Hi,
What do you think? Is "Black" the film that will lift 'popular' Hindi cinema on a new quality level?
Amitabh is singing the film's praises in extremo. Marketing only?
Extrapolating from HDDCS and Devdas I can see that Bansali is visually gifted, but not a master story teller, and not particularly subtle either. I'm skeptical, but if he has progressed a lot since Devdas, maybe, maybe...

mhafner!! I think, even if he follows to his khamoshi, film will be good!!
It might not become POPULAR CINEMA! still!
The other two, were just VISUAL DELIGHTS! that worked re popular cinema!

They were not soulful, or effective where it should matter to your soul, it touches right there!While Khamoshi did have that quality!imho

I am hopeful that it will turn out good. The previews look great and it is said to be an uplifting story.

it will be a cinematic master piece the best performance AMITABH & RANI will ever give in their careers but at the box-office the JANTA will reject the film...that has always been the case with these type of movies...

Whoever said "Black is Beautiful", for once a Bollywood film has invoked my interest in recent years. The promo material looks stunning to say the least..., looking forward to this one.

Can someone please confirm that this not another "inspiration" drawn by our filmmakers from around the world. In this case from Kieslowski's Three Colours Trilogy ?.

Which actor/actress or anyone else involved with the movie doesn’t praise the movie before release. Real opinions and credibility of any substance to the movie only ever emerge after its opening. I'd say mostly the marketing machine is at force here.

Ali

It might be inspired most likely, but if bhansali's story telling, can touch your soul, with strong characterization and performances, he has done his job! if? he is not looking for making/raking millions!

Well, AB presence, singing etc hype, hoopla are all publicity stunts of desperates!

this is another desperate measure:

http://rediff.com/movies/2005/feb/01ash.htm

Just got back from the 'Black' screening and boy..what a beautiful movie..

The performances are top rate..even the support cast..are excellent..from the mother..to the little girl who portrays rani wen young..to the father..all have put in 110%
all the pre-hype from the movie was pointed towards something special from rani mukherjee..and it was special..but what really surprised me was the performance of Amitabh Bachchan..this truly is..his best acting performance till date..he is absolutely brilliant as the eccentric yet effective teacher.

The film is shot beautifully as expected by SLB..the colours the shades the lighting the atmosphere..everything gels brilliantly with the mood of the film..

there are no real songs in the movie..the background score is pretty much played throughout the whole movie and is great..

the film is just about 2 hours in length aswell..

id rate this movie 10/10..i havent seen khamoshi..but i reckon this is much better than devdas..but its not really fair to compare this to any of his older movies or even to compare this to any bollywood movie..because it has such an international feel to it..
about 1/4 maybe more of the dialogue is in english..and it is done pretty well by the actors and writers..

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask ..

Life is like an ice cream..enjoy it..before it melts away-Debraj(Amitabh)

I just got a call from a film maker (incidentally the producer of THE CHOSEN ONE about which there is already a thread http://www.zulm.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7394 ) who just termed BLACK an outstanding film.....thats saying a lot coming from whom it did ! I now look forward to watching it on SUNDAY !!!

vjmagic, arkyane, I never doubted for SLB that he can not make sensitive soulful film well.

devdas/hddcs are not valid comparison. film maker has grown since his days of khamoshi, so do techniques too! So i expect black to be way even superior than khamoshi.

SLB made devdas/hddcs to earn his money and honor back!
but he made Khamoshi from his heart!

How do you figure castigating Bhansali's vision in HDDCS & Devdas solely for the purpose to earn an elite living. For god sake, the man still lives in an apartment.

Man i did not mean to offend by being anti bhansali!

he lives in villa or apartment? who took all earnings from his hit films..bharat shah, I guess!

Well bottom line:

I think this is the first time I've ever seen a film on it's opening day.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black" serves as a moving meditation on the alternate universe of The Movies, and, above all, as a testament to the liberating power of imagination. Sure, it's every bit as corny as it sounds, and as wilfully impulsive as anything Bhansali's ever made, but it's ultimately Bhansali's willingness to wear his heart on his sleeve and lay all of his cards on the table that make for such an unexpectedly poignant movie.

