One of the best films of the year.

Grade: A+

Aamir

Indian Release Date: 06/06/08
CBFC Classification:  A
Running Length: 2 Hours

Cast: Rajeev Khandelwal, Gajraj Rao, Jhilmil Hazrika
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Screenplay, Story & Dialogue: Raj Kumar Gupta
Cinematography: Alphonse Roy
Original Music: Amit Trivedi

I had walked into Aamir with high expectations. The trailers I had seen were stylish, hinting at a well made movie. The debutant director was a former AD of Anurag Kashyap's, and the debutant hero was known for his choosiness and perfectionism. Along with all these factors, the film's soundtrack was the most original and interesting that I'd heard in years.

So walking into the theatre, my expectations were already sky high, expecting to be let down at least a little bit.

And I was blown away.

Nothing had prepared me for exactly how good Aamir would be. If this is what we can expect from UTV Spotboy Pictures in future then I'm damn glad that the banner was created. Bollywood is crying out for new talent, and it's unless platforms such as this are made available, the industry will continue to stagnate, churning out trash like Tashan. With this film, two new stars have been created, the first is Rajkumar Gupta and the second is Rajeev Khandelwal.

The film itself draws you in from the very first moment, as our protagonist steps off the plane in Mumbai, home from London where he works as a doctor. A middle class boy from a liberal family, Aamir Ali's world is far removed from issues like terrorism or extremism. He handles the questioning by the immigration officer in good humour, never losing his temper at the repeat bag searching or suggestions about his motives in returning home.

Our protagonist is not a hero, he's a normal guy returning home to his family and that's why it's possible for the audience to emphasize with him so much. From the moment he finds his family not there to pick him up, the phone at home ringing out endlessly, we begin to fear along with him. A phone tossed into his hands, his baggage thrown into a taxi, he has soon been drawn into a dangerous plot through no fault of his own.

The film's cinematography is excellent, taking us through the seedy and narrow gallis of South Bombay. Kudos to the director Rajkumar Gupta and the cinematographer Alphonse Roy for their ingenuity in using hidden cameras to perfectly capture the bustle and crowds, the despair and panic of our hero as he is drawn ever deeper into them.

There are no wasted moments or scenes in Aamir. No unnecessary songs or subplots, no indulgent posturing. The film has a message but it doesn't resort to long patriotic speeches to achieve it and it doesn't need to either. This is the best debut of a director that I have ever seen and Rajkumar Gupta has a bright future ahead of him.

As for the other debut, that of Rajeev Khandelwal, the best compliment I can give is to say that at no point in the film do you feel that it is the actor you are watching on screen. You are watching him as Aamir and Aamir only, he is completely natural and his facial expressions are superb, making us believe in the character he portrays, care about what will happen to him. As he is drawn deeper and deeper into their web making an escape more and more impossible we panic along with him, sensing the hopelessness of the situation. While I know that best debut of the year will probably go to one of the star children, most likely Imraan Khan, Rajeev is the one who truly deserves to win it.

Aamir proclaims that a man creates his own destiny, and until the very last moments of the film we are left wondering what our hero's destiny will be. It is guaranteed that long after the credits stop rolling you will continue thinking about it, turning the possibilities over in your mind.

So go out there and see one of the best films that is likely to be made this year, and go with as many expectations as you like because trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Final Verdict: One of the best films of the year, if you're a serious cinema lover then you need to watch it.

Grade: A+

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