Manjhi: The Mountain Man| Reviews

Manjhi movie review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui bowls you over with a heart-rending performance!

The film is directed by Ketan Mehta, who previously made Rang Rasiya and Mangal Pandey!

What's it about:

Manjhi is inspired by a true story of Dashrath Manjhi who carved a path through a mountain in Gehlaur, Bihar using only a hammer and chisel for 22 years! Manjhi starts off with a hair-raising scene where a blood-drenched Manjhi (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) screams at the mountain range and threatens it by saying he will break its pride! The movie then follows a non-linear pattern afterwards. The first track starts from 1960, when Manjhi sets out to break the mountain using only a hammer. People call him a lunatic, and children pelt stones at him, but he trudges on. The second track is about his romance with Phaguniya (Radhika Apte), his child bride, and later his wife, and how her death leads to his determination to carve a road through the hills. Even his starving kids, the drought that nearly empties his village, hunger or thirst, snakebite and corruption couldn't budge him from his mission. In the interim, he became friends again with his enemy - the hills! And by the time he completes the path, you feel that you have yourself completed that journey with him! Manjhi is the tale of a man who is one of those real unsung hero that we could fail to recognise when alive, while we chase after those fake deities!

What's hot:

Knock, knock...can I hear the National award knocking on the film's leading man's door? Nawazuddin Siddiqui is...I really don't know if there are any positive words adjectives still left in English vocabulary to praise him! He is brilliant, he is fabulous, he is the rock that steadies the ship, in this case, the movie, whenever it threatens to tip over! Be it his romance with his wife (their courtship reminded me of Mel Gibson's romantic interludes in Braveheart) or his back-breaking journey in the second half, you just can't take your eyes off him! Radhika Apte is aptly cast as Manjhi's wife. Even though her screen-time is not much, her chemistry with Nawaz is adorable! The supporting cast is also good, especially Ashraf Ul Haque who plays Manjhi's father. Ketan Mehta has done a commendable job behind the scenes, and he is ably supported by the cinematographer, Rajiv Jain, and a brilliant BG score, by Shandesh Shandilya. Certain scenes like how Manjhi toiled through thirst and hunger, his foot journey to Delhi, the little family moments with his wife and later kids are deftly handled. The best part is that Manjhi is not shown a superman. He is just a normal man like us who doesn't give fiery speeches that motivate people or get down to violence to prove a point to the villains, and that's what makes him so relatable!

What's not:

For people who are looking for a pakka commercial venture, they will be sorely disappointed. The film takes its sweet time to reach the conclusion, and there is no added masala for viewer's pleasure, like an item song or dishoom dishoom. The presence of a couple of imaginary songs also adds to the lag. The talented Tigmanshu Dhulia is made to repeat his Gangs of Wasseypur act. Actually a couple of initial scenes involving Tigmanshu, Pankaj Tripathi and Nawaz do remind you of the Anurag Kashyap flick. I also wish there would have little more focus on the equation between Manjhi and his kids, especially when they are grown up.

What to do:

This one is purely for those who love serious, meaningful cinema like the kinds of Masaan, and the ones who adore a gifted talent called Nawazuddin Siddiqui. If you are one of those, please book your tickets asap (i.e. if you haven't watched the leaked copy by now. And if you have, you missed the larger experience! The laptop screen really doesn't register the impact of a small man working against the mountain!).

This unbelievable legendary love story will touch you deep enough to be both stunned and inspired

FilmyRating 4/5

FilmyDigest -> Love has a lot of power, we can and should make our own path because nothing in life is impossible, and where there's a will there's a way, these are the kind of messages the movie delivers.

Apart from the fact that it is inspired by a true story, the way the movie touches our hearts and mind way more because of the way it is made.

Such an experience shouldn't be killed watching online and it truly deserves a big screen watch.

Nirmata (Makers) The film is directed by Ketan Mehta who has also directed documentaries and jointly produced by Viacom 18 motion Pictures and NFDC India. And the makers should be appreciated for bringing us such an unknown story forward.

