Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
I had goosebumps since the first scene when Farhaan Akhtar walks
into the stadium in Rome as Milkha Singh, known as Flying Sikh. From then on,
the film ran for me and how! Yes, I liked the film! More than the film, it was
the extremely talented Farhaan Akhtar who stole the show. He is almost an
embodiment of all that the legend was, every bit in the film – physically and
mentally. His physical transformation has been unbelievable! I had condemned
people who had put facebook status like please send Farhaan Akhtar for Olympics
next time around for running. But after I saw the film and the way the actor
has run, I too felt the same! The screenplay is slightly complicated and some
aspects have been made very simplistic. The one aspect I didn’t like was Dalip
Tahil as Pandit Nehru. And I felt sad when Milkha Singh loses the podium by a
whisker in Rome Olympics. The length too could have been a bit short, but then
the sporting legend’s story definitely deserves that much time. Right from the
time a young Milkha Singh had to leave his village during the tumultuous time of partition to
the first time he valiantly competes with a national sprinter at a training academy,
everything has been well crafted. Rather, Farhaan Akhtar’s convincing
performance has added that credibility to the saga of flying Sikh. Compassion,
Pain, determination, anger, remorse, helplessness, insecurity and the attitude
of being happy-go-lucky – the lead actor emotes these sentiments exceedingly
well.
The lead actor’s histrionics are supported superbly by Divya Dutta and
Pawan Malhotra who play his sister and coach respectively. These two actors
have delivered an excellent performance. Even though their characters had the
scope to go overboard with emotions, neither of them has let that happen. And the
fact that they have not let that happen has made the impact. The background score,
music and lyrics have beautifully complemented the story. Siddharth Mahadevan
makes a mark with ‘Zinda’ and how! ‘O Rangrez’ is a beautiful rendition by
Shreya Ghoshal and Javed Bashir. The title track too is excellent. Basically, Shankar
Ehsan Loy have done a great job! ‘Slow motion Angreza’ and ‘Havan Karenge’ makes
you marvel (once again) at the lead actor’s effortless dancing skills.
All in all, an inspiring experience of a legend who deserved more credit
and applause than he actually got. The film I am sure will take his story to
every self respecting, honest and hardworking Indian. Thanks FA and Rakeysh
Omprakash Mehra for giving us a glimpse of this legend’s exemplary saga of
success and failure.
While I liked the film, as well, I did find the unnecessary romanticisation in a few places to be jarring. For example, the love story between Milkha Singh and the Australian girl - it was put forward as the reason Milkha Singh lost, instead of a simple statement of fact - that he lost. I also found him singing and dancing in bars - cowboy songs, that too in Australia! - to be ludicrous.
ReplyDelete"(...) if you ask Milkha himself, he will tell you that the scene was pure fiction. He didn’t really meet a sweet Aussie girl and have a fling with her. There’'s a lot more in the film that was not fact,in fact: one of the songs Milkha and his compatriots sing while swilling beer in an Australian pub takes the whole creative liberties thing to a ridiculous degree."
Source: How to Be a Sport
hi.. yes, i absolutely agree.. that seems to be too far fetched.. but i feel that wtever the context, Mr. Akhtar is a fabulous actor and dancer.. :)
ReplyDelete