Mumbai Diaries

The movie was brilliant but for me the title was misleading...this movie was not about people from "dhobi ghat" and it is neither trying to show the dark side of mumbai city. It showed that it doesn't matter whether you are a dhobi or a billionaire .... EVERYONE LIVES THEIR LIFE IN A QUIET DESPERATION... Depressing but presented very neatly... This movie definitely different than the usual Bollywood movies and the way it is presented I'm sure many won't like it... Brilliant story line, Superb cinematography, Good casting and the best part is that its short and to the point; although Amir khan's character was weak compared to the other characters. In short, It is a must watch movie for SELECTED AUDIENCES only.

In the beginning, I should point it out> This is not a conventional film...neither it is an art house film of sorts. The kind of filmmaking is strictly in adherence to that of Rituparna Ghosh, Aparna Sen... and bits of Satyajit Ray. It might appear as a loose comment but it might be the effect of all the years of Kiran Rao growing up in Kolkata.. or the Bengali director of Photography (Tushar Kanti Ray). The story was beautifully woven around 5 characters... distinct, separate yet strung together by solitude, the feeling of longing and for being longed for.. a feeling of unsettlement. If I am not wrong, this film is the film just next to Slumdog millionaire that roves through back and sideways the city of mumbai.. but this fifth character of the film - is depicted in its true senses, colours and hues... the grey and the golden shades of the city, the spirit of never dying... the feeling of the ever shifting sands of the time, and people longing for some anchorage. Shai, a banker, and an enthusiastic photographer meets Arun, painter at his exhibition. Arun hates to speak publicly. But not shy to admit of his follies and his discomfort of the night, the morning next. Shai, who tries to find the "unfinished" thing, between her and Arun.. While Arun drowns himself in the video letters of Yasmin to her brother. Yasmin, in this city tries to find something as simple as happiness in the otherwise crumbling marital relationship only to find another lady in her husbands life...later to commit suicide in her residence at mumbai. But in her video letters to her brother, (that never gets posted) she shows her brother the vibrant city of mumbai, the beach... her neighbours.. and her littlest bit of happy moments in the city. But the bind of the story is Munna (Zohaib) - a dhobi, a rat killer and wanna be actor. He is simple, elegant, true... and has left his home at Bihar to come to mumbai to search for his bread. Underlying these character was another story of love.. of Munnas' for the uptown girl... and Shai silently acknowledging it with a secret tear at the end of the movie... both perhaps giving in to the social constraints.. Arun longing for his wife and his son... the endless love of a sister for her brother.. All at the backdrop of the ever dynamic Mumbai... or Bombay as many still uses it. Shady, secure.. mysterious with the grey touch. The lights reflects the mood and the endeavor of the film makers' to keep it fresh and vibrant and not monotonous. The music keeps the audience alive at certain times, a beautiful rendition of the Indian classical and fusion.. For me, this film deserves a 9/10. For those who feels can feel... this is a must watch.

Yes, it is a colossal disappointment, but let me add that the film is watchable in parts. I quite liked the performances of the two new female faces, no matter how far fetched the premise of a New York investment banker on sabbatical in Mumbai shooting photos with a research grant seemed to be. Moreover, the scenes of the Mumbai landscape often reminded me of my childhood and family visits back home (though I have nothing to do with Mumbai in the least). The problem though is that the film just plods along, truly like a diary (kudos for authenticity). So often with not much excitement in the story-telling. So what, you might argue, that's just like real life. True, but cinema is most engaging and exciting when it has a story to tell, not when it accompanies us through the banalities of life. Too much of Dhobi Ghat, especially the first 20 to 30 minutes, is just too boring. You're not even invested in the characters yet, and newcomer director Kiran Rao expects us to enjoy watching them stare or stand silent or just be, doing nothing, from the get go. Sorry, that's not the way it works for most viewers Ms Rao. I must also add that the whole self-video taping concept though brilliantly acted, was a million times better handled in last year's grossly under-rated Love Sex Aur Dhokha.

I love the movie DHOBI GHAT and I give 8 stars. Some people may be confused by it's story, but I suggest don't expect another 3idiots otherwise the movie is made for you. Every character is perfect in his/her role. The story is very realistic and anywhere it is not over-acted. The title of the movie is just perfect. The Dhobi boy (Prateek Bubber) who is not educated but feels the girl's (Monica Dogra) true love for the painter Arun (Aamir Khan). Other characters became silent at the end, just like the Old Silent Lady in the movie. But cinematography is much like a documentary film rather than a traditional movie, it could be improved and I will honestly give 10 stars.

