Aug 12, 2016 01:59 AM
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(Updated Aug 12, 2016 03:21 PM)
A farmer’s quest to fulfil his dream rooted in Mohenjo Daro.
Ashutosh Gowarikar takes you back to 2016BC with breathtaking aerial shoot that sets the tone for a promising dive into history. The first 10 minutes is not to be missed, beyond this you may have as many loo breaks you may wish to.
I am not sure if the Director in fact delivered what he actually intended to but except for the performances of the cast, the story was a copy paste of a typical Bollywood love-action-revenge drama.
Story: Sarman(Hrithik Roshan) is a farmer whose dream is to visit Mohenjo Daro, a prosperous city frequented by villagers to trade their produce. He is reluctantly allowed to go by his uncle and aunt who have raised him. It is love at first sight for Sarman when he is attracted to the upper class Chaani(Pooja Hegde), daughter of a Priest and their love blossoms.
The Chief of Mohenjo Daro is Maham(Kabir Bedi) who is expelled from Harappa due to smuggling activities. His son Moonja(Arunoday Singh) is fond of Chaani. Sarman is challenged to a duel ‘Gladiator’ style if he has to sustain his relationship with Chaani. While in the city, Sarman realizes that his attraction to Mohenjo Daro is no coincidence and he has an ancestral link. The story thereon is so predictable that you eagerly wish something exciting happens or the movie ends soon.
Cast Performance: Hrithik being a perfectionist, one will never find his act disappointing. He suited the character of the down to earth farmer who was born to serve and fight for the cause of the downtrodden. His athletic physique and ability to carry out action scenes with ease is a pleasure to watch. Pooja Hegde looked pretty but has a long way to go to prove her acting skills. Kabir Bedi and Arunoday Singh looked threatening in their negative characters. Sharad Kelkar had a brief but impactful role as Sarman’s father. Rest of the cast including the extras ensured the screen looked crowded to represent the ancient era.
Songs: Except for ‘Tu Hai’ there is no other song that will awe you. The choreography appeared silly and unimpressive.
Direction: Ashutosh Gowariker is a thoughtful director and always ensures quality in performance, casting, cinematography and screenplay. His movies generally bear historic touch and is mostly successful in delivering a worthwhile product. However, with Mohenjo Daro, though the content was rich, I felt the magic was missing. Except for the first 10 minutes and the duel in the fighting arena, there was nothing worth watching.
Pros: Good Direction, Talented Cast, Amazing aerial views, excellent camerawork, skillful editing and kudos to the team for recreating the ancient era.
Cons: Shooting of the film in the Mohenjo Daro era did not add any value as the movie did not provide any significant learning from history. The backdrop resembled a village layout rather than the intended ancient era. The screenplay was dull and boring. Some of the songs and dance sequences appeared out of nowhere and was a waste of quality screen time.
Conclusion: The movie starts off well but loses grip at several places. Viewers may find the screenplay boring and not adding any value. Hrithik – Pooja romance was a drag and could have been better. The script had the elements to entertain but the flaw was in the execution. Mohenjo Daro is recommended as a one time watch and satisfaction is not guaranteed for all viewers.