A story of a unsung hero and a story
that celebrates love, and at each step
teaches a lot about life. A story that has the perfect direction, with every scene and situation so alive and real

Alekh (Story) - Patkatha (Screenplay) As from the title itself, the story is
about Dashrath Manjhi, a native of Bihar who cut through a path in a mountain with only hammer and chisel.

Let's begin with the films start. It just
happens instantly, and by that we
mean not abruptly but rather with its
fine instant click, the film rolls the
audience in its zone.

Any film, even if it has an ordinary
story and script, can be made entertaining with editing. Editing is the key, how to go about with the
sequence and placement of scenes. So
you can well imagine what will good editing do to an extraordinary story
and script. This movie had that superb
editing which will really involve you
deep into its spirit.

The best part of the film is its essence
which is captured so nicely, pain and
suffering of the lower class, their
complaining process and the spirit with which they recover back to their lives.

The movie circumference is true love
and this central plot has the right amount of focus and rest is some sub[ plots. With the right focus and presentation, the love story really strikes a chord with the audience. Being a true story, emotional connect is already there but to present it nicely so as to involve the viewers was important. Emotional connect is very important for films that are inspired by true stories; if they can't connect with the audience, they fail in their most primary motive and this film succeeds in that. Even the subplots have strong impact and connectivity.

Talking about dialogues, typically Bihar (rrural) sorts that makes them lively in itself, plus they are written and delivered by the actors beautifully. The climax you know would be predicatble but its still nice as one waits for whats going to happen next. The only flaw in the climax is it is too easily and conveniently reached.

Abhineta (Actors)

When you have actors like Radhika and Nawaz, who make you feel as if you are living their story, you expect nothing but the best. They both are effortless and natural, genuine and passionate with their act, and deliver a truly realistic performance. Love to these actors who literally make a film alive.
Nawaz will not only win but capture your hearts, hats off to such a credible performance.

Talking about their chemistry, it's so
adorable that those in love will fall back in love again and those not will want someone special in their lives. No people it's not a fairy filmy DDLJ story,
it's sweet, innocent, simple and above all true.

Tigmanshu Dhulia as the mukhiya
(landlord) is very convincing in his role.
So is Pankaj Tripathi as Ruab the landlord's son.

Gaurav Dwivedi as Alok Jha journalist and Ashraf Ul Haque as Magru, Dashrath's father have their own small roles which they pull off nicely. The focus remains the mountain man so Nawaz has been given all the attention which the actor lives up to in the most commendable way.

Nirnay (FilmyCurry Verdict)

Shaandaar Zabardast Zindabad, that's[ what you we'd like to say after seeing this one truly amazing movie.

It's about love, who would want to miss it!

Nawazuddin strikes again! One of the most amazing around in Bollywood.

Having read about real story of Manjhi...I am really looking forward to this movie😊

Manjhi: The Mountain Man' Movie Review

Ketan Mehta has always been avant garde filmmaker with most of his films being art house fares that haven't had a lot of appeal for the normal audience. But Manjhi: The Mountain Man' seems as commercial as it possibly could be. The trailers have been intriguing and with an actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the central role, expectations are sure to be raised. Radhika Apte has also suddenly become a known actress. Does the film do justice to the promises?

Story: Manjhi tells the story of Dashrath Manjhi (Nawaz). Dashrath falls madly in love with a girl (Radhika Apte) in his native village in Gaya, Bihar and they get married soon thereafter. However tragedy strikes and his wife is not able to get proper healthcare because his village is cut off. After her death, he decides to take matters into his own hands, literally, as he embarks on cutting the mountain to make way, all by himself using a chisel and a hammer. Drought occurs, corruption arises but he remains undaunted and keeps chopping the mountain. His unwavering faith trudges him along for 22 years.

Screenplay and Direction: The screenplay of Manjhi: The Mountain Man' has been kept non-linear so as to not make it seem as if the movie is a drag. That style along with the authentic dialogues make Manjhi: The Mountain Man' such an endearing watch. Ketan directs Manjhi with a lot of heart and the effort and toil is clearly visible. Although, a few scenes feel disjointed, the film comes together like a jigsaw puzzle by the end. There were hardly any moments which bore the audience and it shows that if we tell stories of our real Indian heroes, we don't need our psuedo Bollywood heroes! A commendable effort indeed.