Before you go on an read this, I would like to make it crystal clear that there is no doubt that I am a big Aamir Khan fan. I love the way he makes movies and puts life into it. He has this ability to show any ordinary story as a special one. We all are aware of this fact but according to me master faltered this time in Dhobi Ghat. I was disappointed to the core because when you go to watch a movie for which you have been waiting since past 2 months and you have put the theme music as your ring tone. Like a loyal patron of Mr. Khan I saw this one on Friday morning show. The movie is about 4 characters, all soaked in different situations. Arun ( Aamir Khan) is a high profile painter, stays aloof from people. He has been shown as a personality having problems to gel in with the social life and a complete loner. Arun meets Shai ( Monica Dogra) at a party. She is a pampered child of a NRI who owns Edulja Builders. Shai is an investment banker in a multi national company and has come down to Mumbai for a break. She intends to see vivid shades of the city and wants to experience the life of Mumbai. Under the influence of alcohol Shai and Arun spend a night discussing their lives, and Shai fell for him. Arun tries to rectify his mistake by explaining Shai about his inability to mix in with the crowd. Munna is a Dhobi ( the movie revolves around him) who attends Shai as well as Arun. Shai has a thing for photography and keeps capturing different shades of Mumbai. She become friendly with Munna in no time, meanwhile Munna's urge to become a model arouses after he came to know Shai can make a portfolio for her, in return Shai takes a promise from Munna that he will show her around. Shai still stalks Arun along with some of her friends. Undoubtedly Munna falls for her, I loved the way his character has been portrayed. Calm, consolidated, loyal towards work. Munna soon realized that Shai like Arun and takes his time to gulp down this fact below his throat. Meanwhile Arun finds out some old tapes of Yasmin( Kriti Malhotra) who used to stay in the flat where he recently moved in. Yasmin who had just moved in to the city ( when the tapes were made) instantly fell in love with it. She has recorded all the places that she visited and misses her younger brother. Arun gets so involved into her tapes that he starts making paintings of whatever he perceived about her life from the tapes. The movie is more of a '' MUMBAI DARSHAN'' that shows various places around the city. At one point I thought the spark in the movie would come up and lift the standards, but unfortunately I was wrong. Very ordinary movie, with pathetic dialog delivery. Most of them are one liners. Don't give me that crap that this is how art movies are made. Come on, we all have seen art movies. Just by showing some strokes of paint, some old Mumbai streets and Munna's innocence you cant get away so easily with the movie. Kiran Rao, I can understand that you a have a celebrity , almost perfect, and a very successful husband, I really sympathize with you, but that doesn't give you the right to make a movie like this. The story makes no sense at all, the ending is abrupt and shortcomings are endless. Aamir Khan productions might have broken even, but people have certainly realized that this time the dish served tasted pathetic, just the garnishing looked tempting. I hope you don't allow your undeserving wife to direct any more so called art movies. The name is very apt. the movie has been pitied just like the clothes at Dhobi Ghat. If I wanted to see Mumbai's beautiful places I would have done that myself, we don't require a movie to show the same.

