Black

Plot synopsis:
The film begins with Michelle McNally (Rani Mukerji), a blind and deaf woman, visiting her former teacher Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan), who now has Alzheimer's disease, in a hospital. The film then flashbacks to the past to her childhood.Michelle was a girl who lost her eyesight and hearing after recovering from an illness at the age of two and exists in a black world where she is isolated in the darkness of her own existence, trapped by her inability to see, hear and express. She grows up becoming more and more frustrated by the black and dark world around her, making her a violent, uncontrollable eight-year-old child. Her parents, Paul and Catherine, are at their wits' end trying to control her, until one day the light shines through the end of the tunnel.Debraj Sahai enters their lives, an elderly alcoholic teacher for the deaf and blind, Debraj sees himself as a magician and is a disillusioned eccentric man. He takes it upon himself to bring young Michelle into the light. He uses harsh methods, although always for Michelle's long-term benefit. Initially, his methods are met with disapproval by Michelle's father, who asks Debraj to leave. Although her father thinks he is gone, Debraj stays as the teacher while her father is away on business for 20 days. Her mother grudgingly approves of his continuation given her fear of Michelle being sent to an asylum. By the 20th day, Debraj manages to teach Michelle some words and better manners, but he has difficulty teaching her the meaning of words. When Michelle's father returns, Debraj packs his bags. At the very last moment, as he is walking towards the door suitcase in hand, Debraj gets frustrated with Michelle's continuing insolent behaviour and he throws her into a fountain full of water. Michelle suddenly takes to Debraj's lessons at that moment and begins to understand meaning. She is able to recognize her mother and father, and can vocalize the first syllables of some words small enough for her to understand. The McNallys decide to keep Debraj as Michelle's teacher.Many years later, Michelle has learned a great deal, becoming relaxed and expressive, and she is even able to dance and expertly sign. Debraj convinces the Principal of a university to grant her an interview which she passes and gets admission to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, the first deaf-blind person to do so at that university. Michelle moves away from home and lives with Debraj and one of her servants. Over the next 2 years, she struggles to gain her Bachelor of Arts degree, failing year after year, but she still maintains her spirit. One reason is that she must rely on Debraj completely for interpretation of the material and studying. This problem is overcome by the Principal of the school preparing the whole first-year Arts course of study in Braille. Another reason for her continuing failure is that her typing skills are lacking and typing is her only way to write down what she knows during exams. However, she also soon overcomes this deficiency through another flash of increased competence when she almost quits the university and gets into an argument with Debraj.At the same time as Michelle suffers through and triumphs over her challenges, we also witness numerous other changes. Debraj begins to succumb to Alzheimer's, first forgetting the way out of the Principal's office and then forgetting Michelle and leaving her stranded during an ice cream celebration for her improved typing. We also see Michelle reconcile with her sister Sara, who we find out was jealous of her parents' affection for Michelle throughout her life. After attending Sara's wedding, Michelle begins to wonder about love, which she has not experienced, and she even asks Debraj to kiss her on the lips. Debraj reluctantly does so but decides to leave Michelle on her own because of this demand and the position she has put him in. Twelve years after enrolment, Michelle does manage to gain her BA, and with her proud parents looking on her, she even gives a speech to the graduating class. Wearing no black graduation robe, she thanks her parents and her teacher and she announces that she will only wear the robe so that her teacher may see her first.Debraj is in a mental hospital due to his almost complete inability to remember his past and even how to speak. Michelle visits him wearing her robe and we see glimmers of memory return as Debraj realises that she has graduated and even does a victory dance. As the window opens to the rain outside, we see Debraj's hand in Michelle's reaching into the rain, and we hear the teacher-student pair say the first syllable of the word "water", with echoes of the scene in which Michelle first begins understanding the meaning of words earlier in the movie. However this time, it is Debraj who is beginning to learn to speak and understand.The movie ends with a scene of Michelle amongst a crowd of people all dressed in black carrying candles walking towards a church. There is a voiceover of a letter Michelle has written to Debraj's friend Mrs Nair explaining that today was her teacher's first day of school, and that like hers, his alphabet began with "B L A C K".

Tags: flashback

Review:
Nearly EVERY shot is a wonder!Amitabh Bhachchan's acting is his best ever (at least for western audiences), and beats most recent performances from Hollywood.I don't consider this film a remake, but even if you do, you still need to see it..
Which is a real pity because if I had not made an accidental point of presenting myself at a movie-house that was actually screening the picture, as a Euro-heritage native-born Canadian I would likely still be walking around in a typically North American ethno-centric film fog about this excellent picture.When I initially asked the theatre's ticket clerk what "Black" was about, his description hardly got me excited.