The technical aspects of Manjhi are great considering the measly budget. Ketan has managed to squeeze out a technically deft movie. The editing is a highlight of Manjhi as the editing is what keeps the movie entertaining. The cinematography is grand in that it captures the monstrosity of the mountain without ever losing grip of reality. The costume design is authentic. The casting is brilliant even though there is a Gangs of Wasseypur hangover. The background score by Shandesh Shandilya is decent.

Acting: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is Manjhi. Both the man and the movie. He embodies the character from the get go and never loses track of the character's journey. He lives Manjhi. It is a laudable performance which will make the audience clap involuntarily. Radhika Apte is fantastic in her scenes as she suits the role of Phaguniya to the tee. Ashraful Haque is inspired casting as Dashrath's father. Pankaj Tripathi is good, and so is Tigmanshu Dhulia reprising his Gangs of Wasseypur character.

Conclusion: Manjhi is a must watch not just because of the entertainment quotient mixed with the realistic treatment but also because of the fact that everybody needs to be aware of Dashrath Manjhi's real life story. The fact that we have heroes like him in our country who have gone unnoticed for so long is bewildering but films like Manjhi: The Mountain Man' can go a long way in giving them the due recognition. There are few disjointed scenes but the full journey is well worth the price of admission. By the end we couldn't stop ourselves from repeating Dashrath Manjhi's words to describe the movie: "Shandaar. Zabardast. Zindabad".

Finally, a lot of effort goes into making films like Manjhi: The Mountain Man'. Downloading films from the internet or renting a pirated DVD is illegal. We highly recommend a visit to the theatre to watch a film that celebrates an Indian hero. Such films need to be supported and the only way you can do so is by watching the film at a nearby theatre. If you can't afford weekend ticket prices, watch it during the weekdays when tickets are much cheaper.

Rating:

Manjhi : The Mountain Man Review

August 20, 2015 team pinkvilla 1123 reads 2 comments

Credits: pinkvilla

If you go to watch Manjhi " The Mountain Man, you get two films for the price of one.

Post-intermission, when the film trains its gaze upon Dasharath and his mountain, the film turns into 127 Hours, Bihar-style. Before that, it's an earnest film with a social message. Through all this, Manjhi " The Mountain Man is a salute to the acting skills of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. As you leave the theatre, you'll find yourself giving thanks that Siddiqui caught Salman Khan's eye. At least now he doesn't have to carry the weight of films as unwieldy as Manjhi " The Mountain Man on his shoulders.

Yet again, Siddiqui proves just how outstanding and charismatic an actor he is with his performance as Dasharath Manjhi. His Dasharath gets lamentable make-up, like a beard that is so obviously stuck on that you can almost smell the spirit glue in close-ups. With a straight face, he perfoms scenes and dialogues that are melodramatic and laughable, like the opening one in which a howling Dasharath throws a rock at a mountain. It strikes the surface like flint, and lo and behold, we have CGI fire (and bokkeh, for reasons unknown).

Over the course of the film, Dasharath ages dramatically. We've seen how Vinay Pathak struggled with that process in Gour Hari Dastaan, but Siddiqui doesn't falter. His gait changes as does his demeanour and you'll find yourself ignoring how unlined his skin is, even as his hair changes from naturally black waves to fuzzy wigs with varying degrees of grey. Yet despite all this, Siddiqui somehow manages to make Dasharath believable and his tale, convincing. Almost.

In the tributes to 127 Hours in Manjhi " The Mountain Man, Siddiqui as Dasharath shows that cleaving a mountain in two is gruelling and gruesome business. Much like James Franco's Aron Ralston, Dasharath has an uphill task that includes surviving with little food, doing impromptu surgery and falling through a crevice. Some time later, Dasharath discovers his inner Forrest Gump and decides to walk from Bihar to New Delhi. It's a feat of endurance, for both Dasharath and the audience.

