One word: M-A-S-T-E-R-P-I-E-C-E
Manto, a film by Nandita Das, is a biopic on the Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto who lived during the era of 1940's. A biopic on someone whom we dont know but a person who was known to write about the hard truths of society that no one dared to talk about. He is best known for his stories about the partition of India immediately following independence in 1947. Manto was a Kashmiri and moved to "Bombay" during his 20's. Started as a journalist for film magazine and for radio and also wrote scripts, but none of his movies did well. He then started writing on different subjects which examined very sensitive topics like sex work & religion in a period when India was even more prudish than today.
This film depicts his life especially during the late 1940's and post Independence era along with the partition time with five of his most famous and poignant short stories: "Dus Rupay", "100-Watt Bulb", "Khol Do", "Thanda Gosht" and "Toba Tek Singh". It narrates his life through these stories. Director Nandita Das has beautifully crafted these stories into Manto's life and portrayed it. She deserves each and every bit of applause and accolades for the way she has depicted the various events, its contexts in Manto's life through his works. The movie takes you to a journey of the pre and post Independence time and beautifully showcases Bombay & Lahore during those times. Kartik Vijay's cinematography justifies the feel and era of the film. It is painful to watch the film since it covers the reality. The tragedy is that things have not changed much even after seven decades of freedom.
Words are very hard to express the simplicity and gracefully Nawazuddin Siddiqui has portrayed the titular role. He has truely lived Manto and made it his own. While watching him on screen, one will forget the fact that he is Nawaz and will see and feel his pain, anger, trauma as Manto. Rasika Duggal as Safia, Manto's wife is truely commendable in her part and has excelled throughout in the movie. Tahir Raj Bhasin (Mardaani fame) as Shyam, Manto's friend has once again shown the amount of potential he has and delivered a great performance. This movie has a great ensemble cast which comprises of greats like Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Javed Akhtar who prove their calibre by displaying brilliant acting in limited screenspace. Each and every character played by Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shashank, Rajashri Deshpandey, Ranvir Shory, Divya Dutta, Vinod Nagpal, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Ila Arun, Paresh Rawal, Tilotama Shome, Gurdas Mann, Bhanu Uday has given their best making the movie a beautiful journey in itself.The music strikes the right chord with the heart. The much famous lyrics of Faiz Ahmed Faiz - "Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hain" is beautifully sung by Vidhya Shah and Rashid Khan.
Watch this for brilliant performances, gutsy direction & writing, a never seen before Mumbai and hardships of a man who chose to portray the truth in his style. If you are a true movie lover, who loves to watch movies with great performances and a good story Manto is the movie you will love to go.
Reviewed by Mandar Dalvi
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Manto, a film by Nandita Das, is a biopic on the Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto who lived during the era of 1940's. A biopic on someone whom we dont know but a person who was known to write about the hard truths of society that no one dared to talk about. He is best known for his stories about the partition of India immediately following independence in 1947. Manto was a Kashmiri and moved to "Bombay" during his 20's. Started as a journalist for film magazine and for radio and also wrote scripts, but none of his movies did well. He then started writing on different subjects which examined very sensitive topics like sex work & religion in a period when India was even more prudish than today.
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| Manto review |
Words are very hard to express the simplicity and gracefully Nawazuddin Siddiqui has portrayed the titular role. He has truely lived Manto and made it his own. While watching him on screen, one will forget the fact that he is Nawaz and will see and feel his pain, anger, trauma as Manto. Rasika Duggal as Safia, Manto's wife is truely commendable in her part and has excelled throughout in the movie. Tahir Raj Bhasin (Mardaani fame) as Shyam, Manto's friend has once again shown the amount of potential he has and delivered a great performance. This movie has a great ensemble cast which comprises of greats like Rishi Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Javed Akhtar who prove their calibre by displaying brilliant acting in limited screenspace. Each and every character played by Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shashank, Rajashri Deshpandey, Ranvir Shory, Divya Dutta, Vinod Nagpal, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Ila Arun, Paresh Rawal, Tilotama Shome, Gurdas Mann, Bhanu Uday has given their best making the movie a beautiful journey in itself.The music strikes the right chord with the heart. The much famous lyrics of Faiz Ahmed Faiz - "Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hain" is beautifully sung by Vidhya Shah and Rashid Khan.
Watch this for brilliant performances, gutsy direction & writing, a never seen before Mumbai and hardships of a man who chose to portray the truth in his style. If you are a true movie lover, who loves to watch movies with great performances and a good story Manto is the movie you will love to go.
Reviewed by Mandar Dalvi
Feel free to share our posts, page with your family, friends, relatives to share such wonderful experiences through food, places or thoughts 😇 Thank you all!
For more pictures, you can also check my zomato account - @dhungrysouls and follow me :)
Well written...will surely watch ����
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