It is not a "B" class flic.If only because the film's Director Sanjay Bhansali co-wrote the script, this obviously allowed him to imagine how he might want to capture the story with beautiful emotionally-charged cinematography.
Supporting actors were great too.If Hindi movies are half as good as this, I would watch more.I had a bonanza holiday break watching Black, Paheli and Mangal Pande.
Black is a living hell...until she meets Amitabh bachan's character....her brings light into Michelle's terrifying world.Rani Mukerji is fantastic and she is NOT annoying because you dumb haters just don't see the depth.
Excellent performance of the two main actors: Rani Mukherjee is unrecognizable and believable in her role of a blind person & Amitabh Bachchan, well, wonderful as usual!
For people looking for a Hindi movie without the Bollywood songs and dances, this one will make them happy; there is nothing of that sort here in this film that is a bit long (124 minutes!).For those who admire Amitiji(I am one of them), I guess you must watch this movie because he really is incredible!.
Here's very briefly what the movie is about:It is the story of Helen Keller & Anne Mansfield Sullivan, suitably modified though, to nicely fit into the Bollywood mould.That however should not take anything away from the three main highlights of the film:Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Direction, Rani Mukherjee's execution of a difficult role, & Mr. Amitabh Bachchan!!!Bhansali is best at stories highlighting human struggle.
Before this movie, Gulzar made a movie 'Koshish' in early 70's starring Jaya Bhaduri and Sanjeev Kumar for which they have won the awards.Michelle McNally (Ayesha Kapur/Rani Mukerji), born to an Anglo-Indian family, is deaf and blind.
The real-life story was presented on the big screen in the 1962's Hollywood flick THE MIRACLE WORKER, which starred Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft for which both the performers won the Oscars.A film like BLACK relies heavily on performances and Bhansali has extracted award-worthy work from practically the entire cast.
When you talk of BLACK, it's not just Bachchan or Rani's work you would like to extol, but Shernaz Patel, Nandana Sen, Dhritiman Chaterji and Ayesha Kapur's contribution as well.International Cinematography by Ravi K.
After Khakee and Dev, this one is his best performance and for this role, he felt that for the last 25 years I have been working in the movies but this is the first time that I have shown such an interest.
Forget anything and everything you know or think you know about Bollywood films, BLACK is world class movie making of a standard "Hollywood" aspires to.Director Sanjai Leela Bhansali has used the art of visual storytelling brilliantly - coupled with a wonderful and engaging screenplay.
And the brilliance of Amitabh is perfectly balanced with stunning performances from the beautiful Rani Mukerji and child actress, Ayesha Kapoor.BLACK is a product of a new generation of Indian filmmakers and they are rapidly raising the bar.
At first, when I saw Black, I was really impressed with the movie and the way Sanjay Leela Bhansali made it.
In the process, he has also insulted Indian and non-Indian movie-going audiences by shamelessly copying, and not even acknowledging that it was inspired by another film on the same subject.The film treats the subject matter really insensitively and manages to make a mockery of the DP and editor's work, as well as lay to waste the fine acting skills of AB and Rani Mukherjee.
While some may applaud his effort to foray into semi-serious film-making, especially moving away from the formulaic song and dance numbers, Bhansali comes up short on delivering the story in the best way possible.
Nevertheless it is definitely a moving and powerful performance but I'm not sure it was a consistent performance.Black - why I didn't like it.Story - it was the first of its kind to be witnessed on the Indian screen (I think), but it was based on the life of Hellen Keller.
I know it sounds like too much, but I really do believe Black is one of the best movies that has come out of Bollywood.
There is a certain aura of the movie ,which will grasp you.Some life time remembering performances can be seen by Mr.Amitabh Bachan,Rani Mukherjee and Ayesha.Nobody could have been more appropriate than Mr.bachan.Rani is brilliant and beautiful .Ayesha (who plays young Rani) is outstanding .The movie is loosely based on the true story of Hellen Keller.The film is about hope and courage of Michelle Mcnelly(Rani) who is deaf/dumb/blind who has no hope in life ..but when her teacher Mr.Sahai(Amitabh bachan) takes charge of her life ..Michelle finds a hope for living and with her teachers assistance she manages to passes all odds in life.
And all of a sudden, the word got transformed into a movie that broke all rules of mainstream Indian cinema, a movie which gave Amitabh Bacchan a break from his usual cliché driven films, a movie that proved that Rani is indeed Bollywood's present queen bee.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali presented the unorthodox Indian audience with a masterpiece, something that's so very rare.Right from when the movie began, I could sense that I'm watching something different.
