Khamoshi: The Musical

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, previously associate director to the talented Vinod Chopra, makes his directorial debut with a sensationaly complex piece of work. The film faired moderately at the box office and one wonders why?? This is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of commercial entertainment merging with what is referred to in India as "Art Cinema." Yes, the film is an out and out musical, but never do the songs hamper the narrative even once. Bhansali's ability to weave the songs in order to progress the narrative was also wonderfully displayed in his film "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam."

One would wonder how it is possible to leave two characters who are both deaf and unable to speak, to develop themselves on their own. But Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas (Bandit Queen) have given their most impressive and sincere performances yet. Manisha as the girl stuck between her love for music and her love for her parents portrays the multiple complexities of the character very effectively. Salman Khan does his usual satisfactory job as the lover boy. However, the real winner of the film is the script also written by Bhansali himself.

The story is simply wonderful, and as is characteristic of Bhansali, instead of making the story complex, he makes his characters complex. To watch Patekar and Biswas play their roles is simply a lesson in acting. The cinematography by Anil Mehta is simply brilliant, effectively creating the carnival like atmosphere of GOA along with a noir-ish feel that compliments the dark complexity of the characters.

And alas - the music. Jatin and Lalit who have tended to focus on very Indian sounds in their previous works have somehow managed to fuse in the feel of Portuguese folk sounds into their very Indian tunes - characteristic of the entire feel of Goa. The lyrics are well thought out and simple to progress the narrative. Bhansali's grip over his subject is impeccable and he displays his mastery in the art of mainstream Indian filmmaking to the fullest. This is a man to watch out for in the future.

Overall, this movie is simply not to be missed. Sure, it has its minor flaws here and there but when one looks at the wonderful feel it creates for the viewer, all flaws can be overlooked. What sets this film apart from the usual churns is that the film actually has a STORY. It actually has CHARACTERS rather than just STARS and celebrities in it. It packs in a lot of meat. This is how entertainment and art should be blended. It is good to see yet another filmmaker joining the band of contemporary directors like Mani Ratnam, Shekar Kapur, Ramgopal Varma and Mahesh Bhatt who have succeeded in their quest to erase that line separating commerical and "Art" cinema.

Definitely Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first and finest, Khamoshi relates the story of a deaf couple and their relationship with their caring and loving daughter, Annie who is not deaf and whose greatest love is music. The film involves many conflicts resulting from this difference between Annie and her parents and her relationship with a young musician. The film's strength lies in the marvelous script, the exceptional performances, and the paradox of deaf parents whose daughter aspires to become a singer. Bhansali's direction is outstanding and evidently perfectionist; he pays attention to the smallest of details, he knows how and when to excite. This is one of the greatest first-time works by a director.

The dialogues are brilliant, the proceedings are unexpected and serious, the depiction is simple and realistic, and the narrative style is very good as well. Bhansali's way of portraying relationships is very impressive, whether it's Annie's relationship with her parents or her beloved Raj, whether it's her dad Joseph's relationship with her mom Flavy, or her family's relationships with close friends and neighbours like Marry and Willie. The film is filled with many great moments, many heart-breaking and many heart-warming sequences. It has romance, drama and even comedy, and most importantly, it has music. And what a music it is. Every song is pure magic and is effectively pictured on-screen. "Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hai" is beautiful and touching, "Aaj Main Upar" is energetic and is wonderfully sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, and other songs, including the melancholic "Bahon Ke Darmiyan", are equally memorable. The background score is another integral aspect of the film's mood.

Bhansali extracts some of the best performances from each and every actor of the unit. The film belongs to Manisha who is astonishing and intense in one of the finest performances we've seen in mainstream Hindi cinema. She carries every scene brilliantly and acts with great conviction. Striking a balance between restraint and temperamental emotion, she delicately lets us sense the struggle, the confusion, the pain and the suffering of a girl who is torn between her love for her parents and her love for music. One must note her breakdown when she is thrown off home by her father and starts a long monologue behind the door, screaming and using sign language, while her father can neither see nor hear her. I could really feel her pain and anger. It was sincere, heart-breaking and powerful.

Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas offer a credible chemistry. They really look like a loving married couple who go through the bad and the good just as it comes. Patekar is, once again, simply astounding as the proud, decisive, happy, kind-hearted and loving Joseph. Damn what a performance, so natural and real, and so well infused with sensibility, honesty and humour. Biswas is nothing short of spectacular in this role. Her acting is superb, and she gives an excellently balanced, compelling and moving portrayal of a woman who suffers from her handicaps but still loves life. Salman Khan plays his relatively small yet significant part with sincerity and spontaneity and lends some comic relief with his feel-good character and strong screen presence. Helen is splendid as the lovely and frank Marry, admirably managing to make a remarkable impact with only a few brief scenes. Raghuvir Yadav provides great support as Willie. The girl who plays the young Annie is adorable, and boy does she resemble Manisha (another proof to Bhansali's exemplary craft).

