Salaam Nikhil

Watched Salaam-e-ishq today.

At last a film Bollywood can be proud of. Isn’t it amazing that Nikhil Advani has emerged from the shadow of his mentor to emerge, as … well Himself! But one must admit that the subtle tribute to him was touching. Also, it was only one of the many creative touches in the film.

From start to finish, this film is a statement in style. Six love stories - each amazing different in content, each told at a different pitch. Each narrative is put forth with the broad brush strokes of an artist sure of his craft. Not for Nikhil the expected atmospheric detail and depth of characterisation. The characters and storylines are so everything we have been used to, that the director wisely leaves us with only a hint, and invites the discerning audience to fill up the rest! This is perhaps what they mean by spaces in art.

I always like an artist to respect and engage with his audience.

It’s amazing how he manages to hold together all the different threads of the narratives without once getting involved. Clever editing techniques, with constant description of time and space in legible lettering so that the viewer is with the film at all times.

The stories are moved forward in unison quite like a master charioteer moves his team. And at every crucial turn we are shown how the protagonists are faring (there are twelve of them, a commendable feat) in a cunning mosaic of images.

The alternately funny and poignant climax brings together all the characters and the various storylines.

I cannot but mention the team. The editor who would never have been given such a job in his life- this clever man must surely thank his stars that he was born into an era with technological possibilities and word processing. The art director- it’s the case of who needs a character when you have an art director. For instance, we are never told anything about Akshaye Khanna’s character, but the set created for him leaves us with such astounding possibilities that indeed we are glad to be kept in the dark, or rather the blue. The palatial prussian blue koti (with a 20 foot elephant mural and acrylic crystal door knobs) speaks of unspeakable aesthetic versatility and is by itself worth the prize of your ticket.

I did not notice the music too much, it was alright I suppose, I was trying to grasp every intricacy of the narrative.

I’ve gushed enough, what can I say?

Go watch!