However he doesn't spell it out, for he knows that it's more than a word, it's an experience millions of people like Michelle have been denied.Black is the story of how Michelle, a child who is more animal than human, is taught to live life with dignity, how to control her emotions, how to overcome her handicaps and grow up to be a 'fine young lady'.
If in his previous films he has played with colors and sound and drama, in Black Sanjay has played with human emotions - pain, anger, failure and at last, success.The overprotective mother (where was Shernaaz Patel all these days?), the sulky yet loving father (good acting by Dhritiman Chatterjee - a Satyajit Ray favorite), and the sister (Nandana Sen) who has everything in life except the attention one expects from one's parents, complete the scene.
Chandran's cinematography excels as well, the opulence of the McNally family, the emotion on the faces of the actors have been captured brilliantly.Black is the story of how Michelle achieves the almost impossible task of graduating, how Debraj takes up the mission of teaching her as a challenge, the complex relationship between two people most unlikely to be related in any way.
Excellent cinematography, superb acting, almost faultless direction have made BLACK a worth watching movie.
Black may not be the perfect movie of the year or a flawless attempt at portraying human emotions through a blind eye, but what it leaves us is a great impression by taking us through the journey of two very maturely crafted characters.
A 2 hr movie without songs & sensible plot with just minimal characters who completely convince you of the pain they undergone, BLACK is a fiction but a convincing poetry on Canvas how a struggle by a teacher to bring back an 8 yr blind,deaf,dumb girl to life.
The relationship between the two is perhaps never been portrayed before., sometimes controversial (the kiss scene between amitabh & rani) This particular scene has been made with a lot of guts & full marks to SLB.The movie has got its many flaws but again I don't see a point in criticizing this movie at all; the fact that you now have a product which has come a long away from the clichés of bollywood masalas is a great achievement & attempt in itself & we need to encourage such movies.Go watch BLACK & try not to watch for defects but for the sheer pain & passion of one of the very few genuine directors we have on hand today.Watch BLACK for Amitabh - India's answer to Al Pacino!
The photography, screenplay , choice of colors should make Indian Cinema really proud.I think no movie can match "BLACK" for a long time.
Black is the film we have all waited for and yet again, Sanjay Leela Bansali meets our high expectations with such a classic.Black is the invigorating story of a girl who cannot communicate through her God-given senses however she is able to touch her God  the person she saw, heard and walked with into the brightness of her life.
Amitabh has been my ultimate best actor since I was little and have been watching all his films, and watching him in this film both his and Rani acting they have made up an excellent team and I couldn't see anyone else who could have done these roles any better..
One of the changes in the story is that it's set in Shimla, India*--another is that there is a bizarre and highly problematic plot twist that you learn at the beginning of the film--but more about this later.A rich Indian family has a blind/deaf daughter who is in many ways like an animal.
For, what he has done with his character in Black is to endow Indian cinema with a flavour of flamboyant excellence, unparalleled by anything we've seen any actor from any part of the world do or say...The way Bachchan has used that well-known baritone has to be heard to be believed.
"Black" has probably brought out one of the best performances of Amitabh Bachchan even after all these years.Equally moving have been the performances of Rani Mukherjee and Ayesha Kapoor.
"Black" has raised the bar for all Bollywood films in terms of the Cinematography, the Direction, the performances and the credit for all of it goes to only one man, Sanjay Leele Bhansali, who first envisioned black and then has so successfully put it on the canvas like a master craftsman.A songless film which depicts the colors of life in all its darkness.
this is one of the greatest Indian movies i have ever seen.the little girl playing the young Michelle played a performance that blew me away.Amitabh showed once again why he is the best Bollywood actor of all time.he portrayed the teacher role with such passion,and his English was spot on.great performance.the light bulb scene stole the pick of scenes for me Rani Mukherjee was amazing.never have i seen Rani like this,she has shocked me in all accounts,this movie is an adaption on Helen Keller.but people who want to watch this should see it as how Sanjay Leela Bhansali has portrayed it.the scenes were emotional,the acting was good,the scene cuts were exceptional,the background music was a treat.another issue,Indian cinema feels they need to have songs,why not change,I'm not saying that song sequences should stop,but in films like this you do not need songs,the 2 hour platform of how long it ran was just perfect.this is one of the greatest movies I've seen.I've heard its been done in Hollywood in 1962 called the miracle worker,i should be checking that out because there were Oscar nominations.the people who are going to criticise Bollywood for copying again,should know that this movie is portrayed in its own style.the story is a little different.I'm proud of saying the i watched another brilliant movie,it is definitely up there.check out Ayesha Kapoor,the young girl,she gets all the credit on acting stance,totally amazing.brilliant on all accounts,i heard its up for the Oscar nomination for international film,i hope it wins it because it deserves it.well done Bhansalli.
