Dilli 6 :
In a nutshell, if you sit through the first half, you can see some good cinema before you have to bear with the last 20 mins leaving you with a could-have-been feeling for the movie.
That is not a good sign for a movie.
Overall, I liked the intent of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Among the things that work are the symbolisms (before they get repetitive), the message (before it gets too preachy but I can live with this considering an average cinemagoer), the second line of actors (are each *brilliant*), picturization of Dil Gira Dafatan (dafatan means suddenly or so says my room-mate).
What doesn’t work are the first half (too fragmented, I am sure even a disk defragmentation on the video file would have yielded a better movie), the songs (each song’s timing is accompanied with a WTH feeling), acting of the first line of actors (except Sonam Kapoor, which leaves just Abhishek Bachchan. My thoughts on his acting are summarized in a previous post here and this movie just made me go “Hah !”), Amitabh Bachchan (the biggest WTF moment of the movie. What you get one Bachchan free with another ?), the sets (sorry but it seemed like some badly designed set but if this was shot on location, then negative marks for the cinematographer) and a few more here and there.
I’d still recommend this movie just for its theme and the slick second half. Honestly speaking, in spite of it’s negatives, the movie left me with a good feeling at the end. It is just that kind of movie which deserves to be seen by everyone.
By the way, does anyone know why Amitabh Bachchan claims that people who defended Slumdog Millionaire should also defend Dilli 6 ?
The Stoneman Murders :
You *have* to see this movie. It is carried entirely by Kay Kay Menon and a tight script. It is only once in the movie that the script lags behind our thinking but I can pardon that. This is how thrillers need to be made.
Requiem for a dream :
Arguably Darren Aronofsky’s masterpiece, this is the story of 4 addicts coming to terms with their respective addictions. Enough literature has been written about Darren’s vision in executing this and I won’t add to it. Just see it.
Trainspotting :
Arguably Danny Boyle’s masterpiece, the screenplay probably was better than the direction but that is just because the screenplay is brilliant. Again a movie about drug addiction. By the time I finished watching this and Requiem back to back, I was almost feeling sick myself.
Kisse Pyaar Karoon :
Proof that I am masochistic ?

18 comments
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March 4, 2009 at 1:13 am
Nikhil
spell check: repetitive (and not ‘repeatitive’)
March 4, 2009 at 1:16 am
Deepak Iyer
In my defense, I do not spell check or proof read. What you get is unfiltered from my thoughts [:D].
Anyway thanks for pointing it out.
Caught a couple more of them too.
The weird part about wordpress is that it doesnt spell check while you type, it shows you the errors after you publish it and then edit it later.
March 4, 2009 at 8:04 am
docmitasha
I hadn’t read Amitabh’s piece and WTH?? The movies should not even be compared for one thing, they are completely different tales! And, yet again an example that a director can take a mediocre script and make it in a way that will overwhelm the world and make an impact, or take a great script and ruin it with repetition and fragmentation for most of the movie.
Also like how he spells out for us exactly the philosophy the movie was trying to show us through ‘portrayals,’ after all the times the movie did it itself. The mirror and the monkey concept: excellent. When is a symbol and a metaphor no longer a symbol and a metaphor? When you explain it to death, because you decide everyone’s too dumb to get it.
On another note, whenever I read his writing I always feel like he’s using a lot of big words and complex phrases to say very little…like he’s jhaadoing new-found elite English
Hadn’t seen your review before, but I think mostly we had similar thoughts except for a few things…need to see Stoneman now…
March 6, 2009 at 1:53 am
Anorak
@ Deepak
We are not exactly on the same page as far as our views on dilli chheh are concerned. I didn’t understand this movie one bit!! But I do like your review as I think it’s very fair.
March 6, 2009 at 2:27 am
Anorak
@
Your thoughts on Abhishek’s acting, please? Link? I am curious and you can tell.