All in all, Khamoshi: The Musical is a must-watch. Made with simplicity, graciousness and artistry, it does not go overboard and does not try to overdo or misuse its sensitive subject, and that's the reason it is so touching, powerful and poignant. The film flows very well though it may not appeal to everyone as it's a bit dark and too cruel in some portions, but it will definitely be appreciated for its brilliance and remarkable emotions even by those who perceive it to be overly serious. I personally find it beautiful, crafted, optimistic, entertaining and unforgettable. A real gem.

This is a beautiful film. But you have to watch it with an open mind and willingness to grasp whatever and wherever the story takes you. Its the story of a deaf and mute couple who give birth to girl who can listen n speak and later to a boy whose normal too. Its a progression of their story. But yeah this movie isn't for your normal Joe's who just want commercial entertainment as the narrative is slow to build. I can say its a film of emotions. Metaphorically and otherwise, as the couple's disability makes them converse through emotions. Its the type of film either you fell in love with, or you switch it off after 20mins or so. I belong to the former as this movie is so close to my heart as a film and also coz it gives me that nostalgic feeling of childhood as I was very young when it came. 'Aankhon mein kya, is dil se poocho zara'

Kahmoshi The Musical, is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first directorial venture - a sensitive, introspective film about a deaf mute Catholic couple living in Goa. The world of Joseph (Nana Patekar) and Flavy (Seema Biswas) is a silent one and into this world in born their first child Annie (Manisha) who can speak and hear & loves music. She is trained in music by her grandmother Maria (Helen) but the family is so poor they have to sell many cherished belongings including their piano. Annie's younger brother dies tragically leaving the family stunned and music is banished from their lives. Into Annie's world walks in the dashing Raj (Salman Khan) a budding musician. Raj falls for Annie and wants her to sing his songs. Annie's father hates Raj - the usual confrontations, despair follow. Annie's meeting up with Raj is followed by a catastrophe and we wait for the outcome while the story is told to us in flashback.

The musical is naturally full of music - some of it is hauntingly beautiful - songs like Bahon ke Darmiyan, Jaana suno hum tumpe marte hain, Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hai and extremely touching in the film. But there is just too much music. After about an hour I was cowering at the thought of yet another number as the hero and heroine would run up and down the steps of the lighthouse. Some songs are just fillers and do not add to or move the story forward in any way. With some crisp editing, and a few fewer songs, Khamoshi would have clocked at 2 hours and been a perfect film. The marriage of music and the serious content of the material also jarred at times.

The acting: Manisha steals the show utterly and absolutely. Is there anything she cannot do? Her break down when her father throws her out of the house is a virtuoso performance. Salman is the best he will ever be, handsome, no overt gimmicky moves or gestures, just plain and simple acting - after seeing Khamoshi I can see what people saw in Salman. But even Mr. Bhansali could not keep his restrained for ever and we got Samir in HDDCS! Nana Patekar was okay - actually he was the biggest disappointment - his acting was sort of repetitive and he did not age at all in the span of 20 years showed in the film. Seema Biswas was awesome - seeing her I felt all the anguish and pain a mute person would feel at their inability to communicate. She blew me away as the film opened and she put her ear to the big speaker and "felt" the music. Helen was excellent - a great role for her too - one of her better ones where she was required to act. The little girl who played the young Annie was amazing.

The story is simple yet very effective, the direction is deft but Bhansali shows his self indulgence even in this minimal film. There is a monologue by Nana Patekar (being 'translated' by Salman) that tell us the whole story all over again - is it necessary? But overall this is an excellent directorial debut and a movie worth watching. Be warned that this is serious fare and will require patience.

This film is a true masterpiece. Though it may seem slow-paced at first, especially for our fast-paced times, it profoundly touched my heart. It goes beyond just entertainment; the performances of these remarkable actors speak directly to the soul.

Nana Patekar's portrayal is extraordinary, immersing himself so completely in the role that his expressions alone convey deep emotion. Manisha Koirala is equally impressive, bringing her character to life with grace and emotional depth. While I may not rewatch this film often due to my selective taste, its one-time magic and lasting impact make it a genuine work of art.