Writer/Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherji and Shernaz Patel
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors in Bollywood have achieved appreciation of Amitabh Bachchan. Following his rise to fame in the 1970’s, Bachchan has become a legendary Bollywood icon. Whether it’s inspiring teachers, frustrated fathers or patriotic leaders, Bachchan has played many strong characters. Arguably, Bachchan’s best strength as an actor has always been strong commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare Indian actors that has always had strong presence which has elevated every movie he is in. Through his abilities to create characters which audience can easily relate to, Bachchan has become a Bollywood icon that audiences value. Although he is best known for his roles in Bollywood, Bachchan has proven he has an ability to excel in every genre. Despite reaching an age of retirement, Bachchan has never lost his passion for entertainment. Throughout his lasting career, Bachchan has made countless movies which are definitely worth taking about without a doubt.
I’m a big fan of Bachchan and love all movies he has made in his career. However, “Black” is definitely my favourite. Ever since its release in 2005, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie has stood the test of time as a Bollywood classic. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Amitabh Bachchan, who portrays an aging teacher that seeks to care for a downtrodden blind girl. Ultimately, what makes “Black” an Indian masterpiece is universal appeal. Unlike most Bollywood movies, it tackles themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a profound message about disability that would resonate with everyone. A captivating Bollywood classic about blind women, there are several reasons why “Black” is worth seeing.
“Black” tells the story of a young blind woman that seeks to escape a life that is pitch black. Rani Mukherji plays Michelle McNally, a young blind woman that is born with a grim disability. Unable to speak, see or hear, Michelle lives a downtrodden life characterized by emotions of despair. All hope seems to be lost for Michelle until she is given an assistance from a teacher. Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan) is a skilled disability professor that assists Michelle in her attempt to overcome an illness which proves frightening. Over time, Michelle forms a bond with her beloved teacher. However, Michelle’s bond with her teacher is threatened when she discovers he suffers from Alzheimer’s causing disaster. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Michelle begins to wonder whether she will ever recover from vision impairment causing disaster.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is fascinated with the themes of insanity. A phenomenal Bollywood filmmaker, Bhansali has often made engaging movies about disability causing disaster. His award-winning movie “Devdas” captured the life of an alcoholic lover facing tragedy. With “Black”, however, he created his first blindness drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the hardships faced by blind women facing tragedy but he succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Bhansali captures a blind woman that embarks upon a journey to find her identity. Bhansali effectively uses point-of-view shots to capture hardships blond girls go through. For instance, point of view shots elevate the blindness scene. During this unforgettable scene, Michelle’s mother is given the realization that her daughter is blind causing tragedy. Through point of view shots, Bhansali crafts a blind woman audiences can easily relate to. Point-of-view shots are tricky to use in most movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” suggested, POV shots elevate movies about broken families. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Bhansali captures tension blind women are facing.
Another commendable aspect of “Blind” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best films ever made in Bollywood. Bhansali effectively uses costumes to capture the transformation of a blind woman that achieved an education. For instance, costumes elevate the university scene. During this memorable scene, Michelle is overjoyed when she is accepted into school overcoming her disability. Through captivating costumes, Bhansali captures tensions blind women are enduring. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Monty Sharma’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing heavy burden that Indian blind women bear. Using stunning production design, Bhansali captures the lives of commemorated blind women which experience a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Black” is a film about blindness which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, successfully using sequences of silence to capture the bonds between a teacher and blind woman. Throughout the film, Bhansali effectively uses silence to capture tensions blind girls with vision impairment are facing. For instance, silence elevates the snowfall scene. During this unforgettable scene, Mr. Sahai and Michelle bond together spending time in the snowy weather. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Yash Chopra’s “Veer-Zaara” suggested, silence enhances movies about doomed lovers. Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” demonstrated that silence elevates movies about infidelity. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Bhansali captures the lives of blind women that face a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Amitabh Bachchan delivers one of his greatest career performances as Debraj. Bachchan first earned appreciation playing dacoit criminals in classic Bollywood films. With “Black”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a commemorated teacher seeking to care for a blind girl enduring adversity but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: intense, charming and emotional on his most memorable role. Bachchan often excels at playing emotional characters which face pressure, and “Black” demonstrated his strengths as an actor. With bold expressions, he captures the bravery, determination and resentment of a commemorated teacher seeking to care for a blind child. It’s a phenomenal performance by one of the most commemorated actors that’s working in Bollywood today.
Rani Mukherji is remarkable as a blind woman that seeks to overcome her disability causing tragedy. Mukherji has often excelled playing emotional women under pressure, and “Black” showcased her finest strengths as an actress. Whether she is forming a strong bond with her teacher or seeking to overcome barriers of not seeing, Mukherji uses strong body language to create a commemorated character that’s compelling. It’s a fantastic performance from one of the most celebrated actresses currently working in Bollywood today.
Finally, “Black” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing lives of blind women that are pitch black. Unlike most films about blind women, it tackles strong themes which everyone can relate to. It discusses relatable themes including identity, grief and disability which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Indian culture to appreciate it. It delivers a meaningful message about disabilities which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Black” is one of those rare Bollywood movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Amitabh Bachchan will definitely enjoy “Black” and so will movie-goers which seek thoughtful entertainment. A riveting Bollywood classic about blindness, it honours an actor that is iconic.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about blind women seeking to overcome disabilities through assistance of teachers that are inspiring, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor that has built a legacy earning a fan following for abilities to portray compelling characters in movies that are worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 