Thursday 9 January 2014
If we go back in time and have a look at Abhishek Bachchan’s Career, you will be mostly disappointed, well at least I am, but, it doesn’t mean that he lacks the finesse of a good actor. On three different occasions, someone brought it out of him, and this someone was no other than Mani Ratnam.
Mani Ratnam gave us Abhishek’s raw performance as Lallan Singh in the film YUVA. Yuva made directors and producers rethink about Abhishek and he certainly has a filmography that is being added with 2-3 films every year because of Mani Ratnam’s effort to fetch the actor out of him in his 3 films; Yuva, Guru and Raavan.
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Abhishek debuted in 2000 with the film Refugee; it was also Kareena Kapoor’s debut film, it took him 4 years to finally make an impact on the audience and that was because of his performance in Yuva. Yuva was arguably his breakthrough performance. In the next three years, we saw Abhishek’s mediocre performances in no less than a dozen films before GURU happened; although I liked his work in Sarkar in between Yuva and Guru.
Guru garnished his career once again; people started believing in his potentials. Mani Ratnam made him comfortable around his territory, which is playing the hardened characters, where he is really excellent and natural. Abhishek delivered his dialogues well and looked totally convincing as the maverick entrepreneur.
Even before people started to take him seriously, he started to disappoint again, right after Guru, Abhishek came up with bad films like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Drona and Laga chunari mein Daag. Except for Paa, he couldn't do really well in the next half a dozen or more films that came after Guru and now he needed another good performance for his career to continue, so Mani Ratnam came to the rescue once again with Raavan in 2010 and Abhishek got another hardened character to play.
While Yuva and Guru were critically acclaimed good films, Raavan was snubbed by many. I personally liked Raavan, so much that I downloaded the Tamil version as well to see the difference in performances by the lead actors. Vikram who plays the cop in the Hindi version played the role of “Beera” in the Tamil version, now Vikram is a fine actor; he is certainly one of the best they have down there in the Tamil film industry but Abhishek did a better job than him playing the same character.
It’s such a waste that an actor who had the potential in himself all through could never utilize it except for a couple of occasions.
-Amrit Rukhaiyaar
Your words here made me consider my own life more closely: "It’s such a waste that an actor who had the potential in himself all through but could never utilize it except for a couple of occasions."
ReplyDeleteIt makes me really look deeper within to see if I'm slacking or not trying my hardest. It's a terrible shame to waste a career, but even more, a life. It also makes me wonder what Mani Ratman did that made so much of a difference. We need more Mani's in the world!
Wow... loved your insightful remark... yes, true, just forget the post and think of it in life... its unfair to not utilize what you always had in you...!! I hope you come back Susan... have a nice day
DeleteNamaste Amrit. Good article. I saw Bachan in the Dhoom series and Guru, actualy quite lked him in Guru. From my understanding you say that Yuvu and Raavan are good as well. Cool I´ll check them out and have them send over from India. Thanks for sharing and have a great evening
ReplyDeleteI totally hate the Dhoom franchise, its a shame we try to copy style from the west in such an awemful manner, instead we can depend on quality cinema where there is more meaning and less style.. Guru, Raavan and Yuva are very good films our industry has produced
DeleteAmritt, I guess your analysis may be correct. BUt somehow, the guy never broke from the image that he created from his earlier days. His demeanor never changes with the films. the characters in Guru, Yuva and Raavan were strongly written characters which could've come out really well, even if he had'nt been playing them (now this is my opinion, completely)
ReplyDeleteWith Abhishek guess its something different. He never worked hard to reinvent himself. Even the risks that he's taken (Bol Bachhan) were half hearted and not well portrayed.
You remember the story of the seed of the Peepal tha fell just by the side of the peepal and never grew up to its optimum. That's the case with him. He never drew out from his own shadows. He needs to create a new image for himself. But I guess its just too late now. Dhoom 3 was the last nail in the coffin- I'd say that!
Thanks!
Yes certainly, he has a very lame way... the way he delivers his dialogues, dances, try stylish stunts on bike, there is nothing really good about this man.. what surprises me is how Mani Ratnam makes him do something which nobody can even think of... he should definitely choose better and stronger characters to play if he wants a career in films
DeleteI totally agree with you. I was surprised by his performance in Guru, he did a great job and I really love the movie! :) I feel he should select the right movies because in most of the movies he acts like a dunce and he should definitely work on his dancing skills. Nice blog! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha... Dunce..? It sounds so funny, I had to Google it and yes he is a DUNCE... looks like all of us find this person equally pathetic :P
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