Black (2005) User Reviews

I changed my views about Hindi movies too...

[kairanga · 8/10 · 12 January 2006]

For a long time I would watch Hindi / Tamil movies only when ironing. You don't care if you miss some parts - there is always gratuitous mandatory dances, fights and incidental humor.

Black stands out among the Hindi movies. The brilliant acting, dramatic tension, breathtaking views of the mansions in Simla and the story-telling technique blended to create a great experience. Agreed Amitab is a great actor. But Rani Mukerjee mounts a respectable challenge to him. Supporting actors were great too.

If Hindi movies are half as good as this, I would watch more.

I had a bonanza holiday break watching Black, Paheli and Mangal Pande. Looks like there is some real light at the end of the tunnel, after all! I am now a declared fan of Rani Mukerjee.

Good movie and good acting!

[vrnq · 8/10 · 12 February 2006]

Excellent performance of the two main actors: Rani Mukherjee is unrecognizable and believable in her role of a blind person & Amitabh Bachchan, well, wonderful as usual! It is a sad and dark movie though. I do not think that this movie is about love nor God... but about hope for sure! It is a good movie, well played. For people looking for a Hindi movie without the Bollywood songs and dances, this one will make them happy; there is nothing of that sort here in this film that is a bit long (124 minutes!).

For those who admire Amitiji(I am one of them), I guess you must watch this movie because he really is incredible!

Pretentious yet impressive; manipulative yet moving

[Peter_Young · 8/10 · 8 September 2008]

Sanjay Leeela Bhansali's Black is definitely a good film. It is brilliantly scripted, made and executed, and it is also profound and complex. Many have called it a pretentious show, and indeed, that's something very obvious and annoying. I'm sure Bhansali from the very outset had planned to get many awards, five-star reviews, and "the-best-filmmaker-in-the-country" titles, but that said, nobody can completely begrudge him since this movie is as impressive and well-invested as it is ostentatious, and it deserves the hype. Let's start with saying that technically and visually Black is a treat. It boasts of fantastic sets and wonderful costumes, and the cinematography is incredibly good. All these, along with the superb background score, create a beautifully dark film. Having said that, this may be the exact reason why many viewers found it hard to relate to, and that's something I can easily understand, particularly after having seen his best feature to date, Khamoshi: The Musical, in which everything was kept simple. Here there's no simplicity: everything is lavish, big, grandiose - and that's why it's often labelled pretentious. The film is emotional yet unsentimental, which is good, but then, one of its main flaws is the fact that more than once it resorts to emotional manipulation, trying to forcibly wring tears.

Well, one thing is sure and it is that you can always expect good acting in a SLB film, particularly when it has an Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan's performance is out of this world. His character goes through many phases, and each time you feel he's sinking into it more and more, so much that no words can be found to describe it. Seeing an actor of his calibre still being there, and playing a part with such passion, intensity, emotion, anger and hunger, makes one believe that the sky is the limit. Along with Yuva, Hum Tum and Veer-Zaara, Black is a film that constructs Rani Mukherjee's transformation from an average performer to a mature actress. She plays the character brilliantly. The scene which had her crying on the phone to her mom, is one of her career-best acts. It's cruel that she is cast opposite Bachchan, as she can't take the whole credit to herself, and well, frankly speaking, in my view her role is not as powerful as his, as it is a technical part that requires extensive training rather than soul. It's still a memorable performance, and in her case, if the sky is the limit, Black was probably the sky. Without taking anything from Mukherjee, I was more impressed and amazed by the far more superior performance of Ayesha Kapur, who played the young Michelle to perfection. Kapur is simply flawless in this role.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a crafted filmmaker who knows his work and his goals very well. In spite of its flaws, Black remains artistic and it is overall a moving movie experience. The words hope, love, dedication and success always come to the mind while watching it. It might not be original, it may be extremely manipulative at points, but the effort that was put into it by the entire cast and crew is evident and appreciable. Black is definitely better than most of the films made in the Hindi film industry. Though for me too it is a mixed bag, I admit that the first time I saw it, I kept thinking of it after the show had ended and for quite some time. This is an achievement few films can achieve (for me), and here's why my high rating.

I never comment on IMDb, but in this case, I'll make an exception

[Andrew_P · 10/10 · 22 February 2007]

When the credits started rolling on this movie, my wife and I looked at each other and both spontaneously said "That was one of the best movies I have ever seen". Sure, it was inspired by "The Miracle Worker", with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, bit visually it knocks it for six.

Awesome awesome cinematography. Let me say that again. Awesome awesome cinematography. Nearly EVERY shot is a wonder!

Amitabh Bhachchan's acting is his best ever (at least for western audiences), and beats most recent performances from Hollywood.

I don't consider this film a remake, but even if you do, you still need to see it.

Black can restore one's faith in life and love

[ex967 · 10/10 · 28 March 2005]

First things first. On Easter Sunday I pondered whether I should go see the film "Black" -- a film about which I had heard nothing in the popular press, until I saw its title on the cinema's Marquee. Not surprising really, since the film appears at this point to have only been released in the specialty Hindi-language Bollywood film circuit in Canada. Which is a real pity because if I had not made an accidental point of presenting myself at a movie-house that was actually screening the picture, as a Euro-heritage native-born Canadian I would likely still be walking around in a typically North American ethno-centric film fog about this excellent picture.

