Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | May 04, 2018

Rating: 2.5 / 5

The essence: Saddled between two giant actors, Jimit Trivedi comes out a winner with his performance which does not exaggerate even once. The same, however, cannot be said about Amitabh Bachchan or Rishi Kapoor, who are forced to overact at times with their lines not giving them much to do.

102 Not Out movie review

102 Not out relies on its three principal characters Dattatraya Vakharia (Amitabh Bachchan), Babulal (Rishi Kapoor) and Jimit Trivedi, their domestic help. Makeover had to be a major star here, but unlike Paa, it’s a bummer. Amitabh who is shown as a 102-year-old plays the father of Rishi Kapoor portraying a 75-year-old. There is hardly anything the makeover offers by way of authenticity. It sticks out like a sore thumb all throughout.

And if you have braved the first-half, then you will be alive to a vibrant and interesting second half where the old father, teaches the younger father (his son) a few lessons in life pertaining to his son!

Ever since Babulal’s son left him over 20 years ago to go to the US, Babulal has become morose with no zest for life. Living under the same roof, father decides to cheer his son up with some interesting life’s lessons after threatening to get him admitted in an old age home!

102 Not out movie review: second half

As the second half unfolds, we learn about how Babulal’s son left him and his wife to start life in the US and never returned back even once; not even for his mother’s funeral. All throughout, Dattatraya took care of the emotional turmoil his son was going through without letting him know half the things that were happening. He kept all the secrets to himself! When Babulal learns that his son wants to visit him, his father is upset and against this visit. He knows why his grandson now wants to make that visit. Babulal, however, is blinded by his love for his son who he is pining to see. Upset that his father is against his son’s visit, Babulal threatens to take his father to court.

This is when he learns a few secrets that were kept away from him and understands why a father wants to protect his son. He also learns about a file of letters his father kept hidden from him which his son kept sending, explaining his actions (and sometimes asking for money from his PF) with a standard last line: “I hope you understand.”

The second half relies heavily on emotions within the family where children move away leaving their aging parents all alone to fend for themselves. Umesh Shukla does well here as he hits a raw nerve.

Jimit Trivedi shines throughout

Saddled between two giant actors, Jimit Trivedi comes out a winner with his performance which does not exaggerate even once. The same, however, cannot be said about Amitabh or Rishi, who are forced to overact at times with their lines not giving them much to do. One line that stands out is spoken by the older father who tells his domestic help when he sees Babulal in a morose state always thinking about his son: “Aulad nalayak nikle to use bhool jaana chahiya; sirf uska bachpan yaad rakhna chahiye.”

102 Not Out is based on Gujarati play written by Saumya Joshi. The movie could have turned out a winner if the platform from which it was projected was not treated like a stage. Herein lies its downfall. Oh My God! a 2012 film, also directed by Shukla and also based on a Gujarati play suffered no such lack of imagination.

CREDITS
Producer: Umesh Shukla
Director: Umesh Shukla
Star Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Jimit Trivedi

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