Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Manto narrates the story of Urdu author Saadat Hasan Manto, an acclaimed writer who has more controversies than appreciation associated to his name. The film is directed by renowned actress and filmmaker Nandita Das. It created the much-needed buzz at film festivals and now the film releases for the Indian audience this Friday. Does it make a worthy watch? Read our review to find out... Also Read - Kapil Sharma all set to make his Bollywood comeback – Read Deets
What’s it about?
The renowned writer Manto spent his life in Mumbai and decided to relocate to Pakistan after partition. Nandita Das divides the movie into two halves: pre-independence Bombay and post-independence Lahore. The filmmaker first talks about his life amidst the glamorous world of Bollywood in the 1940s, his friends in the industry and few of his writings. The second half delves into his life in Pakistan and his struggle to stay a free writer in the country. Also Read - SHOCKING! Did you know these 6 Bollywood actors starred in B-grade films?
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What’s hot?
There are several good things about this movie. Firstly, Nawazuddin is at his career best and doesn’t fail to give yet another powerful performance. Das’ crisp story-telling style keeps the story going at a steady pace. She uses Manto’s fictional stories as a relief instead of songs and focusses only on landmark moments of his life, giving the viewers everything they need to know about the writer. The movie’s dialogues are well-written. The conversations feel like a poetic exchange of words. The mix of Urdu and Hindi makes it a melody to hear. There are some dialogues where you cannot stop yourself from appreciating the lines.
What’s not?
The crisp storyline doesn’t let the audience connect with Manto’s story. Before we could grasp his current situation, we’re pushed into yet another phase of life. I wanted to walk with the writer’s journey and not merely watch it. The film heavily depends on Nawazuddin. Das is so focused on telling Manto’s story that the supporting characters do not give their best shot. While I enjoyed watching Rasika Duggal as Manto’s wife Safia, Tahir Raj Bhasin as Shyam and Rajshri Deshpande in the role of Ismat Chugtai, the movie could have had better-supporting actors. The film is made assuming that everyone knows about Manto, which is also one of the biggest drawbacks here. The film is about a writer not everyone knows, so there could have been a few scenes establishing his works in the film industry and outside, to help people associate better or go back home and research about.
Our Verdict
If you know who Manto is and what his works have been about, then Manto serves a good watch. If you’re willing to research and head to the cinemas then be my guest. Otherwise, you might get bored.
Rating : 3.0 out of 5
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