Guru (2007, India)

Focusing on such sexy topics as government regulation, business ethics, and journalistic independence, Mani Ratnam’s Guru is the latest of his films focusing on growth and change in contemporary India, giving as much screen time, if not more, to themes weightier than romance and wet saris (though there’s a bit of that, too). Unfortunately, it feels as if Guru is missing a reel or two – even at a 2 ½ hour run time, important turning points in the story, along with the development of several key characters, are given short shrift. Combined with an occasionally obnoxious use of slo-mo, I have to say that Guru is far less successful than films like Dil Se and Bombay, or even Roja, all of which find a better balance between story, character, and more weightier topics.

That said, there are some things to recommend Guru. It’s one of the most beautifully-filmed Hindi films I’ve seen, comparable to Lagaan and Dil Se in its sweeping camera moves and gorgeous settings (an early song sequence featuring Aishwarya Rai dancing amid crashing waves and rain-soaked temples is particularly breathtaking – I wish I’d seen it on the big screen). I know that Abhishek Bachchan has become a big star in India over the past few years, but this is the first film I’ve seen him in, and it’s obvious from the start that he’s inherited the bulk of his father’s charm. While occasionally reaching over-the-top, Bachchan is an incredibly strong presence, and his protagonist anchors the film, with the help of Rai as his feisty wife. It’s obvious as well that the two fell in love while shooting (they married shortly after).

Two more quick notes – first, that the English subtitles on the American DVD are terrible, often skipping several lines at a time and not providing captions for any of the songs. Second, Guru contains a first, at least for me, in Hindi films, something that even Slumdog Millionaire wouldn’t touch. Kind of took my breath away.