Piku

Piku is one gem of a movie - a film that is as realistic as it is charming, as beautiful as it is brilliantly humorous. Soojit Sircar's able directorial efforts on Juhi Chaturvedi's excellent script turn it into an ineffable film experience. With its quirky and eccentric characters, the film adopts a persistent sense of everyday realism which makes the overall product consistently engaging, funny, moving and fascinating. Piku is comic and dramatic in equal parts, but more than its substance, it is a true visual treat. What starts as a nice domestic picture concentrating on the routine of its lead players in what is clearly reminiscent of the old Hrishikesh Mukherjee classics, it takes a turn of events to become an eminently watchable and breathtakingly shot road movie. It never drags for one minute, often making you wish it wouldn't end as quickly as it eventually did.

The film presents one of the most authentic and credible father-daughter relationships ever recorded on film. In so doing, it celebrates values of children looking after their aging parents, values which certainly prevail in a country like India and which gradually disappear from the common consciousness of the current youth. The main character Piku's responsibility towards her ailing father, her patience towards his annoying habits and oversmart nature, is captured with terrific detail, and not for a moment does it veer into cliche. Her almost maternal care of him is never portrayed with overdone sentimentality, sweet talk, or much physical interaction. Her love is selfless and unconditional, and it's proven in actions rather than words. In that respect it reminds one of Mrinal Sen's classic Khandhar, where Shabana Azmi took care of her bedridden mother.

The soulful delivery could not have been possible without the acting, and Piku, both the film and the character, reveals Deepika Padukone as an actor who, at her best, has the rare ability to grasp the complex realities of the human condition. Easily irritable, no-nonsense, always under the pressure of her struggle, she is fully in sync with her character, capturing the flawed nature of Piku with tremendous subtlety. Hers is a portrait of true selflessness and strength. At the same time, Amitabh Bachchan offers a poignant study of old age experience. His mastery of the essence and meaning of growing old and of this ultra-annoying yet touchingly endearing man is phenomenal in a performance that is remarkably well-detailed, nuanced and naturalistic. To think that this towering star-actor would ever approach his parts with the sensibility of character actors is a treasure to behold.

These two work wonderfully opposite each other, but the rest of the cast are all brilliant living their parts. Obviously Irfan's quiet, effortless charisma is undeniable, and his performance vies for top honours despite perhaps being given the status of a supporting actor here. He is dependable all through, and this touch of mystery where you never know what exactly this guy is thinking is as great as ever. In a small part with almost no lines, but being present in almost every scene, Avijit Dutt is reliably good. Yesteryear star Moushumi Chatterjee is also very good in a role that would certainly remind you of some woman you know. But Piku has no stars, is a film which conveys simple and meaningful messages, and it does so through pure entertainment. The constipation part is a recurring comic motif here, but the reinforcement of the divine duty to honour one's parents is stronger.

Shoojit Sircar is one such director who comes up with a sensitive topic and the end result is always beyond the viewer expectation. After directing gems like Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe, the director has added another gem to his filmography. The director has been able to showcase a complex relation between a daughter and a senile father with ease.Sircar was also able to show the reality in a humorous manner. Perhaps Shoojit Sircar is the director who has the chance of taking the vacant throne of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee, because like these director's Sircar is also able to show such sensitive topics in visual in the mold of these director's. Coming to the performance Deepika Padukone in this film has overshadowed her veteran peers in terms of acting and which she was able to carry out with ease. Irfan khan portrayal was realistic and showed how he was jumbling with his family and business life. Amitabh Bachchan portrayal as a senile and medically ill father was great and considering his character's age, his ideas and thoughts were quite funny and party progressive as well. Meanwhile supporting actors like Jisshu Sengupta, Raghuvir yadav, Moushmi Chatterjee portrayal were quite effective.

Piku stands out to be one of the best films of the year and it will be interesting to watch Shoojit Sircar's further directorial and production ventures in future.

Innocent, honest, thoughtful, funny, that is what is ‪#Piku‬. The movie leaves you with a weird sense of responsibility, something we all know but don't want to accept Or have forgotten down the road. The movie will come across as a slow paced in some scenes but that is not really the case, it is just the building up of emotional connect that the scene needs with the audience. Even though the movie portrays a Bengali family, I am sure all families in India can relate to the struggles and laughters that this family goes through. All the actors are just so fine in their craft that you end up believing that you are watching someone's life and not a movie. Still thinking? Don't! Just go watch a movie where the acting is as real as it can get. In the end, if nothing works for you, then you'll at least learn a few tips on how to deal with constipation! :)

Shoojit Sircar's film strives for excellence in cinema focusing on human relationship, strong bonding between characters and acting style which approximates real life and is relatively free of contrivance and device. Piku was a nice dramady with mind blowing performance by Amitabh Bachchan , Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan who vehemently carried the film on their shoulder.

Piku tells the story of old-aged, suffering from constipation who travels with his daughter on a memorable road trip from Delhi to Calcutta to visit their ancestral home.

From critical acclaim films like Yahaan, Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe, Shoojit Sircar explores an untouched area which I guess no other Indian filmmaker has attempted before and gives a heart-warming and sweet father-daughter relationship which is sure to be enriched in your memory after you leave theater. The tagline " Motion se hi Emotion" makes sense here as the entire movie talks about the constipation, bowel movement and even the color of the poop which Sircar does succeeds to bring humor without making it look bad. The scene where Irrfan Khan describes the benefit of Indian toilets over the Western one will certainly bring down the house, the constant nagging between father and daughter over the bowel movement is not dragging and will keep you entertained. The script written by Juhi Chaturvedi is refreshing and yet convincing. Art direction is magnificent capturing the essence of Delhi and Calcutta. Cinematography is stunning, capturing the beauty of India's highway all the way from Delhi to Banaras to Calcutta. Dialogues are funny. Music is tuneful which gels well with the mood of the film. Coming to performances, the film completely belongs to Amitabh, Deepika and Irrfan. Amitabh Bacchan once again proves his versatility. Deepika Padukone surprises with her simple and yet so powerful role. She is natural and makes her acting so easy as it is a cup of tea for her. Irrfan Khan is just perfect fit for his role. The actor is outstanding and you love him for that. On the flip side, the ending could have been bit more convincing and impacting.

Piku promises and delivers what it was shown in the trailer – Brilliant. I am happy with the way Bollywood directors are doing things differently and thinking out of the box. This one is sure to keep you entertained. Excellent 4.5/5

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Wow...! I expect this level of expression from Bollywood. In the midst of nonsense and illogical movies, comes a piece of powerful and sentimental love,emotion and drama. It is based on a Father - Daughter relationship which people may call weird but, in fact it is depiction of situations of all old and sick parents in the world, specially India. Why should u watch it ? Because Bachchan Sir has given us a memorable and subjective touch through his acting as Piku's father. It shows how a daughter never forgets her duties even when his father irritates her by impulsive and relentless behavior. It shows how a man accepts death happily. It shows love is not a treaty. It takes us to a life changing journey from Delhi to Calcutta by road ! Just exchange of thoughts and love sprouts from strangest of places with strangest of people no matter what are the circumstances. Irfan is as expected, Deepika fits to the role, Amitabh sir is unforgettable.