Pink
wogma rating: Add to 'must watch' list (?)
You forget you are watching a film for a lot of the 2+ hours. Doesn't wrench your heart or gut, but works on the mind. Hopefully.
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It is unclear whether Amitabh Bachchan plays the accused women's advocate or is interrogating them. He looks like he is playing devil's advocate in one scene and in another he looks like he is out to get them. He absolutely is not going easy on them. And then you question if the trailer has been cut in such a way that it answers none of these questions. And slam dunk, you want to watch the film.
In addition, the theme relates to eve-teasing and everything that goes with it. A topic that is not only in the news but one a woman can relate to effortlessly. And then you nicely round it off with the fact that it has support of reliable filmmakers like Shoojit Sircar. Just Amitabh Bachchan is enough to make many of us want to watch this film. Everything else about Pink add to that eagerness even more!
Music Reviews:
Bollyspice – "3.5/5"
- meeta, a part of the audience
Pink isn't really a fictional film, is it? It might as well have been a documentary. In fact, a lot of the screenplay, must read like one. A very engrossing documentary, though. One that from the word go makes you identify with it. However, every once in a while it reminds itself that it is a movie, as if it were mandatory - by use of a song or a break from the drama.
Pink is so close to home that only a few of those digressions bother you. As a middle-aged, urban woman with two teenage kids, one of whom is a girl – the questions Pink raises are something I struggle with on an almost day-to-day basis. As a middle-aged, urban woman who likes to meet new people, I have often had to think about what my actions must be construed as by the people around me. I cannot even imagine what it must be like for a young girl who lives by herself.
This identification has been used to Pink's advantage. Well, for starters, you smirk at the sarcasm in its title. To make the point it wants to, it's important that the audience feel like it could happen to them any day. As it very well might. However, it still doesn't hit the gut.
There is just the one scene that makes you squirm. I would think that would be the root of the courtroom drama. But the rest of the film, barely mentions it. It nagged me through the film. But, as an afterthought, might as well. If a relatively less serious offense can be brought to attention. The more serious one is taken care of by itself. Nip it in the bud, so to speak. However, when I say that, I go out on a limb here. Because as a psychiatrist friend once told me, it doesn't matter whether it was “actual” rape or not. The only thing that matters is the violation that the victim feels.
Apologies, I digress again. I like films that make me digress in this manner. They have to be well-written and well-performed for it to be so effective. The girls all play the bits well enough for us to worry about them. The guys make you want to hold them by the collar and punch their eye. If anyone, the prosecutor, played by Piyush Mishra comes across like a caricature; his act a bit over-done.
In Amitabh Bachchan films, I always admire how you tend to forget the actor and remember the character he played, especially while you are watching the film. Here I was slightly worried that the film might become about this mentally deteriorating lawyer. But, the film is only and only about the issue. The lawyer, the victims, the culprits serve only one purpose – to bring the issue forth.
And of course there is a sermon. It is broken into pieces and is not one long lecture. But it is a speech nevertheless. That Amitabh Bachchan is delivering it, makes you listen to it with rapt attention. That it is about a topic that means something to you, helps you too. But hey, it is a sermon nevertheless. And my problem with them is that they jolt you out of the story making you realise again that it is a film you are watching. Equally jarring is the song that abruptly begins in the background. Also, a little less of the setup and a little more of the courtroom drama would have worked better.
Even so, when it is time, as a parent of a girl, I would want her to watch this film. I believe, I don't have to teach her, her rights. But, just to be sure, maybe I should. As a parent of a boy, I would want him to watch this film. I believe, I don't have to teach him physical boundaries and the meaning of consent. But, just to be sure, maybe I should. And if the lad has to get a sermon, why not from the man himself, why not through a story with characters to hate and root for, why not through a display of emotions very real.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, trust a parent to turn a film into education. But, did I not mention, Pink might as well have been a dramatic documentary? A good one, at that.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...But other parts of Pink are beautifully subtle. Consider the scene where Meenal goes running in a park and stops for a breather, when she sees Deepak staring at her. (At that point, he hasn’t yet taken up the case. He’s just a neighbour.) She stares right back. Later, another neighbour – another man – stands in his balcony and looks towards the girls’ flat. The film doesn’t make much of this by way of a plot point. But a hint is left hanging, that had this flat been occupied by three unmarried men, these neighbours wouldn’t be looking. Unless, of course, this was another kind of pink movie. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...BOL - Movie Review : One of most shocking and stunning movies, which will shake you hard as never before for sure... full review
