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Review
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Swami: Has its moments
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5 *
Cast: Manoj Bajpai, Juhi Chawla, Maninder and Neha Pendse
Director: Ganesh Acharya
Synopsis: The film starts with Amitabh Bachchan's deep baritone voice introducing us to the daily lifestyle of simpleton Swami (Bajpai), a Maharashtrian staying in a small village and married to a South Indian girl, Radha (Juhi). When Radha delivers a baby boy, she dreams of sending her son to the US and wants him to get settled over there. When Swami's boss offers him a job in Mumbai city, she gets overjoyed and feels it will take her one step closer to getting her dream fulfilled. Fighting all odds just when they have managed to make a decent living in the expensive city, Radha passes away with an unfulfilled dream in her eyes. The heartbroken, Swami then dedicates himself to fulfilling Radha's wish to send their son to USA.
Their son grows up and gets a job at a multinational bank and becomes one of their best employees. But, despite repeated applications to get a transfer to USA, he faces rejection. He marries the girl of his choice and after having a son, finally gets the green signal to go to USA, but it comes with a pre-condition that he cannot take his father along. The obedient son that he is, he decides to cancel his transfer. What happens when Swami comes to know of it is what the rest of the film all about.
Acting: In an author backed title role, Manoj delivers. He displays amazing range in his character that travels from an uncomplicated youth to that of an old man. Juhi is very likeable but the ' aapdiyaa' line she is given to mouth after every 3 minutes in the film, irritates after a point of time. Kid Ameya Pandya is natural. Newcomers Maninder and Neha Pendse are a relief and have a future if they get the right films.
indya.com rating: 3 out of 5
Direction: When Bollywood choreographers turn directors they always debut with lot of jhatak matak and masala but Ganesh swims against the tide and presents a film that bends more towards art house cinema. Nothing wrong with that except, the plot could have packed more punch. He extracts wonderful performances from all his actors including debutantes. The choreographer in him though cannot control himself in one song, as he lets a 60 plus Manoj's character in the film, dance in total Bhiku Mhatre (Satya) style, in a Ganpati song.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
Script: There are a few well written, touching moments in the film like Manoj's obsession with the rocking chair right from his childhood to old age and the school admission scene. But though the writers avoid melodrama, the basic problem with the script is, it is too simplistic and narrated in a linear, almost predictable manner after the interval.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
Music: Nitin Arora and Sony Chanda's music carries a classical touch and is pleasant to the ears. Most of the songs are used in the background, taking the story forward therefore one doesn't get bugged when some 2-3 numbers come almost back to back in the first half.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
-- Abhijit Mhamunkar
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