Guru is the worst film that I have seen in recent times. It lacks narrative. And it has nothing else in it that can be called a saving grace. Rediff' rating of 3 is charitable. I would give it no stars at all.
Guru was a massive let down. For as long as it lasted, it did a butterfly act - flitting from scene to scene, moment to moment with, as the reviewer points out, songs thrown in at random and probably only because the music director happens to be AR Rehman.
Combined with the staple Mani Ratnam scenes - rain, umbrellas, village belles, poor lighting, and the mandatory "period props" (such as the Mercedes and the Fiats) - this movie reminds one of someone who set out to write a book but ran out of ideas because all the great ideas were spent on the cover page.
To add to the mess, Vidya Balan's role, in addition to being inconsequential, was irrelevant and appears to have been incorporated if only to benefit from her current standing with the movie going public.
As for Mrs-Bachchan-to-be, her role was typical of so many others she has done - betraying a desperate desire to be seen as an actress and dancer, and failing to do both, and merely providing a stilted, cardboard cut-out presence.
Abhishek Bachchan appeared to be struggling to grow into the role, and I would think that this was a bit like the local school cricket champ trying desperately to be Sachin Tendulkar!
Indeed, the only redeeming aspect of the entire movie was that old, nearly-forgotten but nonetheless national award winner Mithunda. Whether at the start or later in the piece when his character mellows, he was worth a see.
All-in-all, Guru was a disappointment - and it is probably only the unmistakable likeness to the growth of Dhirubhai Ambani, and the recent hoo-haa about the real-life engagement of the lead pair that saved the movie.
I would just like to say, that this review is one of the most well written reviews i have read. It aptly summarizes the film, while subtly bringing out its flaws and its good points.
Rediff team , kudos to your reviewers .. you hired THE right people .
Hi Guru is a good adaptation of the novel Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and Dhirubhai's life. Only someone like Mani Ratnam could have pulled it off. People; not everytime is it possible to have a good mix of "artistic" as well as commercial elements. Mani, Ram Gopal Verma and Nagesh Kukunoor are the saving graces in the industry. Watch as many movies made by them as possible and promote them as good movies. They need our patronage. Otherwise we will sound the deathnell for good Indian filmmakers.
WORLD people proved that GURU is a world class film..haha Rajaq Sen again ur FAILED to misinform people through ur bullshit review written purposely to degrade the film...
GURU is SUPER DUPER HIT in overseas..collected more than 10 CRORES in juz 2weeks!!!!!!!!
see here http://www.indiafm.com/trade/overseas_boxoffice/index.html !!!!!!!!!
RE:hai Raja SEN, ur review again sucks and ur prediction agains sucks !
by sumit kumar on Jan 29, 2007 03:18 PM
bahut hi ghatiya aur bakwas movie hai guru
RE:hai Raja SEN, ur review again sucks and ur prediction agains sucks !
by tanmay sarnaik on Jun 20, 2007 03:18 PM
guru is one of the strong performed film in recent times...with good music but the msg.that maniratnam tries to throw that do u r b'ness by hoo or crook is worse than anything....allin all if u r lovers of good music and performance then must watch "guru"bhai
On structure - this is definitely the most technically accomplished indian movies of all times.The team work and interplay between cinematography ( Rajeev menon ),editing ( sreekar prasad ),art ( sameer chandra ),audio( H.sridhar),music ( rahman ) with Mani ratnam at the helm makes for an unbelievable experience.Rajeev menon has grown into his own might growing up from the shadows of his more famous cameraman from south..and shows he is definitely among the best in the business. Note the colour tones at the start.It is not the cliched sepia tone done to indicate bygone ages..it has a special graininess and roughness.And how well it catches the pydhonie market and kalbadevi areas of erstwhile bombay of 60's recreated painstakingly by Sameer chandra! Just watch the crane shot of the market when gurukant comes there first time..with a tram rambling slowly in the background and shop boards conveying a old age gone by..perfect!All the scenes have been done to perfection.Songs have been exquisitely shot ( again not surprisingly ). Of songs I am not one to comment on it as I believe Rahman is way above such reviews.But what stands out is the special mani touches to scenes..note how the constant roar of rain pounding is added throughout the rendition of the barso re song in the movie..or how he is able to cut the songs so beutifully to carry on with the story ( with the help of a master editor..considered by many as one of the best in the world)..or for the matter many VFX which have been added so seemlessly into the proceedings..the pluses are numerous..go for it and please overlook any minor shortcomings u find ( I didnt find for that matter!)
RE:best movie ever - 2
by Ajay Pathak on Jan 29, 2007 01:52 AM
This review clearly looks like its been written by someone belonging to the Guru crew. I even have some idea who it is but won't take names.
RE:RE:best movie ever - 2
by DEEPAK VARMA on Jan 29, 2007 07:37 PM
Hey man..u can take names..cos I am sure it won't be mine! C'mon man..it is a world class movie..admit it without carping about..!