Thumbs up, Bollywood Hungama : ...On the whole, PINK is a compelling film which exposes hypocrisies and double standards against women in our society. With powerful performances from the starcast, the film leaves you shocked, stunned and speechless. At the Box Office, it will be patronised by the multiplex audiences and the positive word of mouth will translate into healthy footfalls for the movie. Don't miss this one as it hammers home a very powerful message. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Anusha Iyengar, Bollywood Life : ...Not to forget, the dialogues are to the point and witty. The second half of the movie is more gripping and Big B steals the show in the second half. The last scene in the movie is bound to give you the chills. This is Bengali film director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s Bollywood debut and is produced by Shoojit Sircar. All in all, this is the Movie of the Year for me. I urge you to watch it with your family and friends. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Mehul S Thakkar, Deccan Chronicle : ...His performance wasn’t a let down but his mannerism was distracting. Dhritiman Chatterjee as a judge is very convincing and plays his part to perfection. Of the rest of the cast, the female Haryanvi cop in particular, was excellent. Kudos to writer Ritesh Shah for maintaining such sensitivity while writing the screenplay of the film. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Madan Mohan Marwah, Desi Martini : ...Verdict - This is one riveting film which must be seen by all Indian citizens. It is in a must watch category ... full review
Thumbs up, by Yatharth Chauhan , Desi Martini : ...If we can have a better film than Pink in the remaining part of 2016, trust that things are going uphill. Pink is dark black but it’s also the best film of the year! ... full review
Thumbs up, by Rahul Deo Bharadwaj , Desi Martini : ...Go watch Pink. It will entertain you first and then leave you with hope and a message. Not many movies qualify in that league. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Krish Sripada, Desi Martini : ...Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury picked up very brave plot for his movie and while mainstream audiences love to visit themes like these, he could have gone wrong at many a place. He steers clear of all those hurdles ensuring the movie is neither too preachy nor too disinterested. Walking the taut line is probably his biggest achievement and he must thank Big B and Tapsee for it. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Smita Vyas Kumar, Desi Martini : ... This movie proves its point while it entertains. A very tough one to pull off. Do not miss this movie. You will come back a better person for it. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Tushar P. Joshi, DNA : ...Pink is a film every woman and every man must watch. It carries an important message. And even if it changes the mindset of one percent of the country's population, it's a big win. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare : ...Well acted, well intentioned and inspiringly brave, Pink is the film that can shake up feudal mindsets in India. It is a bit theatrical in its approach, but some causes need to be shouted from the rooftops. So that’s what Pink does. It stands tall and it lets out a roar of defiance against gender inequality and women exploitation. More power to girls. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Swaroop Thotada, fullhyd.com : ...Pink is an important film that is perfectly timed. While we are still fighting sexism and misogyny in their blatantly obvious and direct forms, it shows we don't have time to wait to get to their subtler and sensitive variants. It employs gut-wrenching scenes to drive home its message, but it ably succeeds in delivering it. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Vishal Verma, Glamsham.com : ...All said and done, PINK is an essential piece of cinema. Having Mr. Bachchan in an act which nobody can afford to miss, the topical courtroom drama questioning the mindset of the society on women and the prevailing double standards demands compulsory viewing. Do yourself a favour, watch PINK.... full review
Thumbs up, by Rohit Vats, Hindustan Times : ...Pink shows what meticulous planning can do to a film. And, of course, Amitabh Bachchan’s enigmatic persona will guide you through the darkness. Not to be missed at all. ... full review
Thumbs up, Indicine : ...Conclusion: Pink is the women’s rights movie that we needed. It is unabashed, it shows us the harsh reality of the system, it shows us the perils of law in this country where the rich rule the roost and control the cops and the justice machinery. It has its minor flaws but all that fade away in comparison to the impact that Pink is sure to have on its audience. It teaches everyone a valuable lesson about consent and tells the story through a taut thriller that shocks and awes us. Pink is a must watch. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Surabhi Redkar, koimoi : ...Pink is poignant and powerfully provocative. It is a must-watch for everyone with a blurred vision for modern day women. I’ll go with a 4/5 for this film! ... full review
Thumbs up, by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY : ...So, yeah, you know where this film is coming from. What I’m interested in, or at least we ought to be, is where this film is going — ideally to all those people and places in India, still grappling with a seemingly radical idea that men and women are just, well, you know, equal. It’s shocking, as Pink puts it, the views some of the most unlikely men hold about women — on the basis of how they dress, what they drink, who they love, where they live… Even as we see more and more females in public, party, and work places. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Jaidev Hemmady, Movie Talkies : ...Nevertheless, the film could not have come at a better time- even in this era, when women are still expected to adhere to certain guidelines to avoid being molested or raped, a dose of Pink is what everyone needs this weekend… ... full review
Thumbs up, by Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror : ...Many argue that Delhi is wrongly dubbed the 'rape capital of the country', as supposedly more cases are reported there than anywhere else. But poor safety for women isn't the only issue our rajdhani is dented by. This film makes one think of the benefits the Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat campaign could derive if a small part of it were assigned to the cleansing of our minds. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Anupama Chopra, NDTV : ...Pink is a powerful film that needs to be seen. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ...Pink eventually goes from a nightmare to a film of wish-fulfilment, because not just do we have Bachchan as a stupefyingly articulate orator scolding witnesses with panache -- "I object... to this awkward performance. He is overacting" -- but we have Dhritiman Chatterjee playing a judge who understands rhetoric. ... full review
