When a filmmaker of Ashutosh Gowariker's repute decides
to make a movie on Mohenjo Daro, the biggest settlement
of Indus valley civilisation, you would expect him to be
historically accurate yet retain his worth as a storyteller.
However, his Mohenjo Daro' fails on both accounts.
Instead, his pretty men and women gleefully play fancy
dress and let designers Neeta Lulla and April Ferry drape
them in dresses cut from sacks and swap their bare feet
for gladiators and sometimes even chappals. That's not
all. The leading lady is given a headgear loaded with
feathers, almost making her look like a pretty bird on the
go.
It wouldn't have mattered as much, and could've been
overlooked as creative liberty, but there's a distinct
disconnect in this costume drama. Animal headgears
appear during songs, but disappears soon enough. You
hope there will be more drama and depth, and possibly
insight into the civilization, but nothing unfolds over the
two-and-a-half-screen time.
The famous dancing girl' statue, which was excavated from
the site, floats across our screen at the very end, by which
time it appears like a cheap gimmick.
This love story could have been set anywhere in the world,
it wouldn't matter.
What's even more questionable is the decision to invest in
music (A R Rahman) and costume, but not on graphics,
especially when it's crucial to the narrative.
The climax footage is profoundly dodgy, making you
wonder how Gowariker green-lighted it.
What's even more dampening is the story, which is so
archaic in tone and texture that it leaves us detached and
thoroughly bored.
Hrithik Roshan flaunts his muscular bod, showcases his
dance moves and even flexes his facial muscles, but his
tactics don't impress us. We've seen these far too many
times to warrant any real emotion. Even when he's fighting
in the ring, as two mighty thugs beat him black and blue,
there's no redeeming value. He may be earnest in his
performance, but that's not enough to warrant our journey
to the movie hall.
There's also his pretty lady Pooja Hegde, whose limp
expressions make for an unappealing heroine.
Kabir Bedi growls and glares but never owns the madness
that his character is armed with.
If that wasn't enough, Gowarker throws in a leaping
crocodile in there to prove his hero's worth, but what it
actually does is make us chuckle.
http://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/films-music/
bollywood-review-hrithik-roshan-plays-fancy-dress-in-
mohenjo-daro-and-nothing-else-2016-08-11-1.63881
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