Guru Priyanka Haldipur Hindi (U/A);Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, Vidya Balan, R Madhavan; Director: Mani Ratnam Villager, Visionary, Winner. Did someone forget to mention manipulator? Since thats what completes the description of Gurukant Desai (Bachchan), the lad who dreams big and and has the wonderful power to make all his fantasies come true through steely grit and persistence. A soul who chooses his bride after weighing the dowry that shell fetch, but treats her like a princess. One wholl never wish harm on his foes for they have once been friends. Contradictions. Abominations. All... Guru!
The film documents Gurus climb up the success ladder and his journey in making Shakti Corporation the national leader in textiles, not necessarily the clean way. Permits and licenses come at a cost, and from where Guru comes, nothing gets done without the greasing of a palm or two. But a mans dark deeds are bound to catch up with him somewhere down the line, and he will have to pay. Mani Ratnams magic wand transforms a somewhat-maturing Abhishek to one that is reminiscent of daddy Bachchan. Even Aishwarya plays the nat khat-Sati with poise. Mithun Chakraborty is delightful as Nanaji, a media baron who is friend, philosopher and guide to Guru as long as he treads the path of honesty. Madhavan and Vidya Balan have a limited but marked presence. Mani has drawn the best out of the big stars and small screen actors alike. A R Rahmans music comes alive against the backdrop of the movie despite appearing a little bland otherwise. That does not excuse the unnecessary songs in this one. Though the resemblances in the lives of Dhirubhai Ambani and Gurubhai are striking, the film comes with a disclaimer about all the characters in it being fictitious, the resemblances purely coincidental. The moral of the story is cause for confusion... Make mistakes. But master the art of cover ups or Walk the path of wrong, if all others wear a no entry sign. Yet Guru is something that you dont want to miss. In Nanajis words, Achha hai, achha hai. Bahut achha hai! http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan142007/movies2135232007113.asp
