My Brother... Nikhil

'My Brother Nikhil' is that rarest of movies made in India: one that presents a serious story without judgment, describing the different manners in which people react to an unfamiliar crisis; all told simply, as most truths are.

A family at peace with itself - barring the usual conflicts that affect all of us - finds solace in distance and agony in nearness when their son contracts a virus. There is a dollop of melodrama when the sick son realises his new place in a social hierarchy with no space for victims of the virus. But then the movie finds its pace, subtly conveying a message through a haunting song and the son's exploration within himself.

When lives are depicted, this is how they should be. When stories are told, this is how they could be.

To draw an audience and gain access to distribution channels in India, the director selected an actress of considerable talent and fame. Her title role (she's the sister of the proud gay man Nikhil about whom the story revolves) no doubt adds mass-market appeal and human warmth to this film.

But it's the writing, directing, and pacing of this drama that pulls you in and never lets you go. There are many aspects of Indian culture touched upon, but the central story is universal. When you watch this film, every little nuance of dialog and on-screen action will immediately resonate with some important person or event from your own life.

It's exceedingly rare to find a screenplay that can accomplish so much in 120 minutes (a pleasant not-too-long length given some of the 3-hour Bollywood fare out there). The director keeps the focus on one four-letter word throughout: LOVE. The family values shown in this film should be seen and felt by everyone.

When I walked into the screening here in Boston, I expected something a lot lighter. Instead I got the AIDS drama of a lifetime, it really blew me away. AIDS has never been among my favorite film topics; there are too many me-too melodramas and preachy films with cardboard characters out there. Be prepared to shed a few tears, not just of sadness but of pure joy at seeing people caring for one another in the way we all want to be loved.

A young doctoral student from China wandered into today's screening by accident, and struck up a conversation to ask me what to expect. He opted to sit through the film instead of touring the art museum. Afterward I asked him if he was glad he saw it. He said no, he's seen a lot of cases (of AIDS-related ostracism) like this in his homeland: it must have been hard for him to watch. But I'll bet he'll remember this story years from now, as I surely will.

This is a thinking and caring person's drama. Don't miss it!

MY BROTHER NIKHIL ***1/2 out of 4 Stars

Is it another Philadelphia? No. Another AIDS awareness movie? No. Another offbeat movie? No, I wouldn't call it that. A must watch? Yes.

Sanjay Suri plays a character called Nikhil who is a State swimming champ and has a loving sister played by Juhi Chawla. I love Juhi. She acts marvelously and also uses her presence as a refreshing treat for your eyes. Victor Banerjee and Lilette Dubey also shine in their roles and even Purab Kohli delivers. Sanjay Suri plays his character, as it should be. Very well made and this film also boasts off a wonderful screenplay which is the highlight of the film (apart from the performances).

Just the kind of AIDS movie we needed. But you can see some shades of Philadelphia which are ignorable because of the brilliance of the film. And there are some flaws which make you go ''Did they have the knowledge of all this in 1994?" which are again ignorable just like the ones in 'Black' but it has one thing in common with Black that it is one of the best films of the year. It is a tear-jerker but does not dwindle with this genre for long a la K3G. Despite its flaws, it was indeed a great film.

And to top it all, it has an amazing amazing song called 'Le Chalein' which is interwoven in the film and adds to quality of the film. Awesome song!

After Phir Milenge comes another touching film that sheds light on one of India's most misunderstood problems, AIDS. It is a pity that in the 21st century, AIDS is still thought of as a homosexual disease. I was shocked to see that people think it is extremely contagious and that there are no effective laws to protect patients. I couldn't believe that they're literally treated like dogs. Throughout the movie, I kept on wondering how the protagonist contracted the disease. I realized afterwords that the cause isn't revealed for a reason. People always assume how an AIDS patient contracted HIV, and they have no right to assume the cause and accuse the person for it. They are human beings and have an equal right to life. This movie also sheds some light on the extremely misunderstood gay relationship. Juhi Chawla does a wonderful job as does Sanjay Suri. However, I liked Phir Milenge more. It is much more positive and upbeat. MBN is rather depressing.

Watching My Brother Nikhil truly brings out what exists in society against people who are different. Its a bold step taken by Onir to present this story and its presented so beautifully by all. All the actors, Victor Banerjee, Juhi, Lillyte, Purab, Sanjay, Diya are powerful actors and they brought each character to real life. Dailogues, emotions, cinematography, screenplay all come together beautifully to make this into a master piece.