Thumbs up, by IANS, Sify Movies : ...Don't miss this film, and don't walk out during the end-titles or you will miss out on two vital experience. Of knowing what really happened "that night" and of hearing the Bachchan baritone recite Tanveer Qausi's powerful poetry on feminine awakening. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Namrata Joshi, The Hindu : ...You could question a lot of plot points, find the Mamta Shankar subplot entirely needless, think of the raising of the North-East issue as a bit perfunctory and patronising. The courtroom drama of the second half gets heavy-handed and is high on histrionics, with Piyush Mishra going over the top as the boys’ lawyer. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Karan Bali, Upper Stall : ...Technically adequate, Pink is worth a watch. And if it leads to more similar endeavors taking place in our mainstream cinema, then one can’t really complain. ... full review
Thumbs up, by Rummana, yahoo! India : ...Watch ‘Pink’, this is by far one of the best films I have seen this year. ... full review
Thumbs up, by IANS, Zee News : ...Overall, 'Pink' is an evocative film about women, brimming with messages relevant for society, and keeps you riveted to the screen. ... full review
So-So, by Anna MM Vetticad, annavetticadgoes2themovies : ...It is hard, therefore, not to be moved by the trauma and humiliation of Minal, Falak and Andrea who have to justify their life choices, their clothing choices and their tiniest moves before the world because one of them defended herself against an influential man who tried to rape her. Its flaws and that title notwithstanding, Pink is a powerful film. ... full review
So-So, by Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal : ...Roy Chowdhury’s efforts are no doubt sincere but I only wish that he had gone in for a more balanced and well researched approach. ... full review
So-So, by Suhani Singh, india today : ...Pink is nonetheless a breath of fresh air in an industry which has made a habit of presenting its leading ladies as beautiful objects to cherish... full review
So-So, by Manisha Lakhe, Now Running.com : ...You wish Tapsee Pannu did not have to be such a wuss at the trial (remember Jodie Foster in The Accused? You want that!). You wish the film had been crisper. You wish there was at least one Amitabh Bachchan dialog you could take home with you. 'No means no' does have the same drama as Sunny Deol's 'Tareekh pe tareekh' or the laconic brilliance of 'Tera naam kya hai Basanti'... Watch it because you cannot miss out on a film that attempts to talk about a subject that needs talking about. Just remember that the subject alone does not make it an amazing film. ... full review
Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: It is all about sexual violence, but nothing explicit shown except in end credits.
- Language: Abusive words silenced out.
- Nudity & Sexual content: A lot of talk about molestation and prostitution.
- Concept: Court-room drama about a molestation case. Touches upon many issues around it.
- General Look and Feel: A basic look and feel.
![[Shoojit Sircar twitter account]](/static/images/icons/twitter_small.png){kind=icon}
Comments (8)
waiting to watch Tapsee Pannu after Baby movie.
I have been curious about the movie from the day I stumbled upon its trailer. I would have always watched it. But thanks to your review I know a few things, kind of gives me perspective without spoiling the plot. As detailed as this could be, a nice review.
Young man or old, you can just never take the anger out of this legend! Yet another stupendous, mind blowing & hard hitting performance from this everlasting university of acting. I am almost certain PINK will carry a 90%+ recommendation rate among the urban multiplexes of Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Kolkata and despite a slow start it has every chance of netting ₹ 50 cr+ at the domestic box office. That would be a solid final number for a low budgeted movie made on a cost of <₹30 cr and catering to a very limited niche audience of urban multiplex centers who fancy such dark, broody and intense films. PINK will easily do a lot better than both WAZIR and TE3N, although imo those 2 were decent thrillers too. But PINK raises the bar to a different level altogether.
Had Hitting on male supremacy and on the BS about high morality grounds for girls
Sanitized and simplified yet engrossing throughout. The loose end, as it were, disturbs [comment partially delete because it gives a part of the movie away]. The girls are superb. Amitabh is less hammy than usual. Piyush Mishra is not as bad as is made out by some reviewers. Even the boys have been well selected. Overall, a very good watch.
The benefits of living in an independent democratic secular republic are that you can be any random tom, dick or harry & yet call the legend of Amitabh Bachchan hammy! Of course its a different matter that 99.9% of the clowns making such statements are either [comment partially delete because it is a personal attack]!
Labeling Amitabh Bachhan's performances (other than in Pink) as hammy?
Now that's a first.
Some commentators do inadvertently reveal their age when commenting on all time greats.
Without the slightest of doubt this film rates in the top 3 films of 2016. And definitely should be part of the best of the best all time collections.
The subject is so pertinent in Indian context, but even in global context (very few countries are untouched by this social threat).
All throughout the film one pines for the girls, and that is no mean feat to achieve by the director. Amitabh Bachhan as the retired lawyer is simply amazing. One of his finest acts.
Only thing that was unclear to me was why mix the personal background of the character played by Amitabh Bachhan in this drama? Still wondering.
But overall, I do recommend everyone to watch this film at least once, and more importantly to imbibe the lesson that it says. NO is a NO.
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