Review of Delhi6

23 February 2009

Delhi6

Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Music: A. R. Rahman

Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Be a rebel! Rakeysh Mehra, to a large extent, recreates the vigor of Rang De Basanti, assisted by his previous allies. Diaspora, communal clash, macabre politics, familial relations – Delhi6 has it all. It’s a rainbow of all the hues of Indian life. Dadi (Waheeda Rahman) flies from New York to Old Delhi with her grandson Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) as she wishes to breathe her last on the native soil. Despite the initial whys and hows, Roshan falls in love with Mastano ki Delhi. The film portrays this metamorphosis.

Be it the allegory of Ram Leela or the symbolism of the real life Kaala Bandar havoc, all these techniques constitute a well-knit plot. For instance, the humiliation of Jalebi ( Divya Dutta) – an outcast, is juxtaposed with the scene of Ram-Shabari tale. Each scene defines excellence in film making. Congested streets of Chandni Chawk, Sansani type blunders of electronic media, blame game of government officials, psycho-analysis of the mass … - enough material for a research work!

Waheeda Rahman rejuvenates the charm of her era. Junior Bachchan has acted unexpectedly well. Sonam Kapoor’s natural performance in Saawaria was neglected but Delhi6 makes up for it. Vijay Raaz as an archetypal policewallah, Divya Dutta and Atul Kulkarni as marginalized people, Cyrus Sahukar as a selfish escapist – all justify their casting.

Words will not suffice my sense of exhilaration when it comes to the music of Rahman – the maestro. Peppy title track, onomatopoeic mast masakkali song, amusing Genda Phool… - isn’t Rahman’s international recognition a bit late? Just like Khwaja Mere Khwaja of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, Arziyaan is potent to take you in trance. The quavvali manifests the divinity of Rahman’s soul.

Prasoon Joshi – the lyricist of RDB, Ghajini, Taare Zameen par, Fanaa … well, that’s enough for his credential. If not, here is a gem from his pen:-

“Daraare daraare hain maathe pe Maula;

Marammat muqaddar ki kar do mere Maula.”

Striking dialogues match the temperament of the film. E.g.,

“Yahaan ghar chhote hain is liye dil bade hone ke daave karte hain. … Yeh hai dilwalon ki Delhi.”

However, the film is not flawless. One may find it hard to focus on several social menaces the filmmaker attacks simultaneously. The second half seems to be needlessly prolonged, or even melodramatic, if I can say so.

All said and done, Delhi6 proves that cinema is much more than the cliché masala movies of SRK. Delhi6 can bring tears to your eyes and smile to your lips at the same time. Watch it for the all-encompassing cinematic experience.

- Jay Mehta.