attending a film festival instantly enabling you to adjust to the regular popular movies. There's bad movies, B-movies, poor movies and then there is "Nirbaak", a new reference for low in pretentious manufactured film-making. Anjan Dutta has pained as before with few of his songs, most of his directorials and all of his writings on films. But teamed with Srijit he achieves an almost insurmountable.This is a what Germany did to Brazil in last Worldcup, VVS did to Steve Waugh in the Kolkata Test match. Jissu and Sushmita did not seem to have any clue of what they are doing, as if preparing and working on scrips handed over on a day to day basis. Ritwick makes a mark even here only proving himself to be leftover saving grace in an industry which produces and celebrates "Nirbaak". The design in the start credits and the song in the end credits is where anything watchable in the movie is limited to. Srijit wanted to have a poetry up his sleeve...he does that by the way. The cacophonous "Mishor", self patting "Chotuskone" or dumb "Hemlock" all rephrases themselves into poetry in comparison.

  More