When I initially asked the theatre's ticket clerk what "Black" was about, his description hardly got me excited. It's the story of a teacher who helps a disabled woman. It didn't sound terribly engaging to me. But boy, was I wrong! While I am not a complete stranger to a number of Bollywood-type films, I'm lucky if I see one or two in a year, and at that, it's usually been because someone else has suggested it. While few of these "B" class movies "deserve" screen time in mainstream North American theatres, this is hardly the case for "Black". It is not a "B" class flic.

If only because the film's Director Sanjay Bhansali co-wrote the script, this obviously allowed him to imagine how he might want to capture the story with beautiful emotionally-charged cinematography. And what a sophisticated symbolically packed feast it was at that! Yet backing up the impeccable imagery was an equally top-drawer story. One dimension tells the story of a once well-regarded teacher who has come to the end of his financial, if not his existentially-justified rope, a man whose talents are neither fully recognized or completely appreciated. Then during this 11th hour turmoil, he receives a letter asking for help from the parents of a young deaf and blind girl. Her story is of course equally gripping, a girl effectively trapped in an internal prison in which language, a vital connector within herself as well as to the outside world, is missing. In this sense, both characters need one another, for both are on the common and all too true brink of being "disposable people" - people ripe relegated to become out-of-sight out-of-mind statistics in a faceless institution.

This feature of the story speaks to a possibility few of us care to contemplate, namely: "Who would care for me if everything fell to pieces?". It is a possibility reminiscent of and anchored in a time when as children we depended entirely on our parents for nurturance and love. This I think is what gives this story its privileged access to the inner-recesses of our deep emotional need for interconnection. And because it is a story told as much with emotionally poignant visuals as it is with emotionally gripping dialogue, these have a way of by-passing the usual intellectual filters we erect to both define and "protect" ourselves from one another. This film will have none of that. And the emotionally-forceful performances offered by the male and female leads simply seal our fates, leading us to co-journey with them in their heroic quest to find the light that will illumine us as much as them.

Few are the number of viewers who could experience this film and not leave better people, if only because it succeeds in allowing us to recognize the value of caring for one another as the greatest triumph, if not the most important ingredient in all of our other successes as a species. In short, this film strives to restore one's faith in the value of life and love, and does very well in that task. And what more can anyone ask from any motion picture? It is a work of genius, well executed, and a triumph of film-making, regardless the culture. Which is why I believe it deserves a lofty 10.

Why don't people like it?

[mamamia123098 · 10/10 · 10 June 2006]

Who cares if it's like Miracle Worker....it's still such a beautiful movie. And believe me, it's different and if you stupid, idiotic people can't remember, the movie was made in Helen Keller's honor and they spent a whole day at her institution. And the only it has in common to Miracle Worker is a Deaf and blind girl. The description of the blackness she sees and how in the end she helps Amitabh learn to remember is original.

Black Shows darkness in a frightening, confusing, frustrating place, a whirlwind of emotion and anger. Michelle lives in a time where little can be done for her. Anger rots inside her for the frustration she feels for not seeing her sister's face or hear her mother's voice. She's a prisoner. She feels excluded. For hours upon hours she tries to scream but nothing comes out...just distorted noises that she can't even hear. Black is a living hell...until she meets Amitabh bachan's character....her brings light into Michelle's terrifying world.

Rani Mukerji is fantastic and she is NOT annoying because you dumb haters just don't see the depth. And she was't just acting like she thought a deaf, mute,and blind person would. They actually spent a day at the institution. Though it strays from the typical musical/love story/gangster-beats-up-hero-but-he-doesn't-care-hes-bloody and/or is dying Indian movie( i think those movies are bull crap), its beautiful! Give it a chance! You'll really learn something!

awesome movie...one of a kind!

[tnkcool · 10/10 · 10 April 2005]

My uncle gave up watching Hindi movies as he believed that there was no good Hindi movie after 'Anand'. He started watching bollywood movies again after watching 'Black'. Black is Hindi cinema at it's best. Obviously, Amitabh Bachchan plays the lead in it...who else can? While watching this movie, I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed myself. Amitabh Bachchan trying to show 'bullshit'in sign language and Rani Mukherjee trying to hit the person who bumped into her. Amitabh Bachchan, is inspiring. There's nothing to say about him...as he left me speechless. Rai Mukherjee's performance is by far her best. Watch this movie...it's the best you'll watch in ages!

Great Movie! Good Solid Direction! Awesome Performances!!!

[tumharabaap · 10/10 · 9 February 2005]

Here's very briefly what the movie is about:

It is the story of Helen Keller & Anne Mansfield Sullivan, suitably modified though, to nicely fit into the Bollywood mould.

That however should not take anything away from the three main highlights of the film:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Direction, Rani Mukherjee's execution of a difficult role, & Mr. Amitabh Bachchan!!!

Bhansali is best at stories highlighting human struggle. And with this adaptation he comes up trumps once again. He also proves that if you have a great story & just one great actor in a meaty role, you have a hit on your hands. Strange how the so called moguls of Hindi cinema cannot see that!

Rani Mukherjee's performance as the Indian Helen Keller (Michelle) is very commendable. It is just her misfortune that she was pitted against Amitabh Bachchan in the BEST Role (Devraj Sahay) of his life!!!

Mr. Bachchan tends to dwarf everyone. To all those who doubt that he is the GREATEST Actor this country has produced, go watch Black. You will return transformed for life! From the moment he comes on screen, he mesmerizes you. And he holds you till the last frame of the movie. He gives you goose bumps with his performance. And to think that the effort doesn't even show...

Now if only other film makers would give him roles worthy of his calibre as an actor, we could well have our first Best Actor Oscar ever. No kidding. Go see the film!

