Black-Out. Review on Black - Bollywood

I have not written a review on this site for some time, but this film inspired me to give my honest opinion. I hope those of you who have watched this film can appreciate my perspective, and those of you who have yet to see this film take some time out of your busy schedule to see it.

The Cast: Amitabh Bachchan(Debraj Sahai) is the mentor and teacher for a blind and deaf girl who spends the first 10 years of her life being treated like an animal by her family. Rani Mukherjee(Michelle McNally) is the blind and deaf girl who is given guidance by Bachchan's character. These are the two central characters of the story who have such an amazing chemistry.

The Plot: The plot is based on the life of Helen Keller, who was a blind and deaf girl who lived in America. Her teacher, Annie Sullivan, taught her to speak and to use sign language to communicate. There is a play and a film called, ''The Miracle Worker'' about Helen's life. If you see this film and then watch ''Black'' you will see some similarities of how the girl is in the beginning of her journey and how the teacher has such a positive influence.

All of that being said, the film ''Black'' is something the Indian film industry should be proud of. The basic plot is how Debraj Sahai comes into Michelle's life and teaches her to be independent and successful despite not being able to see or hear. He guides her from age 10 and spends the next 12 years tirelessly working with her. She is able to be accepted into college, and unlike many Bollywood/Hollywood films, it shows that she had many failures before she had triumphs. In the end, Mr. Sahai is deteriorating mentally from Altzheimers, and it is Michelle's turn to care for him.

The Conclusion: This film was visually a superb creation. The fading out sequences, the snow falling, the shots of Mr. Sahai and Michelle together were very intimate. The viewer feels so close to the characters the way it is shot. The plot was rather simple. It showcases Michelle's growth from a wild child to an independent and intelligent adult. There were some points of overacting by some of the supporting cast, which tends to happen in art films. All in all, Rani did a great job as Michelle. She captured the struggle and the movements so well. However, Mr Bachchan is the one person who made this film such a treat for me. His voice is so wonderful. That deep baritone is just as captivating when he is speaking english or hindi. He seemed so natural. I do not want to give too much of this film away, but I will comment that the single most scene that sticks in my mind is when Michelle and Mr. Sahai are talking after Michelle's sister has just gotten married. Michelle asks Mr. Sahai to kiss her on the lips. It is that moment when it causes you to realise she may never get married or have a family, but she has the same desires that any woman feels. Mr. Sahai is the only man she really knows, and she feels a deep connection. He refuses at first, but then he gives in. That one moment is so tender and emotional to me. You could sense the raw emotion when they kissed. That was more intense to me than any sexual scene could have conveyed. This movie is worth seeing, if for nothing else, such a superb performance.