Nishabd - Speechless make by RGV!
A 60-year old man and an 18-year-old girl, fall in love. When Amitabh is the older man and the 18 year old find is a seductive New York born, London raised hottie, Jiah Khan; the film is sure to peak your interest. But the question remains…is it really that interesting?
Anil Kapoor fell for a young’un in Saalam-E-Ishq and Subhash Ghai explored the concept of an older man with a younger woman in Jogger’s Park. One had a comical touch to it, while the other was presented with maturity and class.
Ram Gopal Varma’s Nishabd is a bit edgier. What’s alarming in this feature is the fact that the minor in question is the friend of the older man’s daughter. Although tastefully done, where no uncomfortable, provocative scenes are shot, the film fails to meet other laurels. The taboo subject matter is not what goes against the film, but rather its poor development. Ram Gopal Varma’s direction is choppy. The concept of narrating the film flashback to present in first-person is distinguishable, however the story isn’t fully explored. In the short period of time the two characters spend together, which lacks intensity, it’s hard to comprehend what basis their relationship could possibly grow from. A birth stage is shown, but a growth phase is nowhere in sight. The situation seems to be one out of physical and emotional needs. Ironically it’s the younger female that seems to be driven by her physical desires and the older man by his need to relive his youth. More shortcomings lay in the characterizations of Vijay and Jiah. Amitabh’s character comes across weak and that of a man who easily sways from adulation by an attractive young girl who’s blatantly throwing herself at him. Jiah’s character seems to have psychotic shades, is needy as well as vindictive. Her suggestive conduct takes away from any ‘meaning’ the script could have formed. Nothing is innocent and playful, nor deep and sensitive. Rather it’s pathetic and lust-driven.
Amitabh is average in his performance. He does succeed in appearing confused and uncomfortable, as that’s his staple look throughout the film; unknown whether its required of the character or if he feels that way about the role he’s playing. Jiah Khan is confident. Full of sex appeal, there’s no denying she’s attractive. As for her acting, if her character was to be a bratty, disrespectful, over-bearing, seductive nymphet, then she comes across just as so, loud and clear. Surprisingly striking is another newcomer, Shraddha Arya, who plays Amitabh’s daughter. In a pivotal emotional scene, she truly reaches the audience with her anguish. Revathy is competent in her contribution.
Even with the film being under 2 hours, it’s a painful, slow and dull experience. Far from witty or hard-hitting the dialogues are almost dense. Few scenes are executed well with sensible statements to make. Cinematography is savvy, however the color tones to set the mood with shades of gray and blue are distracting.
The message the film attempts to relay is convoluted. Ram Gopal Varma’s treatment of the subject is unnatural and half-baked. His own interpretation and intentions are vague. The viewer is presented with a perverted execution in a modest way. If that was truly going to be the director’s stance, he might as well have trashed the PG-13 approach and gone extremely bold, venturing to another level. Modest or not, Nishabd is a crude make with Ritu's 1 ½ stars.