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) is director Kiran Rao's first foray into direction and by the looks of it Rao is a promising new director and has done a reasonably good job. Her first attempt has left me with high expectations from her in the future. Let's get the basics out first: Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) is an art-house movie in the tune of (and better than) Khan's previous home production, Taare Zameen Par (2007) minus the songs; and it is far better than any other Bollywood fare that has been dished out of late (I'm looking at you, Mr. Bhansali). The story revolves around four main characters: Arun (Aamir Khan) as a reclusive painter searching for the meaning of life and, in the process, the spirit of Mumbai for his next creation; Shai (an excellent Monica Dogra) as a part-time expatriate researcher, part-time best pal and part-time stalker; Yasmin (a minimal but outstanding Kriti Malhotra) the author of the aforementioned Mumbai diaries; and Zohaib / Munna (a wooden Prateik Babbar) as the titular Dhobi, or washer-man, looking for a break at film acting. Their individual stories develop and are inter-linked to each others in the vein of Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia and Paul Haggis' Crash. The film does have a few plot-holes and inconsistencies. Munna's character (Prateik Babbar) looks too good, and fashionable for a washer-man hailing from small-town Bihar; however credit needs to be given to Rao for giving this due thought in order to make Shai's attraction for him palatable for audiences. However, Prateik, as Munna, is self- conscious and not very comfortable in his role and the required naivety is not very convincing. Shai, on the other hand, seems empathetic towards Munna and a worldly-wise person; however her character flaws seem inconsistent. Her morning-after flying off the handle at the start of the film was not well thought through. Similarly it was inconsistent with her personality to then go to extensive lengths to subsequently stalk this person. Not much clarification has been provided for this, nor the reason why would she avoid him throughout the process, which runs nearly the entire length of the film. Similarly, there are one too many coincidental chance encounters which make Mumbai seem like a small town. However, inconsistencies apart, the film has its strengths. Rao has written a gripping story and screenplay which maintains our attention right up to the satisfactory conclusion. Gustavo Santaolalla has provided an excellent background score and Tushar Kanti Ray has shot Mumbai lovingly which will make expatriates of Mumbai origin very homesick. A good job has also been done with the hand-held camera. Aamir Khan's performance as the brooding artist is also very good. However, the film's biggest strength and the one thing that people should travel miles to see, are the video diaries maintained by Yasmin. Kriti Malhotra's stunning, sparse and emotionally involving performance lifts the movie much higher than the stories of unrequited love running for the bulk of the screen-time. Rao has excelled in these segments and this performance by Rao and Malhotra leave us excited in anticipation of their future work. So overall, the strengths of the film far outweigh it's weaknesses and this makes Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) highly recommended viewing.

My God what waste of people's time & money. This is not even a movie. Just a collection of short clips for four people's live. A desperate attempt to combine it into a single clip. I was really hoping to have a gr8 time this republic day, but it was all spoiled by this stupid excuse for a movie. Giving this a 2/10 for prateik. otherwise it would have been a MINUS score!! It was great idea to cast Monica doga, as she neutralizes the classy & royalty looks of Babbar nawab. Would NEVER watch another film by KIRAN RAO!!! Will love Aamir forever, though..

Some people live in loneliness then sometimes their loneliness give them a reason to live.and curiosity of people led to think them about world.same thing has happened with characters of movie "DHOBI GHAT".Where Arun(Amir Khan) lives alone and his loneliness makes him differ and Munna(Prateik Babbar)is low class personality and ambitious youth who wants to be an actor.And third character Shai(Monica Dogra)is an investment banker and a curious girl who is working in a project and wants to know about people and their life.And fourth last character is Yasmin(Kirti Malhotra) who is new comer house wife in Mumbai.Film interact with Mumbai's low class living schedule with help of Shai's curiosity of interacting with people and Yasmin's traveling nature.Film is independent of each character of movie.that's only weak field of movie however it's a parallel movie.And one thing noticeable about movie is "excellent writing of Mumbai diaries". "Prateik Babbar" has done excellent work in movie and Amir performance is well as he always.After-all it's a good movie.And well job by director "Kiran Rao".

Never has there been a more beautiful depiction of Mumbai. The last time I felt someone did justice in describing this unusual city was while reading the book 'Shantaram'. I feel bad for Kiran Rao, the director, because I have no idea just how she can ever top this. The story revolves around four wonderfully intriguing characters, and not for one moment, is your mind distracted with the usual questions of what time it is, who's holding the popcorn or why the hell is it so damn cold in the theatre. Prateik is amazing, Kirti is endearing, Monica is inspiring, and Aamir is simply Aamir. I will watch this movie a few times over, if only to make sure I haven't missed out on anything, especially the subtleties of each relationship. What more can I say? 10/10 is simply not enough.

This movie should be stopped from screening at all theaters!! It puts on a really bad image of film industry. A director who starts her career in 2001 in lagaan and then works until 2004 in various others, takes a 3 year gap (;) dunno what happens in this time) and boom comes up in taare zameen pe, jaane tu ya jaane na, peepli live.. and now tries something of her own. I am really sorry for that guy, i know how 'used' he feels. Leaving his ex-wife and putting in line a nice career for this lady!!! The Movie directly goes to the trash bin!!! However, the Babbar kid is great. Other casting is horrible. The side heroine, Monica... omg! i thought she was playing some prostitute or escort, due to her 'kaamwali bai' looks. Please, guys make good movies.!!