And Oh! I almost forgot. The little girl who plays the young Michelle is the best child actor this author ever seen! And that includes the Macaulay Culkins & Haley Joel Osments of the world!

Trust me! Go see the film!

Black will be remembered as a 'Classic' in days to come

[shehzada0 · 23 April 2005]

Black is an unusual and interesting film in idea and visualization. It's a very special film and there is no doubt; Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the best talents Indian Film Industry has produced.

There have been films like Sadma, Sparsh and Koi Mil Gaya and Sanjay's directorial debut Khamoshi - The Musical, where the protagonists of the films were physically challenged. KHAMOSHI - THE MUSICAL, was a tale of a deaf and dumb couple and their ordinary child. Despite the presence of matinée idols like Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala and Nana Patekar, the film failed.

Black cannot be described in sheer words. It has been handled with extreme kindliness and it does boast of a plot that's rarely attempted on the Indian screen. Before this movie, Gulzar made a movie 'Koshish' in early 70's starring Jaya Bhaduri and Sanjeev Kumar for which they have won the awards.

Michelle McNally (Ayesha Kapur/Rani Mukerji), born to an Anglo-Indian family, is deaf and blind. She is a bright and intelligent girl and she lives in the world of black and this frustrates her because she desires to speak. Therefore, because of her frustration she becomes harsh and cruel on numerous events.

Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan) is a strange person. He is an alcoholic, a teacher to the deaf and blind children. The principal of the school believes in his ability and sends him to the McNally house to teach Michelle. Debraj's arrival at the McNally home is far from favorable, as he arrives intoxicated, annoyed and impolite. On encountering Michelle, Debraj realizes that the only way to tackle her is to distress her, be violent at times and at the same time, show her the love.

Debraj succeeds and Michelle amazingly learns her first word - Ma. But this is just the beginning. There are several battles to be won. His dreams of Michelle going to a college with students without any disability. But, at this stage, Debraj starts to suffer from Alzheimer. He slowly forgets everything including all words and their meanings. The roles are now reversed!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali explanation of Helen Keller's outstanding life and the role Annie Sullivan played in her life. The real-life story was presented on the big screen in the 1962's Hollywood flick THE MIRACLE WORKER, which starred Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft for which both the performers won the Oscars.

A film like BLACK relies heavily on performances and Bhansali has extracted award-worthy work from practically the entire cast. When you talk of BLACK, it's not just Bachchan or Rani's work you would like to extol, but Shernaz Patel, Nandana Sen, Dhritiman Chaterji and Ayesha Kapur's contribution as well.

International Cinematography by Ravi K. Chandran. Each and every frame is laudable of a great compliment. Omung Kumar has created lively sets for the film. The Shimla shopping mall has been reconstructed to precision in Mumbai. Background music by Monty is apt. BLACK belongs to Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji primarily. After Khakee and Dev, this one is his best performance and for this role, he felt that for the last 25 years I have been working in the movies but this is the first time that I have shown such an interest. Bachchan comes up with a performance that he'll always be remembered for!

There's no denying that Rani delivers her best performance to date and her performance in this movie has topped on the number one spot and crossed her early performances i.e. 'Yuva', 'Hum Tum' and 'Veer - Zaara'. Rani has conveyed through expressions exclusively. Here's a performance that should act as a reference guide for all aspiring actors. And yes, she's bound to walk away with all major awards next year as well!

Shernaz Patel is exceptional. Her sequences with Bachchan are awesome. Dhritiman Chaterji is excellent. Nandana Sen impresses in a small but significant role. Ayesha Kapur is first-rate and she should be given a special award next year in every award ceremony. And also Best Perfromances award should be given to Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee. If Bollywood has to move ahead with time we will be open to experiments like this. A must watch for those who like different cinema. After Lagaan, The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Kaante, Khakee, this is the movie, which can compete with any Hollywood Movie. Rating: 4 Out Of 5

Nice work ....

[sumeet · 10/10 · 7 March 2005]

I saw this movie in first week of its release itself and i liked movie too much ,much more than any Hindi movie till date but i didn't want to compare it with any other Hindi movie. SOme ppl are arguing that this movie is crap or similar words for it but i couldn't find any suitable explanation for saying the movie is not gud enough to be a part of one of the best movies ever. The concept,acting,direction and screenplay was superb. This is one of the few movies which got potential to bind u emotionally with the movie . THe best part was SLB tried something very diff and took huge risk by doing something which was never done before. No songs and very apt music which runs throughout the movie. I do agree that this movie certainly deserves an Oscar and i do agree that it was totally framed for it as the length of the movie, most of the dialogs in English,total British background, Cristian characters but i guess this can bring golden era to bollywood which is already contributing maximum no. of movies(even more than Hollywood) by providing some excellent works. Good work SLB

Fake. Pretentious. Designed for awards.

