Mithya Hindi Movie

Feb 8, 2008 By Jahan Bakshi

Ah- may God bless Rajat Kapoor. Finally, a real reason to visit the theatres this year has arrived. And just for that, and for the sake of the brave actor-turned-filmmaker if it weren't for the few people sitting around me at the screening, I would probably jump and break into mad applause.

Don't get me wrong- Mithya (revoltingly introduced as 'Arindam Chaudhuri's Mithya' in an ugly display of pomposity by the producer) is not a masterpiece- though on second thought, even if it were, it wouldn't have probably got the kind of overzealous response that another much touted actor-turned-director's debut film recently received. But Mithya works very well as a comic thriller- it is hilarious, absorbing and ultimately tragic.

Mithya follows the life of VK (Ranvir Sheorey)- a struggling film actor nursing big dreams yet struggling to make ends meet, who consoles himself and his craft by loudly reciting lines from Hamlet in his shabby apartment, much to the annoyance of his neighbors. And then, one night- when, worn out after a tough day, he sits at the seaside to enjoy a drink, he witnesses a shootout- and life is never the same again.

Revealing more of the unpredictable story which skillfully steers itself through various moods (just like its brilliant lead actor) would be spoiling the fun, and if my summarization of the premise doesn't sound good enough, I would suggest you ignore it and still see the film.

Technically, some aspects of the film- music and the cinematography, which is occasionally straining to watch – come across as a tad poor. But these minor quibbles aside, what really makes the film worth watching is Ranvir Sheorey's standout performance- ably supported by Naseeruddin Shah, Neha Dhupia, Vinay Pathak and Brijendra Kala. Sheorey is again given a splendid opportunity by Rajat Kapoor (after his superb turn in the witty Mixed Doubles) to play the lead, and the actor sinks his teeth in the role with a hunger which could well have been VK's- and he holds the film together superbly, creating a character that's real, amusing and full of pathos.

And thus, though you might reasonably tempted to skip this 'small film' in favor of the mammoth release next week – I would wholeheartedly suggest that you still go and catch this little gem before it cruelly gets whisked away from your friendly multiplex- for not often comes a film in Bollywood that is at once smart, thrilling, funny and poignant.