Mirzya, a much-awaited film by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, is inspired from the famous Punjabi folklore of a tragic love story of Mirza- Sahiban. It comes in the league of other tragic love stories of Punjab – Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal etc. This film is also the launchpad for Harshvardhan Kapoor (Anil Kapoor's son) and Saiyami Kher (Niece of Shabana and Tanvi Azmi). Expectations roar high, when the film is written by a living legend Gulzar and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash. Mirzya is poetic, painted beautifully on a huge canvas, visually spectacular, but the screenplay falters. Mirzya is not able to evoke the pathos of such a powerful love story, not soul-stirring. The film shows the much famous folklore in two eras, visuals interspersed with Daler Mehndi's powerful voice in the background. When the story of Mohnish / Adil Mirza (Harshvardhan Kapoor) and Suchitra (Saiyami Kher) is conveyed, parallels are drawn with the scenes of Mirza-Sahiban story too.
Om Puri, a blacksmith, is shown working and saying that there would always be some fire in the streets of blacksmiths. Clubbed with this is that of Sahiban (Saiyami Kher of the old era) watching a group of horse riders galloping and her eyes full of appreciation for Mirza (Harshvardhan with the get up of an old era), a scruffy warrior winning archery competition against others. Throughout the film, relevant scenes from either of the timelines are blended and shown parallelly.
Mohnish and Suchitra are great friends as children, and both go to school together. Suchitra, a disciplined child, and Mohnish, a naughty child, are almost inseparables. One day, Suchitra gives Mohnish her homework book so as to save him from teacher's punishment, but ultimately ends up getting punished herself. Mohnish, unable to bear Suchitra getting punished, takes a much undesired drastic step. That ill-fateful incident separates Mohnish from Suchitra. Later on Suchitra is sent abroad by her father who is in Police department. Years fly by. The backdrop changes to Udaipur from Jodhpur, where prince Karan (Anuj Choudhary) is eagerly waiting for Suchitra to return from abroad so that he can propose her and announce his marriage plans to her. Mohnish, who is now known as Adil Mirza is the one who is taking care of horses in the stable. Unaware of Adil's actual identity, Suchitra's and Adil's paths cross.
Although the folklore is familiar to us, it is interesting to watch, how the parallels are drawn between Adil-Suchitra and Mirza- Sahiban's stories. How does Suchitra come to know regarding Adil's actual identity ? How Adil reacts when he sees Suchitra along with Karan ? What happens when Suchitra's father, Prince Karan's father, and in fact Karan react when they come to know regarding Adil and Suchitra ? Is the fate of Adil and Suchitra the same as that of Mirza-Sahiban ?
The film had tremendous potential. In fact, the lyrical way of storytelling by blending two timelines that of Mirza-Sahiban and Mohnish/Adil –Suchitra's stories with songs also is brilliant. But, efforts are not taken to show / justify the love story or strong bond between Adil-Suchitra. Strong ties of love in a relationship, where the protagonists separated decades back, is not developed. It doesn't touch one's heart.
Harshvardhan, Saiyami and Anuj are very good, but the lack of intensity in the script brings their intensity quotient down. Anjali Patil as Zeenat is also noticeable. Om Puri's presence is left incomplete on screen. Art Malik (A British Actor) and KK Raina who essayed Suchitra and Karan's father respectively are also good.
The dialogues are less in the film, rather the story is intertwined with the dance sequences. Songs are having meaningful lyrics. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Daler have given good folk songs.
Cinematography needs special mention, kudos to Polish cinematographer Pawel Dyllus.
Mirzya is poetic, painted beautifully on a huge canvas, visually spectacular. Expectations roar high, when the film is written by Gulzar and directed by Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, but the arrow misses the target. The screenplay falters. The film is not able to evoke the pathos of such a powerful love story, not soul-stirring. It lacks passion, intensity. But, one must watch it for the way this lyrical art is presented.
Om Puri, a blacksmith, is shown working and saying that there would always be some fire in the streets of blacksmiths. Clubbed with this is that of Sahiban (Saiyami Kher of the old era) watching a group of horse riders galloping and her eyes full of appreciation for Mirza (Harshvardhan with the get up of an old era), a scruffy warrior winning archery competition against others. Throughout the film, relevant scenes from either of the timelines are blended and shown parallelly.
Mohnish and Suchitra are great friends as children, and both go to school together. Suchitra, a disciplined child, and Mohnish, a naughty child, are almost inseparables. One day, Suchitra gives Mohnish her homework book so as to save him from teacher's punishment, but ultimately ends up getting punished herself. Mohnish, unable to bear Suchitra getting punished, takes a much undesired drastic step. That ill-fateful incident separates Mohnish from Suchitra. Later on Suchitra is sent abroad by her father who is in Police department. Years fly by. The backdrop changes to Udaipur from Jodhpur, where prince Karan (Anuj Choudhary) is eagerly waiting for Suchitra to return from abroad so that he can propose her and announce his marriage plans to her. Mohnish, who is now known as Adil Mirza is the one who is taking care of horses in the stable. Unaware of Adil's actual identity, Suchitra's and Adil's paths cross.
Although the folklore is familiar to us, it is interesting to watch, how the parallels are drawn between Adil-Suchitra and Mirza- Sahiban's stories. How does Suchitra come to know regarding Adil's actual identity ? How Adil reacts when he sees Suchitra along with Karan ? What happens when Suchitra's father, Prince Karan's father, and in fact Karan react when they come to know regarding Adil and Suchitra ? Is the fate of Adil and Suchitra the same as that of Mirza-Sahiban ?
The film had tremendous potential. In fact, the lyrical way of storytelling by blending two timelines that of Mirza-Sahiban and Mohnish/Adil –Suchitra's stories with songs also is brilliant. But, efforts are not taken to show / justify the love story or strong bond between Adil-Suchitra. Strong ties of love in a relationship, where the protagonists separated decades back, is not developed. It doesn't touch one's heart.
Harshvardhan, Saiyami and Anuj are very good, but the lack of intensity in the script brings their intensity quotient down. Anjali Patil as Zeenat is also noticeable. Om Puri's presence is left incomplete on screen. Art Malik (A British Actor) and KK Raina who essayed Suchitra and Karan's father respectively are also good.
The dialogues are less in the film, rather the story is intertwined with the dance sequences. Songs are having meaningful lyrics. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Daler have given good folk songs.
Cinematography needs special mention, kudos to Polish cinematographer Pawel Dyllus.
Mirzya is poetic, painted beautifully on a huge canvas, visually spectacular. Expectations roar high, when the film is written by Gulzar and directed by Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, but the arrow misses the target. The screenplay falters. The film is not able to evoke the pathos of such a powerful love story, not soul-stirring. It lacks passion, intensity. But, one must watch it for the way this lyrical art is presented.