Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
Movie Reviews

102 Not Out Movie Review: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor’s Sparkling Dram

Troy Ribeiro IANS, 03 May, 2018 01:02 PM
  • 102 Not Out Movie Review: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor’s Sparkling Dram
Director: Umesh Shukla
 
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Jimit Trivedi, Mukesh Hariwala
 
Rating: * * *
 
There have been few more funny and empathetic portraits of generational dramas than Director Umesh Shukla's, "102 Not Out". But what makes his film compelling is the presence of three superb actors: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Jimit Trivedi - who balance the performance scales.
 
 
The script written by Saumya Joshi is actually an adaptation of his Gujarati play of the same name, where he astutely mounts the banal observation of life as a journey. 
 
 
Also, his conceptualisation of the characters, infused with the right amount of dramatic ingredients inclusive of humour, is what makes this film rise above the regular Hindi films.
 
 
Slowly and delicately drawing attention and care from the audience, "102 Not Out", comes to us as a simple story about one family matter. 
 
 
Never disrupting its slow, but steady pace throughout its 102 minutes of run time, it gives us a real slice of life through its intimate human drama filled with over-the-top characters. And, there are many scenes deeply resonating with empathy and understanding behind its composed but caring attitude.
 
 
In the beginning, the rhythm of the mundane daily life of septuagenarian Babulal Vakharia (Rishi Kapoor) is established with a concise low-key approach. In direct contrast to him is his, centenarian father, Dattarey Vakharia (Amitabh Bachchan). 
 
 
 
With his joie-de-vivre demeanour, how he infuses zest into his son's boring life and makes him realise that life is an uplifting journey and not a trudge, forms the crux of the tale. It both touches the heart and challenges the mind.
 
 
Through their natural performances, Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor play characters much beyond their years and the dynamics between them are rock solid.
 
 
Both are aptly supported by Jimit Trivedi as the errand boy Dhiru, who is a witness to the father-son, love-hate relationship. Jimit is impressive with his subtle but over-the-top performance and he holds his own against the veterans.
 
 
The first half of the film is rudimentary and you need extra patience to hold on. But the second half, though predictable, steadily builds up emotional momentum. 
 
 
You get absorbed by its assured storytelling and would be frequently touched by several moving gestures of human decency. It is indeed a fiction, but it feels real, through its universal family drama and it gently tells us that we can do better than expected to ourselves, in our life.
 
 
Old Hindi film songs, especially, "Zindagi mere ghar aanaa" and "Waqt ne kiyaa" are interestingly meshed into the tale to enhance the flavour of the narrative.
 
 
Overall with moderate production values which include basic computer generated images that makes this telling appear like a fairy tale, the film is a heart-warming celebration of life.

MORE Movie Reviews ARTICLES

'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' - This Prem Backfires

Overall, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo offers nothing new, except the latest sartorial designs for Sonam and the English vocabulary perhaps. 

'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' - This Prem Backfires

Bollywood Celebrities Slam Intolerance Towards Pakistanis

Bollywood Celebrities Slam Intolerance Towards Pakistanis
Numerous Bollywood celebrities have come out in support of the Pakistani artists being targeted by the Shiv Sena, asserting that art and creativity shouldn't be stifled.

Bollywood Celebrities Slam Intolerance Towards Pakistanis

Shahid And Alia's 'Shaandaar' Avant-Garde Gone Awry

Shahid And Alia's 'Shaandaar' Avant-Garde Gone Awry
Overall, you've seen the best of Director Vikas Bahl's "Shaandaar" in the film's trailers that hit the marquee months ago. The full length film offers nothing new and in fact disappoints.

Shahid And Alia's 'Shaandaar' Avant-Garde Gone Awry

'Jazbaa' - Stylishly Thrilling

'Jazbaa' - Stylishly Thrilling
It is a well made, stylish action-drama, with good performances, strong screenplay and distinctive cinematography

'Jazbaa' - Stylishly Thrilling

Green Room

Green Room
The real stars of the movie are the members of a young punk rock ensemble, and an unlikely friend they meet along the way, who have to band together to try and escape a bloody nightmare.

Green Room

'Singh Is Bliing' - No Expectation, No Disappointment

Overall, "Singh is Bliing" does not disappoint. One steps in expecting mindless humour, entertainment and some fairly good performances and on that front the film delivers

'Singh Is Bliing' - No Expectation, No Disappointment