Mirzya

Inspired by the Punjabi folklore of Mirza Sahiban, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Mirzya' is a visual dazzler, that lacks soul. Made with staggering ambition, this epic-love-story, sadly, lacks the heart to keep you glued.

'Mirzya' Synopsis: Two Star Crossed Lovers face tragic ends, in both, ancient times & in the modern era.

'Mirzya' is a visual marvel. Technically speaking, the film scores very highly. Each & Every Frame is mounted with beauty. And that's exactly why, the faulty writing & the soullessness puts you off. Gulzar, The Legend, fails to deliver an engaging narrative, as his Writing is not up-to the mark. Despite shifting between two time-lines, the film never transports you emotionally. There are moments that shine, particularly in the first-hour, but overall, the Writing is below expectations. Mehra is a filmmaker with a voice & his work in 'Mirzya' shows us that, once again. He is bogged down by a weakly written Screenplay, which lessons the effort put in. Also, the slow-pacing, doesn't work.

Paweł Dyllus's Cinematography is Magnificent. He's the real star of 'Mirzya'. Art & Costume Design are perfection. Shankar-Eshan-Loy's Score is wonderful. Action-Sequences are well-executed.

Performance-Wise: Debutants Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher, deliver well. Harshvardhan is earnest & uses his emotive eyes to express much of the time, while Saiyami, looks gorgeous throughout & portrays her part with conviction. They both have potential, but 'Mirzya' doesn't utilize to the hilt. Of the supporting cast, Anuj Choudhry is notable, while Om Puri is wasted.

On the whole, 'Mirzya' is a body beautiful, minus soul.

Mireya could have been much better if they could have focused on performances and story execution , it's a boring and a major let down Movie !

Director Mr. Rakesh Omprakash Mehara work as a technician is good but as a creative person notably bad. It is hard to believe that he was the brain behind my two most favorite films "Rang De Basanti' and "Bhag Milkha Bhag'. Not a single shot gives any glimpse of that magic in this film. Screenplay is obsolete and confusing. Writer thought that everyone is well versed with the 'Sahiba-Miraza' story, so he didn't feel a bit of requirement to at least describe the key points of that legend story. Film goes into flashback from present frequently, whenever an emotional scene comes, an intense song but difficult to understand the lyrics takes over with some good visuals. Lyrics do not justify the two different time periods at all. Lead characters childhood scenes are too lame. First of all they don't look cute. Girl looks older than the boy. They seem of age 7 to 8 years but in pre climax it got revealed by boy that he was twelve year old that time. Boy getting late to feed girl 'Til Laddo', teacher show causes him for being late then asks for home work's copy, girl passes her copy to him but teacher sniffs this and then asks girl for her home work copy, eventually leading girl canned. All class give expression as if it was most unusual incident when teacher already cleared that it is well known punishment. Boy keeps mum that time then decide to retaliate in some idiotic way by shooting the teacher!!! It gives first hint that you are going to witness some crap. It is love story but you can't find a faint glimpse of love throughout. Film starts with some high octane action with support of VFX but you don't feel anything because it was not cleared that what is happening and why, actually it was just for the sake of introducing the male lead. Girl went abroad and returns back, her childhood friend is working in her Prince fiancé stable. Again some lame hide and seek identity scene. When girl recognizes the boy is so bad that I strongly felt urge to laugh but controls it with subsided smile, but then after few scenes audience started to evoke controlled giggle and then I joined them shamelessly. Surprisingly there is some weird sense of humor in most of the emotionally intense scenes, which at least save you from getting headache. Boy's Polo playing with his master then flashback of horse riding of past time. Girl wants to learn horse riding, boy trains her and all that blah blah. A key scene of tiger attacking in full moon light looks so fake and crude in the time of so advanced technology. Again thrill lost in making. In climax marriage scene, sneaking out in veil is so old fashioned scene and why that old person supported her is not clear and why that girl commits suicide is also. It was just to add drama but sorry to say it looked absurd and film is full of such type of scenes. Pre climax and climax is unbearable but yes laughter is there for sure. Performance wise all bad actors are stuffed in one film. Harshvardhan Kapoor's looks is good but he speaks stone flat. Even good actress Anjali Patil gone wasted as Zeenat. Nothing to say about rest of the cast. Musically and lyrically 'Ye Wadiyan Dhoodhiyan Kohre Ki' is good.

