Mili

Review By Kamal K

Must watch kind movie & extraordinary performance by Amitabh Bachchan. Actually its a heroine oriented film but surprise element was powerful intense performance by Amitabh Bachchan, Ashok Kumar asusually performed very well. Great love story with effective storyline.

This is a superb performance by Amitabh and Jaya, no doubt extracted by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Throughout the film, you actually go thru the helplessness, the passim that the protagonist, Shekhar feels. First when he is a hapless morose who finds it difficult to even communicate with the outside world. And then just when he sees rays of hope, when he falls in love with Mili, he is shattered knowing that the one person who has bought love and a cause for him to live, will be leaving him forever. The ending sequence and how Shekhar(Amitabh) then reacts to the fact that Mili would leave him has been portrayed very well.

See this film to appreciate the genius of Mukherjee's story telling ability (the film starts with a flashback). Amitabh's, Jaya's and Ashok Kumars performances are classy. You don't get to see many such movies made today. Mili is already a classic.

This extraordinary, heart-warming/breaking film is about a young vibrant girl named Mili. Mili is a very bubbly, vivacious, outgoing girl and a very big prankster as well. She spreads happiness with her positive attitude and is popular with everyone, from her own family to the entire neighbourhood, but the one whose life she particularly manages to light is a new neighbour named Shekhar. Shekhar is an alcoholic and lonely young man who's been a victim of society, and gradually he develops a great friendship with Mili. She makes him look at life differently, and the two fall in love. But he does not know that Mili is terminally ill and her days are counted.

A poignant and brilliantly told story, Mili can be easily ranked among the greatest realistic tearjerkers of its times. Mukherjee's direction is splendid. He manages to make this picture totally convincing and memorable in his own inimitable way. The film is not a tragedy, it is a very melancholic, yet very bright, pleasant and thoroughly optimistic piece. No filmmaker would have been able to make this film as beautifully as Mukherjee did. The narrative style is very identified with his craft and unique storytelling - like in most of his films, the script, involving common and ordinary people and following their lives during certain periods, is amazingly simple and realistic, yet the emotional impact is powerful and very effective.

Mili belongs to Jaya Bhaduri. A naturally gifted actress, she is compelling, funny and moving throughout the entire film and makes her character Mili hauntingly admirable, lovable and memorable. Amitabh Bachchan is brilliant as Shekhar. He is restrained, natural and good-looking. Ashok Kumar is unsurprisingly outstanding as Mili's loving, helpless and suffering father. Aruna Irani makes an impact in a smaller role. The film is not too long, it does not go over the top and the emotions are never overblown. It is simple, interesting, engaging and very moving. It is filled with gentle comedy, superb music and many great moments, and was evidently made with a lot of graciousness and sincerity. That's what makes a classic.

Very simple story yet effective. Why? cause this movie had sincere direction, acting and music in it. Amitabh is not the usual angry young man nor is Jaya in her usually serious role; yet they have given commendable performances. The music is soothing almost therapeutic especially the number "Aaye Tum Yaad Mujhe, Gaane lagi har Dhadkan . ." sung by Kishore Kumar.

Two Thumbs Up

One of the more sober and mature performances of the superstar Amitabh Bachchan. He is a director's actor and can therefore give a Mili or even an Ajooba. Jaya Bachchan's generally disenchanted demeanour fits the role like a glove. The tension is built well and stays with you as the film doesn't promote escapism. Majorly in contrast with Anand by the same director on similar theme.