"The biggest film ever made on the Indian Screen"
*ing: Kamal Hasan, Manisha Koirala & Urmila Matondkar
Director: Shankar
Producer: A.M. Rathnam
Music: A.R. Rahman
Lyrics: P.K. Mishra
Reviewed by Avinash Ramchandani
avinash@indolink.com
Rating : 
(out of 
)
Hindustani may be defined as a movie made for everybody, except young children. Violence,
dancing, music, creativity, technical effects, acting, this movie has it all.
Insignificant was the one thing that was missing: -- lyrics.
On one side of the film, young Chandru (Kamal Hasan) a corrupt RTO officer taking bribes from people so that they can get driving licenses and similar government papers. Chandru is staying in his senior officer's house which is also Sapna's (Urmila Matondkar) house. Chandru does everything that Sapna tells him to do in fear of his job. The rest of the first quarter of the movie passes with Chandru having conflicts with his girlfriend Ishwaria (Manisha Koirala) and Sapna who he is destined to marry in the future and fabulous technical effects and songs. "Latka dikha diya" could be the best song technically ever in a Hindi movie.
On the second side of the film, Senapati (also played by Kamal Hasan) is a honest freedom fighter who is against corruption. Excellently shown in the film is a flashback where Senapati is shaking his hands with a famous freedom fighter in the early 1940s. The flashback as well as several other scenes are shown in black and white, documentary style, enhancing the effect of the flashback. After intermission, the films purpose finally comes into perspective. Chandru is Senapati's son, he runs away from his home because he cannot a find a job without giving a bribe. Senapati is completely against giving bribes, so he disowns Chandru. Therefore Chandru becomes a corrupt RTO officer in the city.
A few months later, Kaluri, Senapati's daughter is burned badly in a gas blast in the kitchen. Senapati takes her to the hospital, but in order for him to get treatment he would have had to give a bribe to the doctor. Senapati tries to get the treatment done, but he cannot without giving bribes. In the meanwhile, Kaluri dies. Senapati is now determined to kill all that are corrupt and becomes "Hindustani".
Kamal Hasan's acting as both the son and the father (Chandru & Senapati) is superb. The makeup for him and his wife as the father and mother is stupendous as well. Manisha Koirala and Urmila both have insignificant roles, but do well in both. Koirala, although a bit chubby, is extremely beautiful in this movie.
Shankar's direction is par excellence. He directs as a Hollywood director. Although this movie can be summarized as two parts, it flows in a charm. The DTS sound and excellent computer graphics proves that this movie is par Hollywood.
Technically this movie is perfect. Cinematography and dances are much above average also. A.R. Rahman's music is above average but not as great as his previous numbers like Bombay and Roja and doesn't stand up to par against the other excellencies in this film.
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