Gandhi Talks Movie Review: An Ambitious Silent Film That Falls Short
Gandhi Talks, starring Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, and Aditi Rao Hydari, attempts to revive the silent film genre but ultimately disappoints with a confused narrative and underdeveloped characters. Directed by Kishore Pandurang Belekar, this film had high expectations but fails to live up to its potential.
Plot and Character Overview
The story revolves around three main characters:
- Vijay Sethupathi as a poor man living in a chawl with his ailing mother, played by Usha Nadkarni.
- Aditi Rao Hydari as a beautiful damsel who lives nearby, capturing Sethupathi's heart.
- Arvind Swamy as a wealthy man residing in a mansion, representing the elite class.
These characters are portrayed as archetypes rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. Both men are victims of systemic corruption—one loses his dream building to greedy politicians, while the other is denied employment due to an inability to pay bribes. A thief, played by Siddharth Jadhav, adds to the chaos with his flamboyant outfits, and a vote-buying politician, portrayed by Mahesh Manjrekar, uses Gandhi's image on currency notes to manipulate voters.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The film shows promise in its first half, with some charming moments between Sethupathi and Hydari, enhanced by a lilting AR Rahman song. The use of body language to convey emotions works well in these scenes, bringing a smile to the audience's face. Rahman's music, particularly in a dance sequence featuring the two male leads, often outshines the film itself, becoming more engaging than the plot.
However, post-interval, the narrative descends into a confused slump. A lengthy passage involving the rich man, poor man, and grinning thief meanders without clear purpose, dragging down the film's pace. Despite Sethupathi's commendable performance, he cannot salvage the movie from its structural flaws.
Comparison to Classic Silent Films
Silent films traditionally rely on visual storytelling, using body language and surroundings to express feelings without dialogue. Classics like Kamal Haasan's 1987 Pushpak excel in this regard, delivering a masterclass in expressionism that sustains interest throughout. In contrast, Gandhi Talks feels like a pretender in the genre.
The film incorporates elements from popular Bollywood movies such as Lage Raho Munnabhai (with Gandhi as a moral guide) and 3 Idiots (featuring a bedridden parent), but lacks their emotional impact. Ironically, it functions more as a talkie, using text messages and written notes as substitutes for spoken dialogue, which undermines the essence of a silent film.
Final Verdict
With a rating of two out of five stars, Gandhi Talks is an ambitious project that fails to execute its vision effectively. While it has moments of brilliance in the first half and benefits from strong musical scores, the film's narrative inconsistencies and lack of character depth make it a disappointing watch. For fans of Vijay Sethupathi or silent cinema, it may offer fleeting enjoyment, but overall, it falls short of being a memorable cinematic experience.