Let me try to tell what went wrong technically without revealing the story..

Firstly the anecdotes or the screenplay was pretty messed up and confusing, its like when you show the protagonist's entry when not expected and then moved on to the slow pace back drop story..

The music was fusion with folk songs, but ruined it with the over electronic experimental beats here and there which was totally unnecessary. The chorus and singer's voice was over used during the screenplay which made it quite monotonous and tamed the interest in the movie.. overall wrong choice of music directors.

Screenplay was dull and dark, which didn't quite engage as an audience at all. could have been way better, brighter, with engaging side actors and alive. The cast of childhood actors was wrong, where the girl looks bigger, aged and stronger than the boy, whereas she should've been an innocent looking little girl to make the story more convincing that he fell for an innocent girl..

There were artistic scenes here and there with slow motion which felt like an advertisement on television. The story was good, but the execution was bad, the direction, cinematography, screenplay, and music.. all were messed up and didn't accompany each other. Whereas the acting of the lead character in adulthood was good but proved of least use. Hence, a great opportunity was missed.

After a very high expectations, one should desire to gain something extraordinary. I'm from one of them. I'm die hard fan of Gulzar and Rakesh Omprakash Mehra. So, may be you can find it bias.

The legend of Mirza-Sahiban was the concept which Rakesh had to filmed. For that his writer, Gulzar penned a similar story. And then narration goes smoothly in both the eras in the film. What made Sahiban to brake Mirza's arrows is the question to be found. And the team leaves you to think and find out whatever answer you would like to keep.

Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan Kapoor is here as Mirza. And it's his debut film. Saiyami Kher plays the role of Sahiban. Both the newcomers had done above average work. All the other actors, like Om Puri, Art Malik and Anuj Chaudhary are good in their respective roles. Some dancers are there, and they keep coming to the screen to tell a pain in a folk-dance form. These little elements make this film a worthy watch.

Otherwise, as far as story is concern, the question of broken arrows is good, but what else we want from the tale? Despite the fact that the team of Mirzya had not enough material to present, the team experiments and develops new things. In these new things, the major one is Indian Cultural Music.

Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy & Daler Mehndi have given the music as well as background score. Gulzar has written lyrics in the form of poetry. Every single song with its meaningful words stays with you in your heart if you are able to listen it. If not, than just O Mirzyaa in the voice of Daler Paaji can able to melt your inner anger and you'll find yourself in some unknown moment which delivers only peace. Title track and Teen Gawah are five out of five songs. Every single bit of these songs are my obsession. I can't describe what I feel when I listen these songs, but for me it's wonderful experience.

Hitchki, Hota Hai, Nadi, Chakora - all these songs deserve awards. No Indian movie has given this type of pure Indian music. And I'm not talking about only this year, I don't remember when did last time I hear these type of purity in Indian movie music. Hat's off! Now, let's talk about Cinematography by Pawel Dyllus. I can imagine whatever Mirzya film shows in Rajasthan. Though, that is superb, but let me be frank. I can imagine this type of cinematography. But... One thing is beyond my imagination, and that is the part of Ladakh. I can't imagine how difficult it was to shoot in Ladakh on such a large level. Like with the usage of 20 horses and 30 people, running here and there, and the little drops of water which move in slow motion with shining. Every single picture or shot is 100% perfect or even above that in the part of Ladakh.

Director Rakesh Omprakash Mehra had given films like Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. These films got successful. But, Delhi-6 and Aks didn't. Mirzya will go in the second category. Box office collection will not be high as M.S. Dhoni is running nicely. And mix review of these movie will not get more people after weekend. The things will be remembered, are the visuals, the unusual film-making, the cultural music with great lyrics, the beauty of Ladakh & the answer of those broken arrows.

Some people don't make films for money, or to be famous, they just make what they want to. I salute to Rakesh and his visions. Film will remain in my heart forever like one line of the title track speaks, 'Marta nahi hai Ishq O Mirza, Sadiyon Saahiban rahti hai'!

Dare to love. Dare to be desirable. Dare to be like Rakesh. Dare to think and develop. Dare to do for self. Dare to be unusual.