[cyclewala · 6/10 · 10 February 2005]

I fail to see any mastery in the narrative of the most celebrated film of this year. Black. (loosely inspired from the 1962 film "The Miracle Worker" based on Helen Keller's life.) Debraj (Bacchan), the stereotypically cranky genius teacher of Michelle (Mukherjee), a girl born deaf and blind, was supposed to enter a magician - I would have loved to see a Robin Williams there - of Dead Poets' Society, of Patch Adams, of Goodwill Hunting, of the Hook or for that matter a Johny Depp of Finding Neverland or Philippe Noiret of Cinema Paradiso - a magician, a creative genius, a compassionate, enlightened and colourful wizard. What I got instead was a brainless brute for a pedagogically wrong teacher, a monster who incessantly shouts on through the first half of the film at a child he knows can't even hear. The scenes with most potential are the ones treated with most preempted melodrama and least substance. The sequence where Debraj finally gets to training his student for twenty days, for example. Here, director Bhansali, largely considered a master of mis-en-scene, succumbs to hiding the lack of research and screenplay material behind a touch and go montage, squeezing the whole story of Michelle's training (loosely based on Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach communication to the blind and deaf Helen Keller), which is later going to develop into the second plot point of the film. Michelle's world remains relatively unexplored throughout the film, but for melodramatic purposes. There are infinite references to the title in the dialogue, but we never understand how is Black different to green or scarlet or turquoise to a completely deaf and blind girl when she is not even aware of the existence of other colours to make a comparative statement like that. There wasn't a single reference to her training in colour references or rhythm recognition, again something that gets hidden under Ravi Chandran's immaculate chiaroscuro. Each frame of Chandran's could be printed as a work of art, but his cinematography was largely incoherent with the narrative. I'd flatter it to say that for me, it reached Conrad Hall levels, but failed to show me either Michelle's or Debraj's world, and stayed confused between the two, like the narrative, itself. Art director Omung Kumar successfully creates an Eastern Europe in North India, but leads Chandran in incoherency with the story. Robert Frost's 'Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening' has been used on the walls of a sign linguist's house, where one expects to see a dictionary of homespun signs and words inscribed on the walls. McNally's Anglo-Indian house looks like a museum, where Shernaz Patel gives a tiresome performance as a postcard. The Hindi dialogue of the film belongs to a story like Devdas and the English dialogue belongs in a Class 5 Balbharati textbook. The semi-final blow comes when director Bhansali rips off a scene from his own film Khamoshee. The emotionally pulsating climax of Khamoshee where Nana's character gives a thank you speech in sign language becomes a tearjerker pre-climax in Black, with Rani swapping places with Nana, and Shernaz with Manisha. The climax again is brilliant, you are just about to say, "good, at least caught one out of the many juggled balls", when comes the final blow - the dénouement. A yet another mumbled painting. Now some great scenes quickly - the first hospital scene where Bacchan is walking in one direction and Rani in the other; the "enlightenment" scene where Bacchan throws Rani in water; the party scene where Rani lip reads the singer, the campus bench scene where Rani teases Bacchan about the snowfall she predicted, not giving him the umbrella; the kiss scene; the only melodramatic scene in this list - the climax, "water". First Swades, then Black. Indeed, it is a great phase for Indian Cinema - the phase of transition.

Black is an uplifting, engaging and deeply moving cinematic experience.

[david-2485 · 10/10 · 30 April 2006]

BLACK is one of the most powerful films I've seen in a decade. Forget anything and everything you know or think you know about Bollywood films, BLACK is world class movie making of a standard "Hollywood" aspires to.

Director Sanjai Leela Bhansali has used the art of visual storytelling brilliantly - coupled with a wonderful and engaging screenplay. Black is magnificently shot and beautifully edited with heart stopping performances.

I had never heard of Amitabh Bachchan until a few months ago and now I am simply in awe. In India, they call him the big B... after watching Black, it's easy to see why. And the brilliance of Amitabh is perfectly balanced with stunning performances from the beautiful Rani Mukerji and child actress, Ayesha Kapoor.

BLACK is a product of a new generation of Indian filmmakers and they are rapidly raising the bar. I wonder how long it will be before the Hollywood rip-off version is released... though I very much doubt it will leave a mark on the original.

BLACK is a must see. But I warn you, have tissues on standby... if you have human emotions, you will laugh a lot and cry even more. You will fall in love with these characters, be uplifted by their story and thankful you saw BLACK.

Bhansali overreaches and comes up short...again

[atariq · 7/10 · 18 April 2005]

While some may applaud his effort to foray into semi-serious film-making, especially moving away from the formulaic song and dance numbers, Bhansali comes up short on delivering the story in the best way possible. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful, and the symbolism, though a bit heavy-handed, is again appreciated. Bhansali manages to do a good job with his actors, but does not deliver the home run he was looking for. Reining in Rani and Amitabh would have made their performances all the more stoic, instead, giving them wild hyperactive motions, and overplaying their histrionics makes a theatergoer wonder what could have been. Black is a solid effort, but by no means the wonder and crossover of Bollywood into something more serious. Bhansali recognizes his great talents as a filmmaker, but as in Devdas, clearly plays for the awards, and makes the film a tribute to his own skill. Devdas was extravagant simply for the sake of extravagance, and while a visual treat, did not really portray the progression of the characters into the abyss, it just showed them at their best and worst points. Black does almost the same thing when it shows extraordinary moments of recognition, but it focuses much more on the dramatic, and not the subtle changes in the characters. This movie is clearly made for awards, and Bhansali does show flashes of brilliance. However, on the whole, his unwillingness to pull back from constantly hitting us with moment after moment instead of letting things build really takes away from the movie, if he truly was looking to make something different. By addressing handicaps, and Alzheimer's, and remaking a truly great film, Bhansali is playing to awards, and when a film tries too hard, as Devdas did, it inevitably falls short. The film as spectacle is great; great cinema, it is not.

