One cannot emulate Christopher Nolan’s Memento. Even the dream of it is far fetched. While South India attempted the first version and called it ‘Ghajini’, A.R. Murugadoss decides to have a Bollywood version of Ghajini but not Memento! This was the biggest drawback of Aamir Khan enacted Ghajini which still shattered box office records and won over the masses. Ghajini, though enacted to perfection by Aamir Khan with some intense and gruesome action, looks too South Indianish in most parts and could’ve done so much better with a touch of class by a Bollywood director.
The first half deals with Sanjay (Aamir Khan)’s past prior to ‘the incident’ that changed his life and nervous system. A wealthy business tycoon, falling in love with an upcoming model Kalpana (Asin) brings a few laughs and charming moments as the story builds up to the incident that changes Sanjay’s life forever. Ghajini is the man who took his love and memory away from his life and Sanjay’s daily routine involves the relentless hunt for his faceless nemesis. Just like we saw in Memento, Sanjay uses tattoos, photographs and notes to relate to people and places everyday since his memory lasts for only 15 mins. Thereafter, he has to rely upon his memorabilia to make sense of life around him.
All that Sanjay remembers are vague scenes of the incident and an agonizing pain that rips through him, reminding him of his loss which turns the restless loner into an uncontrollable monster. The film’s action scenes are often too violent and incredulous, as one would expect from a Tollywood adapted flick. The director’s best touch is the depiction of the incident that changed everything in the flashback. The film is so intense at that point that it would set your heart pounding loud enough for you to hear. Few other scenes have been well depicted in concept and craft but its pace is easily broken by the unnecessary songs that are among A.R. Rehman’s worst creations, barring the superb melody of Guzaarish which stands out like a rose in the desert of cacti. Had the first half involved less of the love story and music, Ghajini would have been a lot better and succinct. Murugadoss cannot be as gifted as Christopher Nolan and therefore, Ghajini cannot bear the beauty and intricacy of Memento. It has been made for entertaining the masses in true Tollywood/Bollywood style and by the looks of it, has succeeded to a great extent.
Aamir Khan is the sole reason to watch Ghajini. His dedication to his role, professionalism and hard work to get into a body builder’s shape are conspicuous in every scene of the movie. Even if you head to the theatres just to watch him, it’s a trip worth taking down that memory loss lane.
- 7.36 on a scale of 1-10.
