This highly awaited movie from Aamir Khan Production and Kiran Rao’s directorial debut is not so much a commercial movie. It is an attempt to take a glimpse in the lives of four different people. The film takes us in the lives of four protagonists – Munna, Shai, Arun and Yasmin. Four people from completely different background and social stature, how their lives crisscross and how it changes them is a treat to watch. The movie is not preachy, doesn't give any message, doesn't dwell in silly fantasies and doesn't pass any judgment or conclusion. As it’s a journey of lives of four people, things just happen in their lives and they go through it. Period. The camera remains a silent witness to it.
Munna played by Prateik Babbar is the character we see around us every day. An ambitious boy from some village trying to realize his dreams of Bollywood, a girl friend etc. is shown cleverly. Prateik has played the character to the T. His clothes, body language in various situations, lingo etc. makes him look perfect in that character. His performance never really allows us to believe that he is just a film old boy in the industry.
Monica Dogra who is playing an NRI girl Shai in the movie impresses us too. She looks fabulous on the screen and has the right attitude to carry this character of an independent migrant girl. Shai is in Mumbai to see the life from a different perspective. Her equation with Munna and Arun who are having completely different socio-cultural background is quite interesting. Her accent, gesticulation etc makes her look more authentic and one falls in love with this character that is charming, flamboyant, stylist yet pure and having hidden caring side.
Arun is a painter who is a hermit and almost a social miss fit type of a character. Beautifully played by Aamir Khan, Arun is a successful artist who has so much of depth with turbulent emotions, bruised past, maverick side of an artist and “some thing is missing” kind of urge in his eyes. His constant fight with his inner self, his emotional connection with the tapes of Yasmin and its reflection on his life are all beautifully presented. Like all his other films, in this film too Aamir looks authentic in the character with the right mannerism and eccentricity required for the role.
Kriti Malhotra in the role of Yasmin is perhaps the most realistic character. A small town girl who is recently married and has come to Mumbai tries to talk to his brother through the camera. Kriti who is a non-actor and has been selected through facebook is a surprise package of the film for her evident acting skills. She impresses us with her soft spoken character that is caring, timid with many suppressed emotions which she captures on camera. Her innocence, vulnerability and helplessness in the end surely gets lump in the throat.
As claimed by the makers of the movie that Mumbai is the fifth character of the film however do not come across as strongly as it should have. The movie’s Mumbai connection is limited only in the areas in which it was shot. There is no exclusive aspect or peculiarity of Mumbai which one can observe in the movie.
In a nutshell Dhobi Ghat is a window which gives us a glimpse into the lives of these four characters. Kiran Rao has also proved with this film that she is not only Mrs. Aamir Khan. It’s true that when Mr. Perfectionist’s name is attached to a project it is bound to create a buzz and anticipation in people’s mind. Dhobi Ghat may not become a block buster but it surely will not disappoint AK’s fans!!
