Delhi-6 isn't an autobiographical take on Rakeysh Mehra's childhood days in the capital city as it was made out to be . That's because the story is set around the monkey-man episode that made headlines in Delhi some years back . Of course do not expect a thriller treatment with the monkey-man chapter but rather consistently inventive, funny, entertaining and life-affirming cautionary tale .
The film centres around Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan), born and raised in America, who returns to Delhi to leave behind his ailing grandmother (Waheeda Rehman . He falls for a free-spirited but conflicted woman (Sonam Kapoor , who is preparing to become next Indian Idol.
But the film is not just about two young people. It seeks to capture the bigger picture of a neighbourhood. Its episodes capture a raft of conflicts involving families, politicians and two religious communities, Hindus and Muslims. The film creates a wonderful world of a vast neighborhood in old Delhi. But its concerns including how the fear of the black monkey is manipulated by one community to punish the minority community .
As Mehra says of his film that while it is firmly centered in old Delhi and is filled with local color, its concerns are universal.
Despite Abhishek and Sonam's romantic entanglement being a major part of the film, its appeal is enhanced by half a dozen glorious performances. Mehra deftly exploits the comic talent of Vijay Raaz , who is far more amusing here than in his earlier characters , as the pompous, corrupt and opinionated police officer. And then there is Rishi Kapoor's character, who cannot forgive himself for not having had the courage to declare his love years ago and who will now make sure that Roshan won't repeat his mistake.
Sonam Kapoor not only looks alluring but has also grown into an actress who delivers a seasoned performance for her second film . Whether she is doing a comic scene, or dancing to the feisty Masakali song or executing an act of rebellion against her family's plans for an arranged marriage, she hits the right notes. It is indeed not an easy thing to hold your own in a film filled with a great cast.
There is a sequence in the film which also serves as a powerful reminder of generational and faith gap between two people who love each other, and who can indeed tolerate each other's opinion.
The climax, which also involves the black monkey, serves a good moral ending and send viewers home in a happy mood.
The film centres around Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan), born and raised in America, who returns to Delhi to leave behind his ailing grandmother (Waheeda Rehman . He falls for a free-spirited but conflicted woman (Sonam Kapoor , who is preparing to become next Indian Idol.
But the film is not just about two young people. It seeks to capture the bigger picture of a neighbourhood. Its episodes capture a raft of conflicts involving families, politicians and two religious communities, Hindus and Muslims. The film creates a wonderful world of a vast neighborhood in old Delhi. But its concerns including how the fear of the black monkey is manipulated by one community to punish the minority community .
As Mehra says of his film that while it is firmly centered in old Delhi and is filled with local color, its concerns are universal.
Despite Abhishek and Sonam's romantic entanglement being a major part of the film, its appeal is enhanced by half a dozen glorious performances. Mehra deftly exploits the comic talent of Vijay Raaz , who is far more amusing here than in his earlier characters , as the pompous, corrupt and opinionated police officer. And then there is Rishi Kapoor's character, who cannot forgive himself for not having had the courage to declare his love years ago and who will now make sure that Roshan won't repeat his mistake.
Sonam Kapoor not only looks alluring but has also grown into an actress who delivers a seasoned performance for her second film . Whether she is doing a comic scene, or dancing to the feisty Masakali song or executing an act of rebellion against her family's plans for an arranged marriage, she hits the right notes. It is indeed not an easy thing to hold your own in a film filled with a great cast.
There is a sequence in the film which also serves as a powerful reminder of generational and faith gap between two people who love each other, and who can indeed tolerate each other's opinion.
The climax, which also involves the black monkey, serves a good moral ending and send viewers home in a happy mood.