Black is a very personal film--surge with vital, positive energy and a sort of real magic notably absent from the vast majority of Bollywood films today. Bhansali doesn't seem the least bit embarrased by his films' sentimentality because he's confident that what he's saying will ring true. And, boy, does it ever.

The only downside to this film, it was lacking music. Next to Mani Ratnam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has a passionate ear for music.

Black... Sanjay Leela Bhansalis second attempt at throwing his audience into the world of the less privileged. His first attempt with Khamoshi dealt with the subject of life as a deaf-mute was touching, but Black is on another level which I have never experienced in the world of Bollywood. Bhansali has ditched the grandeur and glamour which he superbly portrayed in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas and has turned to the world of emptiness... the life of being surrounded by nothing but Black..

The story revolves around Debraj (Amitabh Bachchan), a down and out teacher that has a problem with alcohol - but who is adamant to achieve his goals and help those he need his help. This is where he meets Michelle McNally, who is a deaf and blind 9 year old who is struggling with her own life in total suffocation - in pitch black.. Debraj understand the isolation Michelle is in, and helps her to bring light into her life... her light is short lived when Debraj himself is encaptured by Alzheimers Disease and is unable to remember anything.. Michelle realises that its her job to help Debraj over come his disability and be the magician for him, the same way he used his magic on her to help her.. and this is the premise of Black - the relationship between Debraj and Michelle.

Its very difficult for me to write a premise to this movie, as there is more to Black than the simple story of Debraj and Michelle.. But, I`ll make it clear that Black is easily Bhansalis best work EVER... I`ll even go as far as saying that its on of the finest Bollywood movies ever made... Do not mistake this for masalafied crap we are so used to seeing from Bollywood.. It veers away from the norm creating a whole new meaning to entertainment and story telling.. Black touches you and makes you appreciate life and the way you are.. Right from the word go Black grabs you emotionally and refuses to let go of you until the end credits start to role.. It is sad that not many movies can achieve this in Bollywood, and even in Hollywood.. Forget all the overly-emotional Veer Zaaras, and experience life the way it could be for every single one of us.. Black is just astounding, I really cannot think of words to explain how fantastic this movie is...

The credits for this movie go to Bhansali, who was brave enough to attempt a movie like this.. I don’t think the masses in India will appreciate this movie, however I hope this movie gets the recognition for breaking down the barriers of Bollywood...

The role of Michelle played by Rani Mukherjee is fantastic.. This movie shows how Rani Mukherjee is a truly seasoned actress and can manage such a difficult role as Michelle’s with ease.. Pity other Bollywood directors want her to tart herself up and strut up and down the set in a mini skirt... Rani should receive recognition for this, and I am sure she will.. Other Bollywood Actresses take note.. Rani is here to stay, even though she has thunder thighs..

Debraj... without any bias, but Amitabh Bachchan is awe inspiring... We are so used to seeing Amitabh playing the role as the angry young man, police commissioner or even the old Babu-jee... But this is the first movie I have seen where Amitabh has touched your emotions so deeply the way he has in Black.. Yes we saw the emotions of Babu Mosai in Anand, however to say this is Amitabhs finest ever isn't enough.... What he has done with his character in Black is to endow Bollywood with a flavour of flamboyant excellence, unparalleled by anything we've seen by any actor from any part of the world... It is impossible to picture any other actor trying to pull off the role as Debraj... The execution of his dialogues are just mind blowing... the way he drops his voice to a whisper and then raises it again to challenge destiny, and toast immortality.... THE GREATEST - This is why he is the GREATEST..!!

I can go on an on by praising this movie however I will leave my review as it stands.. Black is not your typical Bollywood movie... Hell I could argue it doesn’t fall into any genre of movie that you have seen from Bollywood before.. It is a masterpiece... I just hope Bhansali, Rani and Amitabh all get the recognition they deserve for this movie... A nomination into the Oscars ala Lagaan would definitely be the icing on the cake for this movie...

Do not miss this movie.. And yes I’ll add this point... don’t download a pirate copy of this movie.. it will not do the movie any justice...

Faddy Rating 20 out of 10........... unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!