Bhaag Milkha Bhaag: Did a "Bhaag" mid way through the movie

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Managed to see the movie finally. In a limited words, very honest and laborious attempt, which shows in every frame of the movie. Starting from the pre-release hype about Farhaan's attempt on shaping the body (a la the original Milkha Singh, which I doubt was like this, as Milka the original looked skinny), to the talks of his training and then eventually the behind the scenes of the movie. The involvement of the real Milkha Singh was, Prasoon Joshi, Rakesh Mehra (still carrying the Rang De Basaanti makeover, in a cameo as the pilot of the aircraft carrying Milkha and team to Melbourne) and the frame does not get any bigger than this. It was the perfect biography and ode to one of the few genuine athletes' that modern and Indian sports has seen. Also after the success of Paan Singh Tomar there was a lot of hype and expectations too.

Pity! It could not live up to the expectations that the hype it had created. Why? The movie was a tad longer than required (3+ hours, phewww!) and then a very loose script and a screenplay that could not sustain beyond the Rome Olympics moment which was just the first 5 minutes of the film. The characters all played their part, Farhaan, Pawan, Yograj, Divya, Art... but it was just about there. There was no takeaway or a memory to linger on. One does feel sad and bad as there is much of effort gone into making a biopic such as this, yet there was this moment of thinking, was it all worth it? And add to that we bloggers, who have this nasty and often obliterated feeling of know it all.

I thought, particularly when there were so many occasions, reasons, events which were needless and mindless through the movie, it could have reduced the weight of the length and perhaps would have been a little lighter on us as audience too. It was a similar happening like that of Rakesh Mehra's previous flick Delhi 6, where it refused to stop beyond Abhishek's fake accent and the even more faker Sonam. However, there is always this trap of wanting to say too many things...and the anxiety of "have I missed something"?

Which is why, the movie was constantly swinging beyond a big yawn to a moment of sudden spurt and then you go back to the slumber mode. It was like the "let us go to buaji's place today syndrome" (a child taken to a relatives (read bua or people in the same genre) house with no kids around and elders blabbering, the child is constantly edgy, shifty, yawning and then suddenly a few questions directed at him/her shakes the child up (orrrr! puttar! padai kaisi chal rahi? kuch khayega puttar?...)

About the script and the happenings within the same, believe-ability of the same though always has a raised eyebrow, but I guess the original Milkha Singh has approved of this and has gone on record about it, so all doubts should be put to rest. Are there silver lining in the crowd? Yes, music (SEL as usual at their best with particularly two numbers I liked Maston Ka Jhund and Mera Yaar), Farhaan's earnestness and the tireless Pawan Malhotra (how long will he continue to prove himself?).

Well, what next? I think the movie should inspire Carl Lewis, Hollywood, Jesse Owens, Michael Phelps, Florence Griffith Joyner (probably her spouse!), hmmm! I am giving away too much, think think think... meanwhile I try to erase the memory of BMB by watching Chariots of Fire...    

ps: Did I miss talking of Sonam in the movie, well that was deliberate, because the dignity of this blog demanded

Comments

Unknown said…
Even though I haven't watched the movie, expected it to be along the same lines as you describe it. Thanks sir, saved some dough and time on this one....
July 26, 2013 at 11:41 PM
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