In the "behind the scenes" footage of Black, everyone including Amitabh and Rani pretended how dedicated and ingenious Sanjay is, but not one word was credited toward the source of first half of the film.
Black should be said masterpiece of Sanjay Leela bhansali(Director),packed with great acting of Amitabh bachhan and Rani mukharji.A subject like this practically cries for sympathy, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's script is propped by visual metaphors and symbols, some of which are rather too obscure.Speaking of Michelle, the performer in Rani Mukerji must have turned more than a few mental cartwheels when she got Black.
It is a pure, performance-driven role, and Rani does it with a fluid maturity that is great to watch.Her chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan makes for some cool screen moments.
being a fan of intellectual cinema, i was especially looking forward to watching BLACK because it had the stalwart of Indian cinema Mr. Amitabh Bachhan pitted against an extremely talented Ms Rani Mukherjee...and to complete the trio is Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is truly a magician of a kind(even though i didn't really like his previous film DEVDAS which was premiered at Thr CANNES film festival et al starring the green eyed beauty of India cinema Ms Aishwarya Rai) a movie that is a genre of its own tells the story of a deaf and blind girl Michelle Mcnally who is stuck in the world of Black....
the movie has some really strong and high moments like when the teacher (Amitabh) makes his first communication with baby Michelle can make even the most toughest cynic break into a smile i would say this is a movie that can push Indian cinema into the global cinema as the plot is completely universal...moreover most of the movie is spoken in English anyways coming back to BLACK, there is nothing more to say than that it is a tremendous, powerful, strong and a very sensitive movie that does not burden the viewer with any apathy or discomfort but rather takes the viewer to a lexicon of exceptionally unheard of powerful and beautiful emotions...
BLACK is a masterpiece, you must have heard it is like "The miracle worker" or is this or that but the truth is this movie is of substance and very powerful performances by all the actors.
The portrayals by Ayesha Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee are brilliant and Amitabh has given the best performance of his long film career.The expressions on young Michelle's face all the times she is unable to communicate and when she finally learns to communicate are sheer joy to watch.
However there could be a problem with the movie having too many dialogues in English which could create a communication gap (not that the director cares) of sorts.On a different note I also believe that the Oscars should be given a taste of both the works as a living proof that Indian cinema has truly moved on from the claptrap that was once an intrinsic part of the film industry.
Firstly: how to deal with a special human with loving care & Secondly: nothing is impossible for a human-being whatever he or she is, special or normal.Subject & filming both combination given this movie perfection and it's total credits goes to Mr. Rajoo for his good story-line & Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali for well direction.By the way, i am very surprised to think, why this awesome creation not goes to Oscar?
She finds in difficult to communicate with her parents and because sang animal living in the form of s human being but light shines when debraj sebra enters her life.Flaws: they aren't any it is a complicated astonishing movie which touches your heart.Acting: Every single actor whether they had a small or large role had done phenomenal performances.
But the most amazing job done is by Ayeasha Kapur who plays the eight year old Michelle who is a confused wild animal is most effective she was truly the star of the show and the best performance of the movie.
its such an film that in some heart touching moments scenes u cant control yourself from shedding tears...amitabh ji and rani excels in acting..that too too naturally.authentically....same can be said to child actress..(sad demise..rip)after watching some Hollywood movies on such an issues i thought -y cant v make it here?....
How great is the movies, if you haven't seen it, you have really got to, i saw this this film with out no sub-tiles, and its kind of hard for me, but i got through it, and i understood everything, the acting is superb, with Rani and Bachench being the main stars you have really got to see this movies, and i think you will be pleased and amazed about what people go through, though out there life.
The acting by Rani and Amitabh was exceptional nothing I've seen in Indian cinema before I will definitely watch this movie again and again and it will certainly always be as good as previous.
The acting by Rani and Amitabh was exceptional nothing I've seen in Indian cinema before I will definitely watch this movie again and again and it will certainly always be as good as previous.
Camera-work and editing is absolutely flawless and Bhansali really lets his creativity run wild with the costumes and sets usually contrasting blacks and whites the theme is dark.Debraj Sahani (Amitabh Bachchan) plays is a deaf blind teacher to Michelle Mcnally (Rani Mukherjee) he meets her as an eight year old (played exceptionally well by 9 year old Ayesha Kapur).
If Black cannot get this award then i don't think any bollywood movie can get it for at least 10 years.
Amitabh as never seen before, an unbelievable performance by the young Michelle and great supporting roles by the mother and sister make this a movie that you will surely pause and flashback to in the weeks following your watching it.