Pretentious sensitivity - The insider's story

[venuzz_angel · 5/10 · 1 March 2005]

The story of making of Black is something like this (as against the one given by SLB that he got this idea while making Khamoshee, a film he wanted to make since he'd seen Gulzar's Koshish): Screenwriter Prakash Kapadia (Devdas, Black) met Bhansali at the premiere of P Kapadia's Gujarati film Dariya Chhoru (directed by Vipul Shah of Aankhen fame). Bhansali was invited to the screening by Aatish Kapadia (writer of Aankhen and the then screenwriter of Devdas). Bhansali came up to Prakash Kapadia after the screening and told him, "You are the real hero of the film." Of course, a few days later, Aatish Kapadia was replaced by Prakash Kapadia to write Devdas for SLB. During the making of Devdas and later, Prakash Kapadia would discuss all his plays (some 20 great stories that he made in his 20 year long illustrious theatre career). Among these, were two plays: one was a story called "Aatam Vinjhe Paankh", a Gujarati play inspired straight from "The Miracle Worker" and the other was a story of an ageing teacher suffering from the Alzheimer's. Post Devdas, Bhansali asked PK to render the story of Bajirao and Mastani for him. While PK was busy with that, Bhansali clubbed the two stories of Miracle Worker and Alzhiemer's, with the help of co-writer Bhavani Iyer and developed a complete English script titled "Black". When he sent the script to PK, PK rejected most of the screenplay as dry and dull. With PK entering the scene, it was decided that SLB will make a bilingual film instead of an out-and-out English film. SLB approached the Helen Keller Institute for rights and assistance. He was denied the rights, but was offered the assistance. So the secondary level problem had now become a primary one. They had to deviate from Helen Keller's life and The Miracle Worker as much as they could. They gave a thank you note to the institute in the film, but couldn't mention anywhere that Black is indeed inspired from the Miracle Worker or Keller's life. Problem 2 was they had to expand the role of Debraj's character because it was going to be played by Amitabh Bachhan. In this confusion of events, they ended up creating a mess out of a great story. They maintained Anne Sullivan's character of a half blind teacher (Bachhan getting the eye drops from Ms. Nayar), but added Alzhiemer's to it for further drama and forced sensitivity. They maintained most of the other characters, but couldn't use the real names, though they ended up using the same costume, setting and make-up. They didn't use the same education techniques of Anne Sullivan and because of their lack of imagination, they ended up making a 60-year old frustrated compulsive brute instead of a compassionate imaginative teacher. They still used the high points in Keller's life like the fountain "water" scene. For those who defend this kind of plagiarism by saying that remakes are made all the time, are forgetting a basic priciple - remakes are made after acquiring the rights from the original. SLB and PK didn't research through archives and works of Keller, but instead just relied on an artiste's rendering of her life "The Miracle Worker". Several films are made with Gandhi in it, but they do not show a man named "McNally" getting thrown out of a train for being brown and inventing satyagraha. Get my point?

Upward downward arrogant pretentious cinema designed for awards and critical appreciation in a country which has had very little collective self analysis in the last 50 years. I think that pretty much defines Black. It makes the semi-intellectual and pseudo-sensitive life forms to feel important and profound for having the ability to identify and appreciate "great" cinema. I'll compare this feeling to the way the English speaking Indian elite feel about themselves. Though they won't admit it, deep down they still carry the genes of slavery, and feel proud to be on the same level as the "international" (read American) English speaking communities. That's precisely the problem with this kind of contorted cinema. Just because a film looks like a Hollywood Oscar winning film, doesn't mean that it's a good film. Black is empty of substance. It doesn't make any attempt in understanding the inner world of a person born deaf and blind, while creating an illusion that it's in fact doing so.

Good stepping stone for just out-of-the-cocoon-self-proclaimed-film-analysts-and-intellectuals, though.

Incredible

[amandiwithaplan · 10/10 · 30 April 2006]

A most inspiring story that takes you through a world of darkness and unconditional love. Michelle cannot see or hear; there is no light in her life. Debraj, her teacher, brings a light which will chase away her never-ending darkness. They toil through her ignorance and stubbornness. He drags her through her ignorance and into a world of words and knowledge. Debraj gives Michelle a dream and a goal. Impossible is a word he never taught Michelle. She beats all odds and overcomes the impossible. I recommend this movie to anyone who is sick of Hollywood and yearns for an original story, amazing acting, and most importantly a movie that will change how you view the world. A story that takes you reeling through presumptions about God and religion but leaves you believing that God is here with us on Earth, he is helping us each day, and he brings the light into our lives.

'...lovely, dark and deep'

[abhishek-1 · 10/10 · 4 February 2005]

'…lovely, dark and deep'

Black Dir- Sanjay Leela Bhansali Cast- Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Ayesha Kapur, Nandana Sen, Dhritiman Chaterji and Shernaz Patel. Written by- Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhavani Iyer and Prakash Kapadia. Rating- *****

As the credits began to roll at the end of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's therapeutic parable 'Black', I remained seated for a few seconds- stunned, mesmerized and completely enamoured. I had witnessed magic- that rare phenomenon in cinema which makes you speechless with awe! 'Black' is unarguably the best film in years to have come out of our industry.

Based loosely on the life of Helen Keller- that deafblind woman who defied the whole world and probably God himself- 'Black' is about Michelle McNally(Rani Mukherjee), who cannot see, hear or speak. The movie begins with her quest to find Debraj Sahai(Amitabh Bachchan), that person who had led her into the light when all that her destiny promised was an emptiness without sights, sounds or speech. She finds Debraj, old and worn out, in an asylum- suffering from Alzheimer. Debraj has forgotten everything. Through Michelle's determination to remind Debraj of his achievement with her, we are taken inside the story of how Debraj helped Michelle. Debraj had entered young Michelle's(Ayesha Kapur) life as the last straw of hope for her mother, Catherine Mcnally(Shernaz Patel).

