Movie Review: Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Dairies) 2011

Director: Kiran Rao
Starring: Aamir Khan, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kirti Malhotra
Rating: ***
Watching a 95-minute- Dhobi Ghat -Mumbai diaries has a different and a fresh way of storytelling.  This film surely stands apart from our earlier films also because the narration of the characters has been showcased through different means. Like Yasmin’s life has been narrated over on the television set. The movie is about four unrelated characters, who come across each other after spending few days in the company of each other and later they slowly move onto their way of living.
The incidents that occur in the life span of these four characters surely keep the anxiety level of the on looker at a higher level.
Arun (Aamir Khan), a chain smoker and artist (painter), goes to bed with Shai (Monica Dogra), an NRI investment banker who wants to capture ‘poor India, hungry India’. Shai also gets close to Dhobi, Munna (Prateik Babbar) also invites him home for tea and then goes ahead to shoot his portfolio, as he wants to be an actor. While Shai is busy scanning the by-lanes of Mumbai with her camera, Arun gets en-tangled with his new muse, Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra), whose depressing story is filmed in abandoned tapes that he finds lying  in his  fresh rented apartment. Pratiek plays three characters simultaneously- a rat killer, Dhobi and a gigolo.
Kiran Rao showcases ample of potentials as fresh director. She has the guts of painting the celluloid in a different way. Indeed an
intense, intelligent film. It’s a great idea to ally characters from all spheres of life with the background of the city the film is surely a festival film and also for classes. The masses may be attracted by Aamir‘s charm.
Prateik has played all the three characters in a very subdued manner. Acting genes in the actor has been proved by his meticulous performances. Monica believed as an upper class NRI has definitely performed exuberantly, being a first timer there will be no looking back for her. Kirti Malhotara’s monologue does not bore you at all. You surely crave to know what will be her end. She deserves a pat on her back for her brilliant performances.
Aamir brings-forth his contemplative role with great burgeon; His strip of white hair will indeed steal the hearts of many a beautiful young girls.
The ending is abrupt so for traditional audiences may not like it as they are more used to the summing up of each trail.
Cinematography is pretty attractive. Music soothes ones ears. Effective editing as per the demand of the script indeed is excellent without which the film would have been a drab.
All in all Aamir Charm will surely allure the audiences and create traffic jam at the box office windows.