WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
When injustice is placed upon the lives of the innocent, do they not need the leadership of another to stand up and fight against their oppressors? Or, is it the fate of those subjugated under a tyrannical ruler to forever be indebted, enslaved, and taken advantage of despite their intolerance that burns within burdened hearts? It is 2016 B.C., and the civilization of the Indus Valley thrives. Amongst its outlying regions, a kind heart resides within the toil-hardened exterior of a young farmer, Sarman (Hrithik Roshan). Dreaming about going beyond his Aunt Bima (Kishori Shahane) and Uncle Durjan’s (Nitish Bharadwaj) simple life in the quaint village of Amri, Sarman is taken by mysterious dreams and an amulet given to him by his uncle which cause him to travel to the epic city of Mohenjo Daro.
Initially there to trade precious goods in the metropolis’ sprawling marketplace, a chance encounter with the head Priest’s (Manish Chaudhary) beautiful daughter Chaani (Pooja Hegde) captures his attention, leading Sarman into an unexpected social maelstrom involving the city’s ruthless and unscrupulous Senate Chief, Maham (Kabir Bedi) and his equally cruel son, Moonja (Arunoday Singh). Seeing firsthand the plight of Mohenjo Daro’s citizenry, Sarman makes a choice to become the voice of opposition against Maham and Moonja, all the while making every attempt to woo Chaani, despite her elevated position and engagement to another. Soon, the city is in chaos as Sarman’s doggedly determined stand against tyranny culminates in circumstances that will either destroy them all, or lead to a newfound freedom none of them has ever known.
Next, my Mind:
While perhaps not quite extending to the epically stunning visual grandeur, absolutely awe-inspiring level of Bhansali’s ancient world historical masterpiece “Bajirao Mastani”, make no mistake that director/co-writer Ashutosh Gowariker still presents a solidly entertaining and well-filmed effort here that is both engaging and filled with Bollywood’s classic ability to combine action, drama, romance, and humor, regardless of the primary themes being explored. Excellent cinematography sweeps the viewer through vast desert expanses, small villages, deep rivers filled with dangers, and the majestic city of Mohenjo Daro itself with flare and poise, while the narrative’s character-based strengths are accompanied by some very Bhansali-esque, wonderfully choreographed dance sequences and haunting songs. From a battle channeling “Gladiator” to an exodus reminiscent of “The Ten Commandments”, folks, this movie stands tall on its own merits.
Being only the third film this reviewer has seen lead star Roshan in, overhearing some comments coming out of the theater bemoaning his performance honestly rubbed me the wrong way. Roshan brings a smoldering gravitas to the characters he plays, whether as action star or dramatic lead, and he offers both as Sarman. There’s an earnestness to his performance which felt genuine and intentional, and he most certainly puts his action and romantic chops on display to full effect. Likewise, his truly gorgeous co-star Hegde plays Chaani perfectly opposite him, fending off Sarman’s roguish, commoner charms for only so long before his persistence pays off, with Hegde having some fun, playful moments intermixed with her more serious, emotionally charged scenes with Roshan.
Integrate an unshakable supporting cast anchored by the well-enacted villains played by veteran Bedi and Singh and overall themes exploring the ever-disputed realms of class struggle, “Mohenjo Daro” is another fantastic piece of Hindi cinema that illustrates an undeniable level of filmmaking that is only continuing to improve as the years move by.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