March 6, 2009 at 2:33 am
Deepak Iyer
@Anorak : Yeah the link is in place now. Thanks for pointing that out. Here it is :
http://iyerdeepak.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/abbabys-day-out/
March 8, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Nimish Atra
Nice, short and crisp take on the Delhi-6….I agree liking or disliking a movie could limit to just one flashpoint….And thanx for the feedback at my post…
June 15, 2009 at 8:43 pm
mukta
I dragged my bro to watch this one…
and he cursed and cursed me some more…
Very Poor characterization ! Just what does the hero do for a living??
Also, WHYY does he fall in love with the Sonam’s Character?
Good intentions and all is fine…BUT atleast create characters that are worth watching !
June 16, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Deepak Iyer
@Mukta : The hero thinks he is an actor, piggybacks on father/mother/wifey and is still very popular among girls. I will never understand why in a million years.
About the movie, I have enlisted all negative stuff, but somehow, I feel this movie was necessary, in today’s circumstances. Bad, no doubt, but necessary. That is the only reason why I liked whatever little I liked of it.
June 16, 2009 at 7:58 pm
alltalkandnoaction
haha
I meant what the “character” did for a living !
BTW, I like Abhi too
Agreed he hasnt done “good” cinema in a lonng time…Last fab movie was Guru…Yet… I can’t dismiss him off too…
His only problem is that there is this huge BURDEN of being a Bachchan !
June 16, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Deepak Iyer
@Mukta : I am just curious about your question, do all other movies answer how their protagonists earn money ?
I am sure you like him. I just don’t understand why.
Guru, I can give him a bit of credit. But after around 8 years in the industry, anyone should pick up acting.
His ONLY problem ? [:)] That said, I think the only burden of being a Bachchan is to not irritate people like me [:D]. And no, he hasn’t done too well at that.
Either way, for more thoughts about Baby B, I invite you to read this post :
http://iyerdeepak.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/abbabys-day-out/
P.S. : I admit my views border on fundamentalism, but the Bachchan parivar and its extensions have been irritating people for long enough. Apologies, in case of offence.
June 16, 2009 at 8:16 pm
alltalkandnoaction
Yup, most movies don’t. But some light on what the hero does apart from flying down with his daadi and singing matakali and kala bandar would have been good.
I aint a great fan of him…but ya…won’t disregard him altogether. Infact I think he is farrrr better than his plastic wife.
Phir Milenge, Kuch Na kaho also showed him in a “mature” vein…:)
Plz dun be sooo harsh on the man
June 16, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Deepak Iyer
@Mukta : Don’t you know ? That is what most people returning from the US do !! I am currently practising the song myself.
Ok so we have a common ground when it comes to wifey. Give some more time with the Bachchans and you’ll be on this side.
Have seen them, but forgotten them for good reason.
Duly noted, but likely to be ignored [:)]. But very honestly, tough to ignore when someone puts it like that.
June 16, 2009 at 8:24 pm
alltalkandnoaction
Umm…Ok…leme make one more confession…
I do like the Father ! You can’t dispute THAT now !!
Also, the Mummy has been a great actress…though not very good at her innings in Politics…But ok…that’s another issue.
So mummy aur papa achhe actors reh chuke hain…
The baby (hopefully) shall get some sense in a few years
Wifey isn’t worth discussing…
June 16, 2009 at 8:29 pm
alltalkandnoaction
ohhh I forgot to mention YUVA !!!
Amazing acting there!
June 16, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Deepak Iyer
@Mukta : I see you are putting the email followup comments feature to good use.
Father, he is a very good actor no doubt. It is the offscreen thing that gets to me. You do know about the Dhoom 2 kissing scene halla they created right ?
Mummy was a good actor in her time. Now, frankly, she needs subtitless for her acting.
Baby is in such august company, that I wouldn’t hope too much from him [:)].
Wifey agreed. Although I don’t know when the transition from thinking she was a decent actress to an irritating person happened.
June 16, 2009 at 9:11 pm
alltalkandnoaction
No follow up comments case here.
Just plain lucky that wordpress can be accessed in office !
June 17, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Deepak Iyer
@alltalkandnoaction : This might interest the Big B fans :
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=30&contentid=20090616200906160335444772b0eaee6