There is a thin line between mental retardation and the frustrated rage of a child that has been denied three out of the five senses. What Michelle's father(Dhritiman Chaterji) perceives as nuisance, Debraj sees as a desperate attempt to fight- fight her destiny. Watch as young Michelle punches her fist in the air, trying to break out of the void and reach out to something. Debraj uses Michelle's anger and channels it to free her out of darkness's bondage. He teaches her to finger-spell, but she only seems to imitate without really understanding what the words mean. Then, in a brilliantly shot scene, Debraj drags(yes, he drags her) Michelle to a water-fountain and, like with Helen Keller, throws her in it for her impudence. As Michelle feels the touch of water, she is filled with a desire to know what it is. Her first tacit word is water, and she goes on a frenzied zest to learn new words as she feels everything. Debraj guides Michelle through her life from a girl to a woman who aspires to be a graduate. But concomitant to her progress is the deterioration of Debraj. A man that has always thumbed his nose to life itself, is harshly being swallowed by life. A man that helped Michelle reach out of the darkness is slowly walking into it himself.

"It is not about sight, but darkness", says Debraj during a conversation with Catherine. Cinematographer Ravi Chandran achieves this sentiment splendidly throughout the movie in a work that would've done the late great Conrad L. Hall proud! Note also how Omung Kumar uses the contrast of black and white when Michelle meets Debraj in the asylum. It is amazing how the movie resembles a magnificent canvas, with primarily the use of only two colours- black and white! Bhansali's direction is top-notch. Watch closely as he drops a hint on the period of the film. I'll give you a clue- it's got to do with Charlie Chaplin! Moreover, never before has Robert Frost's 'Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening' been put to better use. As we are introduced to a weary and tired Debraj, watch how Frost's most quoted lines reflect on all the walls around him. In fact, every frame of the movie is symbolic. Mr. Bhansali, take a bow! Special mention needs to be made of Bhavani Iyer's imaginative English dialogues in her debut feature.

Rani Mukherjee performs exceedingly well in a role that is both challenging and has the utmost potential to overact. But she restrains herself from going over the top. However, it is the little Ayesha Kapur as young Michelle that completely steals the thunder from Rani. Hers is a performance that resembles very much to Shamili's in Mani Ratnam's 'Anjali', but yet different. As I stated earlier, there is a thin line between retardation and frustrated anger. Ayesha manages to stay on the saner side of that line. Finally though, this movie is unimaginable without Amitabh Bachchan. In what is his career's best work, Bachchan gives a powerhouse performance that reminds you of Al Pacino. Whether it is his humming an unfamiliar tune or his mouthing Frost, his eccentric wit or his calm concentration, and his sudden anger or his contented smile- Mr. Bachchan goes through the whole range of emotions with effortlessness. His eyes speak a thousand words, and you can see the pain, the sorrow, the defeat and the victory in them even before he speaks- especially as he begins to lose grip over his memory.

'Black' is a well-made, well-intentioned film. When I had entered the cinema-hall, the lights had already gone and I had to ask the usher to help me in the darkness. But two hours later, Bhansali had guided me into the light!

• Abhishek Bandekar

Rating- *****

* Poor ** Average *** Good **** Very Good ***** Excellent

4th February, 2005

A little hollow, nah?

[ChiBron · 8/10 · 11 July 2005]

One would expect a storyline like this to be an emotional experience. But I had a hard time feeling for the characters. I read a LOT of reviews where people said they couldn't sleep after watching this flick. Sorry, just couldn't feel that way. I watched it, and forgot abt it. Didn't find it emotionally engaging enough.....which is typical of movies directed by SLB who once again focuses more on the technical aspects of the movie then the human side of it. Now, I'm not saying Black's a DUD. Far from it, in fact. The cinematography is brilliant, even if it sometimes takes the focus away from the narrative. The performances are legendary and clearly the heart and soul of the movie. Rani and AB deserve all the accolades they get. The little girl, although a tad overrated IMO, was good too. But still, the movie is lacking that "juice" where you instantly fall in love with everything - ESPECIALLY the characters and their lives.

Overall, good, but not THAT good.

Black is Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angelfalls · 10/10 · 7 February 2005]

Black is simply beautiful. Its one of the best visual cinematic experiences one can experience . Black can so be called"PerfectMovie". The direction By Sanjay Leela Bhansali is simple but very creative giving us the best visual treat. Sanjay has taken some breath taking shots ,and through out the movie he has made excellent use of darkness and brightness(light). All scenes look beautiful that is because of attention to details . There is a certain aura of the movie ,which will grasp you.Some life time remembering performances can be seen by Mr.Amitabh Bachan,Rani Mukherjee and Ayesha.Nobody could have been more appropriate than Mr.bachan.Rani is brilliant and beautiful .Ayesha (who plays young Rani) is outstanding .The movie is loosely based on the true story of Hellen Keller.The film is about hope and courage of Michelle Mcnelly(Rani) who is deaf/dumb/blind who has no hope in life ..but when her teacher Mr.Sahai(Amitabh bachan) takes charge of her life ..Michelle finds a hope for living and with her teachers assistance she manages to passes all odds in life. But fate takes ugly turn ,when she discovers after 12 years her teacher has Alzheimer's disease and has lost all his memory .Then it becomes her struggle to help him revive his old memories. Rest of the cast delivers good performance . Some might think the movie to be little sad and depressing but one cannot ignore the fact it flags the spirit and courage of less fortunate people.

