Delhi 6

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor

Director: Rakeysh

Omprakash Mehra

Being screened at theatres near you

Kathmandu

The movie begins with Dadi (Waheeda Rehman) getting sick and wishing to return to her hometown for her final days, and grandson Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) decides to accompany her to Delhi. Once there, they receive a warm welcome and Abhishek is soon introduced to the people and life in India. He also meets Bittu (Sonam Kapoor), who has dreams of making a name for herself and doesn’t want to confine to a life as a housewife. He falls in love with her. Though things are quite good when he first arrives, with some misunderstandings created by people and hyped by the media, communal problems arise and Abhishek soon finds himself in the middle of it.

The story begins quite promisingly and is captivating, with people and places shown in a appealing manner. But the Monkey Man tale has been used as the highlight of the movie and the way the movie revolves around it is utterly ridiculous. And it’s the ending with the typical Hindi filmi element attached to it that completely destroys it.

There are too many issues that have been covered, but unfortunately none of them has been given due importance. Even serious issues have been covered in such a way that there is no depth or emotion attached to it, and moves from being too serious to a sort of joke in no time. Even the love story between the lead actors doesn’t seem to have a stronghold. One does wonder why Abhishek decides to stay back when nothing so definitive has taken place for him to actually fall in love with Delhi. One of the most significant lines by Abhishek, “India works, the people make it work” — why he says that is not known. Unfortunately, like that most of the events don’t seem to have a strong base or a good reason for the happenings.

Abhishek has given a really good performance but Sonam is nothing more than a pretty face with nothing much to offer. It’s the supporting cast that have given good and natural performances. The other noteworthy part of the movie is definitely the music, the songs have a fresh new appeal to it and beautifully entwined into the movie.

Expectations were really high with this movie with such big stars and director associated with it. And may be that is why the disappointment is even greater. To think that Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, who made an almost perfect film like Rang De Basanti, would make a movie like this is unimaginable.