Movie: Mohenjo Daro
Direction: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pooja Hegde
Music: A R Rahman
Cinematographer: C K Muraleedharan
Editor: Sandeep Francis
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Romance
Rating: ∗∗½
What is it about: The film is set in the period of Indus Valley Civilization 2016 B.C. Where an Indigo farmer goes to the big city of Mohenjo Daro for trade and discovers something, which makes his life topsy-turvy. What happens next forms the crux of the story directed by Ashutosh Gowariker.
Why it’s disappointing: Period films are too delicate to handle. And if you don’t handle it with care it breaks in to pieces. That’s what happened with “Mohenjo Daro”. Ashutosh laid a great foundation with amazing cast, production value and a story which could have done wonders. But all these ingredients were mixed inappropriately. Thus resulted in a motion picture which becomes shallow in most places.
The CGI of the film was too downmarket and was not in sync. Most of the scenes looked too cartoonish and half baked animation.
Pooja Hegde was looking like a million bucks but couldn’t emote much and she looked quite conscious in most places. She was attired well but the character was not given the moolah which it required.
The editing by Sandeep Francis was way too tiring and it drags a long second half. But then I felt he must have had not much of a choice either.
What to watch out for: The film somewhat tries to make up with its lead actor Hrithik Roshan, who did a great job and was applauded for his performance. There is an action sequence which takes place in the arena and that was quite a spectacle to watch. It was meticulously choreographed. But his hard work doesn’t pay off which lack of depth.
The music by AR Rahman was good and the background score was great. It was complimented well by the cinematographer CK Muraleedharan, who did a great job in spite of poor VFX.
Verdict: Ashutosh in the process of making a magnum opus, forgot the vital ingredients. And that resulted in a film, which was half prepared and fully disappointing. Can watch this film for Hrithik’s performance and ARR’s score. But will be let down by the director.