Initially, however, it seems as though director Ketan Mehta is desperately trying to tap into the sensibility that inspired memorable, socially-relevant films like Mirch Masala and Bhavni Bhavai. His theme is one that he's treated masterfully in the past: caste and caste-based prejudice.

Manjhi " The Mountain Man begins in 1960, but the way dalits are treated is as disgusting 20 years later, in the 1980s, when the film draws to a close. You have to remind yourself that the acts and 'punishments' that seem impossibly cruel were, in fact, considered justified at one time (and still are in some parts of the country). It's a sickening thought.

Dasharath is a musahar, the lowest of the low in the caste pyramid. Nothing but insult and torment is heaped upon his people. Horseshoes are nailed to their soles if they dare to rise above their station and wear shoes. Women are carried off and raped, just for the heck of it. The men are treated like cheap property. Laws that ensure rights and equality have no relevance where Dasharath and his people live.

There's a scene that is a neat example of how much potential Manjhi " The Mountain Man had and how it's wasted. When Dasharath returns to his village after spending a few years working elsewhere, he gets beaten to pulp. Why? Because he touched the upper caste village chief and his son. Afterwards, the battered Dasharath meets a friend who asks Dasharath why he's looking so bedraggled. "I got one helluva welcome," Dasharath replies wryly and the friends guffaw.

This moment could have felt like a punch in the gut. The audience should have been struck by how accustomed the musahars are to being treated unfairly. It's so common and expected that they can crack jokes and laugh about it, even while nursing fresh wounds. They feel none of the horror the audience feels " or should feel " at this easy acceptance of untouchability.

Sadly, there's a theatricality to the abuse suffered by the musahars which makes Manjhi " The Mountain Man feel flat and unreal. Shamefully, some in the film's press screening actually laughed when Siddiqui delivered the line about Dasharath's welcome; as though there is actually something funny about a man being thrashed because he's under the illusion that in post-Independent, modern India, he has the right to touch a savarna.

Mehta valiantly tries to pack a lot of social commentary into Dasharath's tale. Aside from caste prejudice, there's a dig at political hypocrisy and the Congress party as well as an unsympathetic take on Naxals. However, all Mehta manages to evoke is a nostalgia for his early works. Unfortunately for us all, bygones really are bygones in this case because Manjhi " The Mountain Man doesn't have even a fraction of the finesse or insight that Bhavni Bhavai did for instance.

Manjhi " The Mountain Man's saving grace is that it has some wonderful actors in its cast. Apte is delightful as Dasharath's wife, who inspires him to take his hammer to the mountain. The script doesn't demand she do much more than flash skin and giggle, but Apte makes Phaguniya a charming, feisty young woman. She and Siddiqui manage to make something as idiotic as two people rising out of the ground like mud wrestlers seem watchable, which is feat.

Pankaj Tripathi plays a spoilt brat and corrupt landlord who is essentially fifty shades of horrible. He's thoroughly convincing as a sleazy, upper-caste scum of the earth. His father is played by Tigmanshu Dhulia with a stick-on moustache, who is equally villainous. All these actors do what they can, but they're stymied in their efforts by a script that feels almost amateurish in its simplistic storytelling.

Worse, the film fails to develop key elements of the story, like Dasharath's curious relationship with the mountain. It's his soulmate, adversary and saviour, all rolled into one. We don't get a sense of how, why and when Dasharath's village starts to see him as more than a crazy old man. Casteism suddenly exits the film, without explanation. Most of the characters are flat and uni-dimensional. Every episode feels staged and in no time, the film feels tedious. At best, Manjhi " The Mountain Man has the theatricality of street theatre. At its worst, the film is a B-grade movie, with its obviously fake waterfalls, ghosts in fluttering white saris and stock characters.

Somewhere along the way, when no one was looking, Mehta appears to have decided that he's going to make films that ignore subtlety, dismiss nuance and are all about broad strokes. Net result: a film that is so comprehensively artificial that you'll forget Dashrath Manjhi was a real man and that his is a true story.