Black really rekindles Human spirits in us ,after this movie all of us at least consider ourselves lucky to be so normal.

The sensation called BLACK

[mit_promit · 10/10 · 18 November 2005]

Watched Black. Or rather, experienced it with all my senses. Till a few weeks back the word didn't mean anything other than a color which I usually wear to conceal the 'few' extra pounds I carry. And all of a sudden, the word got transformed into a movie that broke all rules of mainstream Indian cinema, a movie which gave Amitabh Bacchan a break from his usual cliché driven films, a movie that proved that Rani is indeed Bollywood's present queen bee. Sanjay Leela Bhansali presented the unorthodox Indian audience with a masterpiece, something that's so very rare.

Right from when the movie began, I could sense that I'm watching something different. The husky voice of Rani Mukherjee narrating the story of Michelle McNally, the continuous tap-tap-tap of a braille typewriter in the background, the interplay of light and shadow, Debraj Sahai trying desperately to find his bed, took me to a different world altogether. The movie starts with Michelle throwing a salute to The Almighty who has deprived her of all the sounds and sights of world at an age so tender. But she isn't complaining, for Michelle knows that in return He has given her the strength that'll take her forward, the self confidence that'll help her cross the highest of hurdles, and the never-say-die attitude that'll see her through the most grave of situations.

And Debraj .... perhaps a loser in life, a drunkard who can do miracles with his fingers, and change lives. Staring at a dying bulb, he tries to improvise a sign-language depiction of light. However he doesn't spell it out, for he knows that it's more than a word, it's an experience millions of people like Michelle have been denied.

Black is the story of how Michelle, a child who is more animal than human, is taught to live life with dignity, how to control her emotions, how to overcome her handicaps and grow up to be a 'fine young lady'. And Debraj, her teacher, is the only ray of light in Michelle's 'Black' world. With patience and skill he gradually changes Michelle's behaviors, and thus alters her fate. Alzheimer's disease, however, cuts short this process, and this time there's a reversal of roles ... Michelle takes up the responsibility of bringing Debraj's memory back, of putting his life back on track.

Amitabh Bacchan, as Debraj Sahai, has certainly given the best performance of his life. Every emotion is so well enacted out that at times one wonders if Amitabh was actually going through those emotions during the making of the movie. The scene, where after his first success of making Michelle understand the meaning of words, he tries to plan how to write his story of triumph to Mrs. Nair but fails for he is overcome by tears, is simply brilliant. I am doubtful whether any other actor could have done justice to the role.

Casting Rani as the deaf-blind Michelle has indeed paid off, the popular actress sheds her image of a glam doll, and plunges into the character. Minutest of details regarding her looks have been taken care of, examples being her irregularly cut nails and simply braided hair. During the scene in which she tries to express her sorrow of failure to her mother, but ends up uttering just a few animal-like noises, leaves the audience moist eyed.

Kudos to the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He has broken away from the genre of huge haveli and garish colors to create a work of art that's so different from his previous works. If in his previous films he has played with colors and sound and drama, in Black Sanjay has played with human emotions - pain, anger, failure and at last, success.

The overprotective mother (where was Shernaaz Patel all these days?), the sulky yet loving father (good acting by Dhritiman Chatterjee - a Satyajit Ray favorite), and the sister (Nandana Sen) who has everything in life except the attention one expects from one's parents, complete the scene. And, did I mention Ayesha Kapoor, the little Michelle whose level of acting prowess really defy her age and goes much, much beyond. This little beauty is certainly an USP of the film, and her contribution towards making the film turn out the way it has, is no less than the that of the established stars in the film.

This is perhaps the most technically sound piece of work Indian cinema has seen in recent times. Light and shadow play with each other in the background. The clothes (designed by the prince of Indian haute couture Sabyasachi Mukherjee) are in muted shades of black, brown and green. The McNally mansion is huge, replete with books and works of art, elaborate thinking by art director Omung Kumar has resulted in the authentic look and feel of an Anglo-Indian household in the mid-1900s. Ravi K. Chandran's cinematography excels as well, the opulence of the McNally family, the emotion on the faces of the actors have been captured brilliantly.

Black is the story of how Michelle achieves the almost impossible task of graduating, how Debraj takes up the mission of teaching her as a challenge, the complex relationship between two people most unlikely to be related in any way. But above all, Black is the story of triumph, it's the story of achievements, of never giving up. Awards or no awards, Black will continue to constitute an important chapter in the history of Indian cinema.

One of the best made movies ever in Bollywood

[max_kumar · 10/10 · 13 February 2005]

I know it sounds like too much, but I really do believe Black is one of the best movies that has come out of Bollywood. Everything seemed so flawless in the movie - direction, acting, lighting, art direction, cinematography. It was almost as if I was watching a Hollywood movie...every detail was attended to. Performance wise, everyone did amazingly...and when you cant pinpoint one single actor in the movie who did better than the rest, you know the director did his work. Amitabh was of course his superb self...I can't believe that man. I mean I have followed his movies from the time I watched my first movie and his passion and commitment do not seem to waver at all...this truly is one of his career-defining roles and that when he has already "been there, done that" for about 30 years! Rani was charming and wonderful in the 2nd half, and the little girl Ayesha was just unbelievable. I loved the way SLB dealt with the themes of sibling rivalry and sex/physical love in the movie...it did not stand out as awkward and was very maturely done. This has to be one of the best finished products that has come out of Bollywood...I really do hope it gets nominated for the Oscars as it deserves every bit of that. All I can say is...SLB has done black magic here.

