Black N White

In the Bollywood era of colour, glamour and glitz, a movie with an unusual title like “Black and White”, seems intriguing, especially when it comes from none other than the showman Subhash Ghai. 

In the current changing times, “good” need not necessarily be “good” and “bad” need not necessarily be “bad”.  Between good and bad, black and white – there exists a whole spectrum of emotions and colours. That’s life!  That’s the message which the film attempts to convey.

Numair (Anurag Sinha) is a human bomb from Afghanistan who comes to India on a mission – to blast the 15^th August gathering at red Fort.  He manoeuvres to impress the Urdu  Professor Mathur and his social activist wife Roma . Unaware of his devious plot, they offer him shelter in their home.  The values and affection bestowed by the simplistic, and unassuming couple compel him to question his beliefs on religion and whether the path chosen by him for Jihad is really the right one. 

Anil Kapoor essays a mature role with sincerity and élan.  His emotional outburst (more like an implosion) at the death of his wife is heart-wrenching.  Shefali Shah as his sprightly wife is a little over-the-top.  But the performance that stands out is that of debutant Anurag Sinha.  Intense yet vulnerable, confident yet confused…he portrays these complex emotions deftly. Tall, lanky, menacing, with a groovy assertive stride …… he reminds me of the angry young man of 70’s ---- Amitabh Bachchan in Deewar.