PK (2014) movie review
PK is the fourth film by the consistent, innovative and intelligent director Rajkumar Hirani and this is the second time Rajkumar Hirani - Aamir Khan coming together. Without any doubt, this is one of the best Indian films and the themes this film managed to explore is commendable. While dealing with such serious themes, this film doesn't fail to provide Hirani's trademark wholesome entertainment. With this film, Rajkumar Hirani has proved once again that he is the master of sensible comedy without dissolving the theme that the film sets out to explore.
Idea of the film
What happens when a person who doesn't belong to a place looks at the problems of that place in an objective and logical way.
Story
This film starts off when a person without a name, without clothes, without lies in his heart comes to a place to explore. As soon as he comes, he loses the most valuable thing which he should not have lost. Thus, throughout the rest of the film, he sets out to find out the lost thing. In this quest he uncovers various paradoxes of the place, changes a person with prejudice and he even unites his friend with her lover. He does all these with just two resources, logic in his mind and love in his heart.
Themes
- PK explores a quest that everyone of us would have had.
Being told that god solves our problems -> Developing a belief -> Trying out to get things done through god -> Eventually realising we are our only help.
Four mantras
- Don't be naked. Cover yourself.
- Language is not straightforward. When we say we like chicken, we mean we like to eat chicken.
- Hide your calling deep inside so that nobody can take it away from you.
- If someone says they will arrange a meeting with God, run away.
- Bonus mantra: Use god for self-defence.
- PK brings out the paradoxes of various religions and cultures in India. For example, a Hindu widow wears white sari while a Christian bride wears white dress during wedding and black during mourning while Muslim women always wear black bhurka.
- PK shows how fear plays a role in our life and how that has made us give up our rational mind to irrational things like believing in a magical god.
- In a beautiful scene before climax, PK shows how big problems in life can be solved by simple logical thought and talking openly with the other person.
- Finally, PK gives away four mantras, if you like, for life which I couldn't resist but tell here.
Screenplay
The story in the first half moves back and forth couple of times while retaining 100% clarity. The first half has great pace and keeps you engaged without a single dull moment.
Second half of the movie moves straight. Though, there is a little bit of slack in the second half, this is definitely not a reason to complaint.
RAJKUMAR HIRANI
PK is all the way Rajkumar Hirani's film. You never question anything while you are whaching and will be carried away by the drama, comedy and the heart touching moments. Harani's trademark jokes are hilarious, witty and at the same time thought provoking.
Along with direction, he has contributed to the screenplay and also he is the editor. With such active participation in all the stages of the film, this cannot be anything else but 'a Rajkumar Hirani's film'.
Aamir Khan
I always believed that when a true star performs, you see his style and charisma while a true actor performs, you only see the character and nothing else. Aamir khan is a true actor. He makes us believe that we now know what perfection is. He is impeccable in this character which people around him name as pk.
With lot of constraints and with lot of emotion to be expressed subtly, he has carried this film in his able shoulders. He tickles our hearts with his innocent mischief while in the next moment he pricks our heart with his little sharp needle and he does this effortlessly. Such performance is the heart and soul of this film.
Anushka Sharma and others
Next to Aamir's character, it's Anushka's character as Jagat Janani alias Jaggu which cannot go wrong for this film to work and Anushka has not let this down. She did a brilliant job. While she could have kept her acting authentic at few places, overall, she was brilliant.
Her character doesn't have as many emotional conflicts as Aamir's but she has her share of conflicts especially towards the end. Her casting is definitely a right choice for this movie.
Saurabh Shukla as Tapasvi Maharaj (PK's antagonist), Sanjay Dutt as Bhairon Singh (PK's friend), Sushant Singh Rajput as Sarfraz Yousuf (Jaggu's lover) and Boman Irani as a news channel head played their roles well.
Technical Departments
In 'a Rajkumar Hirani's film', you would be so immersed in the story that it's really difficult to observe the technical departments. Every area will be so integrated with the movie.
- Cinematography by C. K. Muraleedharan was very neat and consistent be it in Belgium, Rajasthan or Delhi.
- Music by Ajay Atul, Shantanu Moitra and Ankit Tiwari doesn't stand out as an album independently but goes along with the film very well. It is a huge plus to the movie.
- The production values of PK are grand and this is produced by Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Siddharth Roy Kapur.
Other reviews
Verdict
Overall, PK is a Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir khan's film along with significant contribution from Anushka sharma with an innovative premise, loads of entertainment, very necessary & contemporary themes, heart touching & thought provoking scenes along with great technical and commercial values.
PK is a must watch.
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