Review Central: Shamitabh – piddly niggles bring down Bachchan, Dhanush highs
The Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush-starrer from R. Balki was preceded by a great deal of hype. Critics laud the performances and the uncommon story, but feel there’s something missing in Shamitabh.
So is this Big B and Mr. Cool-a-veri starrer film worth a watch?
Deepanjana Pal, Firstpost.com
My review of Shamitabh, starring Amitabh Bachchan's Voice: http://t.co/hW65f6n6IN Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Strictly ok.
— Deepanjana Pal (@dpanjana) February 6, 2015
Rohit Khilnani, Intoday.in
Movie review: Shamitabh is a treat for Amitabh Bachchan fans, writes @rohitkhilnani http://t.co/6paTEglrSC #ITShowbiz pic.twitter.com/JvT4LETuFr
— India Today Showbiz (@Showbiz_IT) February 6, 2015
Srijana Das Mitra, Timesofindia
Their acting is electric – but also, frequently over-indulged. Scenes that should’ve been tight are allowed to stretch or become repetitive. The vibrant ‘Piddly’ song gets wasted while the plot is too convenient – a rural boy flings his village life behind him like dust, no doctor explains how the mute hero’s ‘voice’ reads his thoughts and speaks them, no-one swears Amitabh’s sidekick to secrecy.
In over-explaining this uncommon story – “Very deep”, as Amitabh drawls – the plot rushes through emotional moments. And amidst the high-wattage attention around the Dhanush-Amitabh pairing, less is paid to Akshara, whose performance, although sincere, sometimes looks a tad banal. Read more
Taran Adarsh @taran_adarsh
#Shamitabh caters largely to an urban audience. A crisper version would've only enhanced the overall impact.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2015
Akshara is supremely confident in her debut film, despite sharing the frame with two accomplished actors. #Shamitabh
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2015
Dhanush stands up to the icon and that's a humungous achievement. His range as a terrific actor is too evident. #Shamitabh
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2015
Amitabh Bachchan is UNPARALLELED yet again, essaying a demanding character remarkably. Truly, a powerhouse performance. #Shamitabh
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2015
R. Balki has opted for diverse themes in the past. #Shamitabh too travels a path rarely travelled. Several poignant moments stay with you.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2015
IBNLive Movies @IBNLiveMovies
Watch #Shamitabh for Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan's scenes together. They make the experimental, slightly erractic story believable
— IBNLive Movies (@IBNLiveMovies) February 6, 2015
Debutant Akshara Haasan's role is tailor made for her. She fits in perfectly. #Shamitabh
— IBNLive Movies (@IBNLiveMovies) February 6, 2015
And @dhanushkraja matches up to the stalwart actor @SrBachchan in every scene. This guys is truly gifted. #Shamitabh
— IBNLive Movies (@IBNLiveMovies) February 6, 2015
Like always, @SrBachchan gives a superlative performance as a egoistic, wasted man who lends his voice to Dhanush's character. #Shamitabh
— IBNLive Movies (@IBNLiveMovies) February 6, 2015
Surabhi Redkar, koimoi.com
#Shamitabh Review: A treat for all Amitabh Bachchan as well as Dhanush fans http://t.co/taQgwheXgp
— Koimoi.com (@Koimoi) February 6, 2015
Our verdict
R Balki has come to be known for his unusual stories and he doesn’t disappoint in Shamitabh. Superlative performances by Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush are the highlights of the film. If only it had been tighter and less self-indulgent, it would have made a near-perfect film.
Also read:
All you needed to know about this week’s big release, Shamitabh
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