The Dirty Picture
Cinediary Rating: 3.75/5
Release Date:2 December 2011
Banner: Balaji, ATL Entertainment, Vertex
Cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor,
Music: Vishal-Shekhar
Screenplay: Rajat Arora
Producer: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor
Director: Milan Luthria
Story:
The film is a biopic on a C Grade actress of the South Indian actress Silk Smitha played by the very talented Vidya Balan. She has just one dream, to make it big in the industry and she could do anything for it. She gets whatever she wants but loses her identity of a small town girl.
As Suryakant (Naseeruddin Shah) who plays a top actor of the 80’s era puts it in the film, she becomes the dark secret of the film world that cannot be acknowledged in daylight. The first half shows how she is the main reason films work and the second half shows the lows of her career.
Analysis:
Milan Luthria is a pro at showing the intricate details of a true life story. He did it in ‘Once Upon A time in Mumbaai’ and he does it again. I haven’t closely monitored Silk Smitha’s life but from what is said about her, Milan gets it right. The film transports you to the 80’s era successfully and how films were made those days and what worked. Sex sells, yes just the packaging changes.
It is shown in a more sophisticated manner these days but it’s true, how much ever we may try to defend. The point is that the woman is shown sultry loses everything, but those who are showing her in that light and those who are watching it get away. The film makes you think.
Talking about the entertaining aspects of the film, it has it all. It has all the masala needed for a commercial potboiler and those who refrain from watching emotions will love the first half. Second half is more on the darker side and is not for people who like light comic flicks. It gives glimpses of Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Fashion’ as the latter was also about the ups and downs of a model’s career. But ‘The Dirty Picture’ hits the right nail and works big time.
Performances:
Vidya Balan, enough said!! The name is synonym to abundance of talent. The gets into the nerve of the character and forgets that she is Vidya, she is Silk in the film and makes you believe that. She has put on 12 kgs for the film and is shown bulky but manages to look good, apart from a few scenes where here tummy is focused more on. Tusshar Kapoor plays a writer who is in love with Silk.
He does a decent job. Emraan Hashmi has a mystic charm to him. He entertains with his dialogue delivery and is refreshing to see him in a different role than seen before. Naseeruddin Shah is a gem. He is par-a-class. The rest of the supporting cast is aptly cast.
Plus Points :
Take a bow Vidya Balan. You have delivered a stunningly effective performance. Vidya Balan is perfect in the role of Silk aka Reshma. She and she alone could have done this character with so much conviction. Vidya Balan looks extremely sensuous in the movie, but no where does it go overboard. In other words, she does not look cheap or vulgar. Posters of her voluptuous frame will be worshipped by thousands of teenagers on the walls of their rooms for years to come.
Naseeruddin Shah is perfect as the matinee idol Suryakant. He delivers a superb performance and there are some truly humorous moments in his characterization. He delivers punch dialogues with ease and conviction. Emraan Hashmi and Tushar Kapoor are ok in their roles. Sadly, Emraan does not get to indulge in his usual ‘famous acts’ in this ‘Dirty Picture’. Anju Mahendru is perfect as the journalist.
Songs have been picturized well and are well integrated into the movie. The scenes involving Vidya Balan and the other principal characters in the movie have been etched very well. There is some very strong emotional content towards the climax and it has been brought out well.
The first half is highly entertaining and Milan Luthria’s direction is top notch. The movie has a very strong script and that is a major asset.
Technical Departments :
Music and background score are major assets for the movie. They are loud and boisterous, but they are perfect for the movie. The song ‘ Ooh La La’ drew whistles and claps from the front benchers. Cinematography and editing are decent.
Dialogues are top notch and will bring whistles in B and C Centers. The director and the script writer have succeeded in making a film that is extremely bold and sensuous but also classy. That is a very difficult thing to do.