By no means a masterpiece (spoilers)

[js-gill · 6/10 · 15 February 2006]

Warning: The following is my opinion and solely my opinion. It may differ from any person living or dead. So please, don't hate but feel free to discuss as it is through discussion we educate each other.

Black - Why I liked it? For me Black scores in three technical departments - sound, background score, cinematography. The technical feel of the movie is spellbinding. In fact it would not b wrong to state that without these three elements, the movie would fail miserably.

Another area where it scores is the acting front. Rani Mukherji gives the performance of a lifetime and has proves that she is much more than just candy floss cinema material. Equally mesmerising is the young Ayesha Kapoor. Such promise at an early age is really shocking.

Amitabh Bachan's performance is difficult to judge. Whether he tends to go overboard in some scenes or whether he infuses life in them is the dilemma I have not yet overcome. Nevertheless it is definitely a moving and powerful performance but I'm not sure it was a consistent performance.

Black - why I didn't like it.

Story - it was the first of its kind to be witnessed on the Indian screen (I think), but it was based on the life of Hellen Keller. No where was this mentioned in the credits of the movie.

Screenplay - I thought the first half of the movie was easily and by far the better of the two. The second half for me was a disappointment. I later learnt that the first half was virtually a scene to scene repeat of the Hollywood Oscar winner, The Miracle Worker. Oh crap.

Mr Bhansali, although I am a great admirer of your work, you have to start producing original scripts. The execution of Black in the first half was mesmerising but only due to a copied screenplay.

In short, Black left a lot to be desired. A copied script was the first crime. Lacklustre direction in the second half, was the second crime, not mentioning the inspiration for the film was the biggest crime.

Life time performance by Amitabh, brilliant Rani

[smayukh · 10/10 · 11 March 2005]

Being a Movie addict I seldom miss a movie when I get a chance to watch it. And if it's of Amitabh and Rani's then no way! BLACK is the best movie in last two decades I've seen. Probably the best Bollywood film I've ever seen. The only word I can say after watching the movie is that I was SPELLBOUND. Rani & Amitabh is just more than superb, fabulous. Child-Michelle (Ayesha) is amazing. Rather who do I forget here? Movie is mind boggling! Few scenes like when Michelle (Rani) fails in the exam and tries to explain that to her mom!! and many more are very very touchy. Excellent cinematography, superb acting, almost faultless direction have made BLACK a worth watching movie. Grand job SANJAY!

great design, weak story

[akiveverkova · 6/10 · 21 March 2005]

First, the positive: there are some amazing shots in this film. Absolutely breath-taking. The production design is also amazing. The director/ DP really took time to plan this and it comes across very strong. Overall, the acting is quite decent. At times it feels a bit overacted, but overall (especially considering the child actor) the acting is decent+. The problem: the story has been done before and it was done better the first time. To say that this isn't a remake is a bit naive. When I was walking out of the theatre there were multiple groups of people who were comparing it to THE MIRACLE WORKER. Is this a bad thing? No. There is nothing wrong with re-making/ being inspired by a great film, but overall it is not an improvement on the original. If you really want to see it, see it on a big screen for the set design/ photography. 6/10

Frame to Frame Copy

[krisbhati · 5/10 · 17 March 2005]

You know..earlier i used to be a big fan of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, after HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM and DEVDAS. But know i think he is a fluke director who has a visual sense. Trying to make every frame look beautiful. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam had major flaws,like trying to make Hungry into Italy.Devdas was a remake.Black is in parts frame to frame copied from MIRACLE WORKER, i didn't expect at least that of Mr. Bhansali.The Alzheimer part was a bit of IRIS. His next BAJIRAO MASTANI is again an old story. Working with material which exists seems to be his formula. Where are the original ideas?Now they have started mixing old films into a cocktail, like KISNA or BLACK. Even if Karan Johar makes sugar candy sweet kind of cinema, where the nearest possibility is diabetes...he is at least trying to be original. Bhansali started well with KHAMOSHI...but well. You do everything to maintain the respect you think you have earned by fooling the audience.i guess he is laughing how stupid the people are, who praise BLACK into 7th heaven.

Visually enthralling, warmhearted poetry unveiled, Amitabh's best so far.

[infinityToHeaven · 9/10 · 5 February 2005]

Black may not be the perfect movie of the year or a flawless attempt at portraying human emotions through a blind eye, but what it leaves us is a great impression by taking us through the journey of two very maturely crafted characters. Visually stunning, SLB recreates his passion for grandeur in art direction & sets (although this movie didn't quite need it). A 2 hr movie without songs & sensible plot with just minimal characters who completely convince you of the pain they undergone, BLACK is a fiction but a convincing poetry on Canvas how a struggle by a teacher to bring back an 8 yr blind,deaf,dumb girl to life. The relationship between the two is perhaps never been portrayed before., sometimes controversial (the kiss scene between amitabh & rani) This particular scene has been made with a lot of guts & full marks to SLB.

The movie has got its many flaws but again I don't see a point in criticizing this movie at all; the fact that you now have a product which has come a long away from the clichés of bollywood masalas is a great achievement & attempt in itself & we need to encourage such movies.

Go watch BLACK & try not to watch for defects but for the sheer pain & passion of one of the very few genuine directors we have on hand today.Watch BLACK for Amitabh - India's answer to Al Pacino! After this you perhaps cannot accept to see such a talent wasted in the many cameos hes done in the recent past