Manjhi: The Mountain Man

"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" takes you through the painful journey of a so-called low caste Bihari who takes on a mountain to avenge his wife's death.

Story: Based on a true story, the movie depicts how, the determined Dashrath Manjhi carved out a road through a mountain using only hammer and chisel in spite of all the bashing received from the fellow villagers (including his father), conspiracies by the village head to stop him and fake promises by the government. In the backdrop, the movie spends some significant time in the build up of the entire story, which is the life of Dashrath Manjhi before the incident - introducing the audience to the rampant and barbaric view of caste based discrimination in Bihar during 50s and 60s, which is prevalent to some extent even today, not just in Bihar but across India. The story is extremely well written and thoroughly researched. It is a story that deserved to be told to the entire country.

Acting: Apart from Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the movie doesn't boast of any big names. However, with the support cast of NSD stars - (late) Ashraf Ul Haq and Pankaj Tripathi - and the promising Radhika Apte, acting is one of the strongest departments of the movie. Their hard work behind projecting the characters is evident and the Bihari accent never sounds taught. The dialog delivery is impeccable and does great justice to the writer who wrote them. Some of the dialogs are very profound and will keep you pondering over it. A special mention for Radhika Apte who has rose like a phoenix through some of her recent performances in short movies - That Day After Every Day and Ahalya - and upped the benchmark in Manjhi, complementing and competing with Nawazuddin, in terms of acting.

Direction: Ketan Mehta has done a stupendous job in terms of ensuring the movie doesn't lose momentum at any point of time. The flow of the story moves back and forth between the years before his wife's death and after the death. But never, for once, it loses audience attention - full marks to the editing team for that. Some of the scenes are a complete surprise in terms of conceptualization and executed to perfection. His depiction of the socio-political scenario in Gehlaur during 50s and 60s through various incidents that Dashrath Manjhi and his wife encounter shows the depth of research that has went before shooting the movie. Some of the scenes are gruesome (even though a reality at that time) and makes you cringe. At one point of time, it reminded me of Prisoners which had a similar aura.

The Mountain: I would also add the "mountain" to the list of characters as the movie also portrays how its relationship with protagonist evolves over a period of time. Although the movie celebrates the victory of a man over a mountain, it also portrays Manjhi's relationship with the mountain and its evolution from his childhood till he carves out the road through it.

Overall: Overall, the movie is a must watch. It shows what strong determination can achieve against all odds.

Expect no grandeur and very un-Bollywood-like. The plot of the movie unfolds quite slowly like a classic movie should be, building up gradually in the first half and then you are so engrossed into the movie, that you hardly realize how quickly the second half passed by. Nawazuddin Siddiqui could have been the only actor at of today who could do justice to this role. Ketan Mehta has made sure that the real touch in this movie sticks as close to the actual incidences and he has succeeded thoroughly. Many filmmakers attempt to use or portray the themes from this part of India (like Amir Khan's PK or Salman Khan's Dabang). One can easily find that genuineness of Bihari culture is so hollow that it brings down the impact of the movie, rather than uplift it. The way all the actors have delivered their dialogues or put on their costumes is phenomenal. Siddiqui's performance is a stand-out and without doubt, it'll a benchmark in Bollywood, IMHO. Craziness of Manjhi is a legacy for Indians and Siddiquit has succeeded in bringing that out on the silver screen.

It is a real story around on Dashrat Ram Manjhi who goes to extreme level of love after death of his wife by slipping from mountain . Then he decide to cut the mountain which leads him to many difficulties but he stays along with his promise.

Story of movie is exceptional, Nawazudin siddique and co star really worked tremendously they are "superstars" but i found that director can do much better to get audience inspire and cry harder .

Some dialogues are heart warming and really touch your heart. You will feel love and motivation in deep your heart.

I am definitely going to watch it "Again" . Rip Manjhi

The guy has done a great job in portraying a character no other actor (or I should rather say, STAR) in the industry could ever have done. Him an Radhika Apte are becoming my favorite actors the more I see of them.

Navazuddin brings Dashrath back to life, and what a life I must say. Thoroughly inspiring... Never have I seen such characterization and casting in any movies of recent times. Hats off to the direction and cinematographer for such a wonderful job they have done. 10 out of 10. What more could I say? Go watch it yourself..

PS: You would love every inch of the Mountain and every act of the Man.

A truly awe-inspiring tale of a man's iron-will. The humble, vulnerable and impoverished character of Dashrat Manjhi's epic portrayal by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. A tragic love story which is woven into the fabric of poverty, evils of caste system and political brinkmanship. It keeps the audiences gripped with good comedy, action, thrills, romance. adventure, horror, fantasy and historic Biopic. Well edited no prolonged cut scenes, or unnecessary songs. Evolves into a streamlined fast paced bitter sweet movie for all to watch. There is no task bigger than breaking a mountain, so if he can so can you !!! The message is clear .... In-spite of the struggles, a man's vision to foresee a future when others disowned him shunned him as insane. Still achieves his lifetime of work in a monumental story of struggle although not beautiful, or carved out of marble like the "Taj Mahal", his work should be honoured and declared a wonder of this world. Its a classic. Rush to the cinemas near to u not for enjoying 2 hours of good show, but to learn and change your life from his.