I read an interesting article by UPTOWNGIRL on o3.indiatimes . com/uptowngirl about the movie IQBAL which lead mt to watch the movie its really a master stroke, here is the article for you.
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IQBAL…Ek baar dekh lo…**
Is it really a part of Murphy’s law? I don’t know…but it is often true that the lesser you expect the more you get. Or is it just like the saying, diamond after all is found in coal mines? I really don’t know. But what I do know is that the new venture by Nagesh Kukunoor, IQBAL, is definitely worth a dekho.
At the onset itself, for all those who expect Iqabal to be similar to Black, there’s news. It is nothing like black. Yes, a handicapped boy and a drunk teacher is as far as the similarity goes. Where black goes deep into the misery of being a physically challenged person and the the consequent triump over the impairment, Iqbal manages to show victory and triump over the same, without the misery and the pain. The delicacy with which Kukunoor has handled Iqbal’s disappointments and sadness is worth taking note of. Film makers can take a leaf out of Kukunoors book. He shows that in order to show the sufferings and the challenges of someone’s life, melodrama and extreme pain isn’t necessary. You do not need buckets of tears and uncontrollable screaming. You can show it all in a look!
Iqbal, is a story of a deaf and dumb teenager, who aspires to be one of the men in blue. His journey, his disappointments, his hard work is what the movie is about. The story might be clichéd, but the presentation by no means is the same.
This according to me is Kukunoors best effort, surpassing his amazing work in Hyderabad Blues, almost 7 years ago. There is a feel-good factor about the film that grasps and keeps your attention till the last scene in the movie. No where in the 2 hour film do you feel bored or irritated. The blended moments in the film are touching enough, so much so that you find yourself crying and smiling with the characters in the film.
However, the best part about this film is that nowhere does the film bring in sympathy or pity towards Iqbal’s disabilities. There are moments in the film that his disabilities just don’t seem to matter before his ultimate goal of securing a place in the Indian cricket team. And that I think is the difference between good and bad storytelling. This story could have very well converted itself to a tearful mela, but for Kukunoors amazing blend of humour and emotions.
And finally, if it weren’t for the performance, the movie wouldn’t have been what it is. No character looked out of place. The actors fit the characters so amazingly well that you just couldn’t have imagined a better casting. Shreyas Talpade, an already established Marathi actor is par excellence. His study of the role comes across in his amazing mute acting. Shweta Prasad who has already won hearts with her performance in Makadi shows that she has all the elements of making it big in a few years. Girish Karnad in his role as a corrupt coach fits, so much so that you actually hate him. And finally, Naseeruddin Shah, in probably one of his best and the most effortless performances ever! He just makes acting look so easy!
Iqbal is by far one of the best films ever and definitely the best this year. It has all the elements of drama, action, suspense, emotions and yet surprisingly, it doesn’t have big names, bigger sets and obscene budgets. In short it lacks glamour…and yet it touches hearts. So does anyone really miss the hoopla and the glamour with a few big names thrown in? Nah! Not really…and this I think is real cinema. Kukunoor proved it when he brought in Hyderabad Blues years ago…with Iqbal he just reinforced it!