Review of Ghajini (2008) by Vivek S — 27 Dec 2008

Watching a premiere show for the 1st time in life is an experience I tell you.. and add to that the anticipation of watching Aamir Khan,one of our all-time best actors,makes it all the more exciting..

To begin with,you have a medical student-Jiah Khan(doesn't look like one) picking up the case of Sanjay Singhania(Aamir Khan) for a case study project,but is not allowed to do so by the Prof, since its a police case.. Aamir is shown to suffer from short term memory loss.. He has stick-on notes all over to help him carry out his daily activities.. photographs to remind him of each and every thing he has done or is supposed to do, like the way to his house,etc.. he has a camera that beeps every 15 min..(why so..?? the director might know I guess..).

Next you have a stupid policeman following Aamir for a murder he has committed,and happens to read his diary dated 2005..(you'll wonder why is the police officer all alone without any vehilcle of his own and a gun...).

The movie now goes into flashback of how Aamir, the rich famous guy, owner of a cell network company, falls in love with Kalpana(Asin), a small time model.. she does all the social service stuff.. helping a blind man cross the street,etc.. Aamir though doesn't reveal his identity to her( why again...).

Now the brave girl that Asin is,she saves 25 girls from kidney cum sex racket,while Aamir is away in London.. The don(Ghajini) now wants her dead cause 2 of those girls tell his name to the police.. The brutality with which the act is done will give you goose bumps.. and leave you wondering if it really is so scary to help people out in this country.. how many would if you're bound to meet such a fate. Aamir in his attempt to save Asin is hit with a rod on his head that gives him his characteristic scar and a memory that lasts for max 15 minutes..

But he's all out to find the man-Ghajini(the name whispered into his ears by his dying fiance) and take revenge,even though he doesn't recognise/remember his face..

He does succeed in the end.. opens an orphanage in the name of his beloved and is back to normal life ( no.. he doesn't get his memory back.. and thank God for it, unlike the usual predictable climax of our hindi movies).

Downs:

Direction,editing, fight sequences very amateurish.. the fight scene in the end is better of the lot..

Background score.. we've heard that umpteen no. of times.. Music & lyrics are a let down.. only Guzarish and Kaise mujhe tum are good.. you don't need songs in such movies.. and for god sake not at all the likes of lattoo and bachcho.. it makes the movie look mediocre..

The choice of actors(esp the villain) could have been better.. Jiah Khan's over enthusiastic act was just not needed.. in fact the character wasn't required at all..

Ups:

Its Aamir all the way.. his look in the movie, gestures, expressions.. nobody does that better than him.. he's a perfectionist no doubt...

You have to watch it for Aamir and Aamir alone.. QED.