This is the question I left the theatre with. In many ways it applies to both the movie and its protagonist, Guru Himself.
Guru is being raved about by the public at large but he is not without his flaws. That's the case with the movie as well. If I could forget the name of the director and the other movies he made in the past, Guru would have been a good, maybe even a very good movie. But sadly, being a great fan of Mani's other movies especially the likes of Kannathil Muthamittal (which many found dramatic, unrealistic and others even boring!), I could not expect anything less from Mani, could I? And that was the problem I had with Guru.
I think (and it's my personal opinion), that Mani got a bit carried away and much like Gurukant Desai, was looking more for commercial Success! I don't mean to say that is wrong or maybe even true. But after watching all the publicity that Mani has been doing himself for the movie (which I haven't seen him do much in the past), apart from the media and public hysteria, Ash- Abhi engagement et al., the movie comes as a bit of disappointment to me.
If direction only means getting the best performances from the cast, then Mani is spot on! I mean, how many directors can make ASH act?? The answer is none, other than Mani. Of course, other actors have done a great job as well, but that does not surprise me. Its Ash that came as a big surprise and I can truly say this is the first time I can associate the word pleasant surprise. (Well, I can't tell you how disgusted I was with her in Dhoom 2).
But then, that's not the only thing I expect from Mani. I have always revelled at Mani's forte his characterization. And that was the biggest let down for me in GURU. While he did justice to Gurukant Desai and Sujatha's character, he sadly lacked his original Midas touch. I have always believed that Mani could bring out the nuances of a character, major or minor is a scene or two. But in Guru, I thought he miserably failed to do so! Madhavan, Vidya Balan, Mithun and all the rest of the cast, seem to be floating in and out of the frame in a way very uncharacteristic of Mani! I can't help but wonder why Mani did that. I can still remember the scenes of his earlier movies, Nayagan and Bombay (well, guru is part the former and part the latter in many senses!) vividly, though I was very young when I saw former and fairly young during the latter. Yet, a single scene in those movies brought out every character beautifully. In guru, even after 4 or 5 scenes of Vidya Balan, Madhavan and you are left wondering about their presence. And that is something you just can't digest, only because it is a Mani's movie. These things wouldn't matter if some XYZ director had done the movie! The other biggest let down in the movie was the picturization of the songs. As beautiful and melodious the songs were, it is a big shock that, Mani with Menon failed to capitalize on them. Again probably because of the high standards the duo have set for themselves, it is difficult for me to expect something like this. Sadly, even 'Tere Bina' failed to have the effect that 'Snegidhane' had (on me!).
May be it is not right to compare, maybe I am over critical and getting carried away. But then the fault for that as well lies with Mani. It is he, who after all set such high standards that I expect out of him.
It would be unfair to take away the credit from the movie, especially to Abhishek who has evidently put in a lot of effort, to Aishwarya for finally acting in a movie and others (read Madhavan) who have agreed to do such half baked roles only for Mani! Well, then what I am saying, is the movie good or bad? Like you guys care! It is worth a watch, though, I'd say (especially if you don't have your expectations set as high as I had)!
Guru is being raved about by the public at large but he is not without his flaws. That's the case with the movie as well. If I could forget the name of the director and the other movies he made in the past, Guru would have been a good, maybe even a very good movie. But sadly, being a great fan of Mani's other movies especially the likes of Kannathil Muthamittal (which many found dramatic, unrealistic and others even boring!), I could not expect anything less from Mani, could I? And that was the problem I had with Guru.
I think (and it's my personal opinion), that Mani got a bit carried away and much like Gurukant Desai, was looking more for commercial Success! I don't mean to say that is wrong or maybe even true. But after watching all the publicity that Mani has been doing himself for the movie (which I haven't seen him do much in the past), apart from the media and public hysteria, Ash- Abhi engagement et al., the movie comes as a bit of disappointment to me.
If direction only means getting the best performances from the cast, then Mani is spot on! I mean, how many directors can make ASH act?? The answer is none, other than Mani. Of course, other actors have done a great job as well, but that does not surprise me. Its Ash that came as a big surprise and I can truly say this is the first time I can associate the word pleasant surprise. (Well, I can't tell you how disgusted I was with her in Dhoom 2).
But then, that's not the only thing I expect from Mani. I have always revelled at Mani's forte his characterization. And that was the biggest let down for me in GURU. While he did justice to Gurukant Desai and Sujatha's character, he sadly lacked his original Midas touch. I have always believed that Mani could bring out the nuances of a character, major or minor is a scene or two. But in Guru, I thought he miserably failed to do so! Madhavan, Vidya Balan, Mithun and all the rest of the cast, seem to be floating in and out of the frame in a way very uncharacteristic of Mani! I can't help but wonder why Mani did that. I can still remember the scenes of his earlier movies, Nayagan and Bombay (well, guru is part the former and part the latter in many senses!) vividly, though I was very young when I saw former and fairly young during the latter. Yet, a single scene in those movies brought out every character beautifully. In guru, even after 4 or 5 scenes of Vidya Balan, Madhavan and you are left wondering about their presence. And that is something you just can't digest, only because it is a Mani's movie. These things wouldn't matter if some XYZ director had done the movie! The other biggest let down in the movie was the picturization of the songs. As beautiful and melodious the songs were, it is a big shock that, Mani with Menon failed to capitalize on them. Again probably because of the high standards the duo have set for themselves, it is difficult for me to expect something like this. Sadly, even 'Tere Bina' failed to have the effect that 'Snegidhane' had (on me!).
May be it is not right to compare, maybe I am over critical and getting carried away. But then the fault for that as well lies with Mani. It is he, who after all set such high standards that I expect out of him.
It would be unfair to take away the credit from the movie, especially to Abhishek who has evidently put in a lot of effort, to Aishwarya for finally acting in a movie and others (read Madhavan) who have agreed to do such half baked roles only for Mani! Well, then what I am saying, is the movie good or bad? Like you guys care! It is worth a watch, though, I'd say (especially if you don't have your expectations set as high as I had)!
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