Photograph

Movie Review (Hindi)

Two very different worlds collide and there is no eruption of any form, just a slow melt. That is the story of Photograph. The technique the director, Ritesh Batra, uses is tricky. His story unfolds slowly without any hurry but most importantly, without any ups or downs. Throughout the movie I waited for the moment of crisis and it never came, making me feel cheated. The movie ended as strangely and left me feeling a little lost.

Miloni, played by Sanya Malhotra, is a young, intelligent and pretty woman. But she hardly talks or smiles. Rafi, played by Nawazuddin, is also not much of a talker. But then Nawazuddin makes every character his own and is at ease.

Thank god we had Rafi’s grandmother, played by Farrukh Jaffer, coming in who brings some life on screen, managing to ignite some reaction from the other two.

The cinematography was wonderful because it was easy to be a part of Mumbai going through its streets, chawls, cinema halls, teashops and the Gateway of India. This last one is where it all began with the photograph taken by Rafi, one of several professional photographers at the Gateway who coerce you to get clicked. Miloni gets clicked but then vanishes without paying and the copy remains with Rafi. He uses this photo to introduces her as his fiancée to his grandmother. 

Batra’s earlier movie, Lunch box was also slow moving but the story was gripping. Looking forward to more movies from Ritesh, only I need something to hold on to.