I Want to Talk

Shoojit Sircar once again concocts a beautifully moving drama with Abhishek Bachchan delivering one of his finest performances to date. The film takes a short while to draw you into its dramatic, often humourous, occasionally guilt-ridden, frequently painful, surgery-filled universe. But once you're in, there's no turning back. The ride that Arjun Sen, the true-blue marketer takes you on, is poignant and hard-hitting. At its core, the film is a drama that's primarily told from Arjun's perspective, replete with interestingly philosophic, pun-filled voiceovers.

But the world that Arjun lives in, is full of equally fascinating characters. His daughter Reya (played by Ahilya Bamroo, with Pearle Dey playing the child version), Dr. Jayant (Jayant Kripalani), adorable nurse Nancy (Kristin Goddard), caretaker Johnny (Johnny Lever) all have key roles to play. They're all so well-written (Ritesh Shah's the screenwriter) and performed. Taba Chake's music is at once soothing and soul-stirring. DoP Avik Mukhopadhyay candidly captures Arjun's life, including his physical and mental transformations. Bachchan Jr gives it his all, in a superb performance that needs larger discussion.

I feel sad for Bollywood - they don't even want to appreciate some of their greatest storytellers. Can Shoojit Sircar come over to Malayalam and work with some of our finest? 2024 just wasn't the year for several content-driven filmmakers in Bollywood-Vasan Bala (wasn't a big fan of Jigra but still), Dibakar Banerjee (did not watch LSD 2), Shoojit Sircar (case in point), plus an honorable mention to Anurag Kashyap who has apparently decided to move on from Bollywood. The fault is on the larger Hindi-speaking audiences for not supporting them, especially in theatres.

The moment i got to know through an IG post that a movie by Shoojit Sarkar is in theatres, I impulsively decided to watch it. While I read the plot while waiting for the gates to open, I realised that none of my friend would have accompanied me to watch this stuff even if I had asked any of them. Not surprisingly, we were only 4 people in the whole theatre room and the movie started.

The build up of the movie is really intriguing and so perfectly slow that it gives ample room to associate and give your own perspective towards the character and his emotions. First half of the movie speeds up to the interval in no time. You are left with no clue with where the story is going to take you.

But the later half, could have been little more interesting. It may shoot thoughts back in your mind that what is the point of all this that is been shown. When you try to take some lesson out of the whole drama, you realise that its just a fantastic story of a man who have survived extraordinary situations.

Some of the one liners in the movie are the gems that are going to stay with you for few monents giving some extra thoughts. If i try to fit this movie in few words it is a story of persistence of a guy given 100 days to live and it explores the relationship between a patient & his doctor, patient & his nurse, divorced father & his daughter, survivor & the society.

In my opinion the movie is worth a watch as you won't find such movies often in theatres recently.

A universal uplifting story of a father and daughter pair facing unexpected life challenges, the struggle against all odds, the symbiotic passion for life, and finally, the victory of the indomitable human spirit.

Armed with an IIT degree from India, and an MBA from a top US school, dynamic and ruthless young Arjun Sen chases the American dream, while struggling as a single father. Hit by an unexpected potentially life-threatening illness, he fights death across decades on its own terms supported by his daughter portrayed well by Ahilya Bumroo.

Portrayed brilliantly by Abhishek Bachchan at his best who has matured as an actor (like wine) to portray the complex and brilliant real-life Arjun Sen. A story of and for everyone directed by the inimitable Award winning Shoojit Sorcar who has given us excellent heart-tugging movies like Piku, Pink, and Gulabo Sitabo.

Arjun, a man diagnosed with a terminal disease decides never to lose hope and goes against all odds to live an optimistic life.

Another human touch from Shoojit Sircar. This movie can reinvigorate our basic human instincts in this busy and competitive world. Even if we are stuck in the never-ending rat race or threatened by the darkness of our minds, even if our lives get limited, we can still make it no matter what. It is a very soft and touching movie experience that truly resonates.

Shoojit Sircar is really a movie mastermind. This movies are mostly unconventional and don't follow the mainstream cinema but still they feel like mainstream cinema. This choice of subject, his casting choice, and his style of filmmaking, everything shows how absurdly talented he is as a filmmaker. I really loved all of his films but, after watching this movie "I want to talk", it feels like this movie lies somewhere between "Piku" and "October" where "Piku" talks about love for family, "October" talks about affection and empathy for someone you know, "I want to talk" talks about love for yourself. I guess it is now an unofficial trilogy by Shoojit Sircar. "Piku", "October", and "I want to talk".

All of the actors nailed their roles. Abhishek Bachchan gave one of the best performances of his career so far. Ahilya Bamroo appeared for the first time on the big screen, but she still gave her best. Johnny Lever also gave such a brilliant performance, breaking the stereotype. I really hope he keeps on doing such different roles that are out of his comfort zone.

This movie is filled with so many messages such as the competitive corporate sector, the effects of separation on children and shortness of life. In every sense, this movie is going to help you a lot in becoming a better person.

When everyone is running towards making larger-than-life movies, a film like this comes as a breath of fresh air. This is a trademark Shoojit Sircar movie, and if you are a fan of his work, you're going to embrace this one with love too.

The story revolves around a divorced, middle-aged marketing professional who is diagnosed with cancer. His relentless will to survive and his dynamic relationship with his daughter are the core focus of this film.

Although the movie deals with a serious subject, its treatment is light-hearted and doesn't emotionally exhaust the audience. The characters are so endearing that you find yourself falling in love with each one of them. The camaraderie between the father and daughter is organically built, and their complex relationship is portrayed beautifully. Dialogues by Ritesh Shah are another highlight, adding a touch of humor and relatability to the narrative.

Abhishek Bachchan has literally breathed life into the character. He delivers an outstanding performance in this unique role, truly making it his own. Ahilya Bamroo (older version) as the daughter is equally remarkable, ensuring her performance stays with you long after the credits roll. The young girl who plays the younger version of the daughter also does a commendable job. Johny Lever's special appearance provides light chuckles, while the other supporting artists fit their roles perfectly too.

The background score and music blend seamlessly with the narrative, enhancing the film's emotional depth. If the movie reminds you of Piku, you're not alone-it carries a similar essence, though this one leans more towards serious storytelling with less comedy. The most beautiful part of the movie is its use of silence, which communicates more effectively than words. Shoojit Sircar's brilliance shines through as he refrains from spoon-feeding the audience, allowing viewers to interpret and connect with the story on their own.

Shoojit Sircar has done it again, and this is a work of art you shouldn't miss. With many English dialogues, the film might not appeal to the masses, but it will resonate brilliantly with urban audiences. Watch it right away.

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