Guru review.

I got a chance to watch Guru at the theaters – I like watching desi movies at the theaters and when it is a Mani production, its a double treat.

Saturday night, when I realized tickets were online at bollywooddc.com it was too late and I asked Ms. P who was at the theater to get tickets for me. By the time she found an ATM and came back to the counter it was house full. Damn.

Sunday around noon I had my tickets booked online for the 9 pm show. Got there at 8 to pickup tickets and there were about 60 people already on the line to catch the most optimum seats. Mr. S and I had to get dinner and as we strolled back saw 100s of people seated inside and also blocking 400s of seats for their relatives and friends who are jussssst on the way and jussssst in the parking lot. “This row all ours”- said a medium aged lady blocking an entire row in the middle section of the theater. Mr. S was agitated and wanted to fight. Only he didn’t.

Guru. Finally. I was excited.

The tale of a ruthlessly ambitious villager who rises to all from nothing by following his flare and passion. Becoming a bijinessman. All is fair in love and war. He plays business - his love, his war – as if there are no rules. He’s blind about his ambitions - sometimes pretentious, sometimes moving.

The first half is a lightning. Guru gets a chance to chase an average Indians’ dream of going to forin. Moves to Instanbul, works hard and makes his share of money. At his prime when he’s given triple the salary and a promotion, he declines it boldly and decides to go back to India with the dreams of making it big.

Things are not very favorable for a common middle-class man. Even his dad doesn’t support him. Guru kicks open the doors which don’t open up when he knocks at them. Challenges loudly and achieves silently. In a short period, multiplies his business by multitudes and rises fearlessly. Makes his identity, grows like nobody can stop him.

Along the way Guru takes some shortcuts to success and they are discovered and he’s put to trial. His mere existence becomes a threat. The remainder of the story revolves around how he takes on the world.

The movie concludes that

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Guru had to 'flow with the stream' to get where he was and it was not the best thing to do, but certainly the right thing to do. At one point, he marries Aishwarya for the dowry, so he gets the capital to his business. It may be hard to justify, but all said and done, he had more to give than to evade.

Ash adds color and Rahman spreads glitter. Somehow I think Ash is Asher in Mani's movies. Like in Iruvar, she was classy. Abhishek was terrific. Never before, probably never after. Rajiv Menon shines at cinematorgaphy.

Mani of course has signature moments like the train scene after Guru’s marriage. There’s a tingle of subtle comedy throughout.

It’s a nice story with a sharp screenplay. You can enjoy the movie more if you really try and believe the initial “All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental” message without any reliance, you know, on living and dead.

Rich cinematography, pragmatic storyline, stunning screenplay and gorgeous music make it a Mani classic once again. Guru will beg you to watch it again. Maybe again.