Warning – Spoiler Alert !
I would rate this movie to be one of the most poetic films ever to be made in India. This movie will either captivate you or bore you till you are ready to walk up the wall. It takes some kind of an earlier experience with international cinema in order to palate this dish.
The interweaving stories in the film are pretty much straightforward. There were not many people with whom I could interact and discuss this brilliant film. However, of those I met, some mentioned that they were intrigued but the Old lady, who also happened to be Amir Khan’s neighbor. Here is my take.
The Old Lady is old, fat, and silent. She only gazes out of her door. She does not respond and neither does she make any effort to communicate.
Dhobi Ghat is a movie replete with symbolism and there is no reason to believe that the Old Lady does not symbolize anything. Well, I feel, the Old Lady symbolizes Mumbai.
Mumbai is Mumbai. It does not care whether you are happy, sad, good, bad or ugly. Mumbai is what it is. Some people in Mumbai are happy and on a roll. Many in Mumbai are sad and gloomy. Mumbai does not care what it is. Some reach Mumbai and make money while there are others who lose a fortune there. Mumbai is detached, impersonal and cold. This is the reason why we don’t see the Old Lady bat an eyelid even when Amir Khan is tortured with the thought of what happened to the Muslim Girl.
Mumbai Diaries is world class cinema. Grab the DVD, in case you have still not seen this wonderful movie.
Copyright – Nitesh Kotecha
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