The Dirty Picture

Inspired by the life of the late Silk Smitha, an actress noted for her erotic roles, 'The Dirty Picture' is decent biopic on the late sex-symbol. The main reason why this biopic works, is because of the On-Screen Silk, played terrificly by Vidya Balan. She stands out!

'The Dirty Picture' is a tale of pain, desire, ambition, struggle, and darkness. It's about Silk & her entire journey. It's a complete look at the rise & fall on the late south-siren.

Cinematically, 'The Dirty Picture' is a decent effort, that has enough potential to earn itself a viewing. Of course, the Second-Hour could've been better, but otherwise, there is no major flaw in here to point out. Rajat Aroraa's Screenplay is generally good, but it definitely could've been stronger in the Second-Hour. A special mention for the superb dialogues. Milan Luthria's Direction is passable. Cinematography, Editng & Art Design, are mention-worthy. Music by Vishal-Shekhar, is good

Performance-Wise: Vidya stands out from Scene A to Z. She delivers a terrific performance as Silk. This is Her Bravest & Best Performance to date. Emraan Hashmi is first-rate. Naseeruddin Shah is his usual self, while Tusshar Kapoor deserved more footage. Rajesh Sharma & Anju Mahendru are simply fantastic in supporting roles.

On the whole, 'The Dirty Picture' is a decent effort. Watch it for Vidya's Performance!

Great first half! So so Second half! Typical Milan Luthria movie, 80s setting, 80s music, people don't speak normally but in couplets. Vidya Balan outstanding, others mediocre. Naseeruddin Shah looks ugly but that's what the movie demands from him. The movie starts well with a young girl who is fascinated by movies and glamor. She runs away from her move a day before she is getting married. Turns up in Madras and tries to get to act in movies. She stands in queue for junior artists outside studios without luck. Then one day she gets a chance to finally do a song which no one else is willing to. And from there her career looks like taking off. But a minor setback almost forces her to go back. But not to be and she becomes 'Silk'. Vidya Balan as silk has done great work and the movie is all about her. 3.5/5

This movie was extensively marketed and apart from the sleaze, also appeared to be a promising story and biography. The final output is quite disappointing.

The first half is enjoyable with Vidya Balan playing a "devil may care" character, some funny double meaning dialogues and sequences and general cheerfulness of the movie.

The second half is pathetic. The transition of Vidya from a successful star to a self-destructed wreck is not at all convincing and Balan fails to impress. The story is very patchy and disorderly. The end is specially an overkill with the bridal dress and the sleeping pills. The kind of character Vidya plays wouldn't act like a helpless and pitiable character of 1960s. I guess the only good thing about the second half is the attention paid to Vidya's makeup - the eye bags, clothes that suggest many extra pounds and the paunch.

As for the other aspects of the movie, Tusshar looks mentally retarded as usual. He should probably only play mentally challenged characters as he wouldn't need to act much and would fit right in. Whoever wrote the dialogues tried to hit a six off each delivery. He needs to understand that each dialogue can't and needn't be a punchline. Emraan Hashmi should specifically get someone to write dialogues for him that are not always senseless metaphors.

Overall - 5/ 10 rating. Watch the first half for some lighthearted fun and a few laughs. Don't bother with the second half.

It is very rare when a director justify vulgarity and in that particular movie. Director Milan Luthria crafted it very intelligently. I hope most of the people will go for sex oriented movie but I bet they will go again for a fine movie. The speech of Vidya at Award Ceremony Scene was the peak of the movie and real subject. A female actress dominate in a movie with 03 main heroes with a big name Naseeruddin Shah, popular one Emran Hashmi. Vidya handle all exposing material with a grace and style and i think from that movie she will have her new Identity O Lala. Perhaps this is not the first time which depict the behind the scene of film industry but this time it is really fascinating that there is no casting couch type material and struggle is very correct. Go and watch once on this review and you will go again on you own.

Just before the opening credits, a disclaimer stating that the film is completely fictitious and that resemblance to anyone living or dead is coincidental. Really? So this isn't based on the life and death of Silk Smitha? Is it really a coincident that the lead character is called Silk? Anyway, after seeing the preview, I expected this to be a sleazefest using the late Silk Smitha's tragic story as a marketing tool.

However, I was wrong. I don't know how accurately it depicts Silk's life (as not much is known about her personal life) but it does tell a humane story about a woman who aspired to be a star and fearlessly made it to the top even though she was considered to be 'cheap, trashy, dirty, shameless' and what not, basically everything that 'go against the values of a typical Indian woman'. The writing is surprisingly good. Dialogues are witty and funny.

This is perhaps Luthria's best film to date. I had found his previous film 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai' to be pretty boring and the less said about his other films the better. But, 'The Dirty Picture' proves that the director does have what it takes.

The art direction is superb. The 80's milieu is captured superbly. The songs also bring about that 80's essence and are situated properly. I only thought the 'Ishq Sufiana' song should have been left out as it's misplaced and frankly, there's no place for it in the film.

I had initially thought that Balan was an odd choice for the role. But, Vidya Balan is at her sexiest. Yes, she's put on some weight for the part but so what! She definitely beats these Priyankas and Katrinas. Balan has really matured as an actress and she appears completely comfortable under the skin of her character. Her brave and uninhibited performance is spontaneous, natural, and transcendent. Her depiction of ambition, sensuality, loneliness and despair is spot on. This, along with her role in 'Ishqiya' showcase her talent as an actress and they are among the best performances seen in recent Hindi cinema.

Naseeruddin Shah is excellent as a spoof of those aging actors who were still considered big stars in the 80s and paired up with actresses less than half their age while playing sons to former female leads (yes this includes the likes of the Amitabh Bachchans, Rajesh Khannas, Dharmendras and Feroz Khans). Emraan Haashmi springs a surprise and actually delivers a convincing performance. Tushar Kapoor is quite annoying but less so than in his other flicks. The supporting cast is good.

As mentioned earlier, I'm not sure how much of it is accurately depicts the real story of the late South Indian actress but in some ways it shows her respect by portraying her as a human being who had stengths and weaknesses and just wanted to be loved rather than as a promiscuous shameless slag (as many liked to call her) who just about slept around with anyone. At the same time, it also depicts her as a woman who gave in to the casting couch which I doubt was something the real Silk Smitha did to make it big. Anyway, a standing ovation to Ms. Balan for giving another career best.