Ghajini Review

Official Indicine Review – Ghajini Hindi Movie Review

Note:- These Reviews are not the official Indicine Ghajini Reviews. Rather reviews from two well known critics in India. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama and Anupama Chopra of NDTV. If you decide to watch Ghajini on Wednesday, the below reviews will help you understand what exactly to expect from Aamir Khan’s only release of 2008.

Official Indicine Review – Ghajini Hindi Movie Review

Ghajini Review – Taran Adarsh

Ghajini demonstrates how strong filmmaking can enhance and elevate an already solid concept. It is a revenge saga, one ingredient that has been the staple diet of Hindi films since time immemorial. It is a powerful film. It has the power to sweep you off your feet from the word ‘go’. It has a riveting story, which has been told with flourish by director AR Murugadoss. And of course, it has a knock out performance by Aamir Khan. If at all there’s a shred of doubt whether Aamir is The Best in the business, all you’ve got to do is check out Ghajini.

Flaws any? Running time (almost 3 hours)? Not at all! There’s so much happening in every scene and the screen play is so gripping that you dont feel the need to look at the auditorium ceiling or at your watch at brief intervals. You arent restless. As moviegoers, we’ve watched countless good versus evil fares over the years and although Ghajini belongs to the same family, not once does it take the beaten track. The story has been told differently and most importantly, the story offers so many twists n turns that you just can’t guess what would unfold next. Is it violent? It is, at times, but the violence here is justified. In fact, every time the protagonist bashes up the evil-doers, you clap and root for him. The climax is jaw-dropping dissimilar from the original, but it’s an out of the world experience nonetheless.

To sum up, Ghajini is commercial Hindi cinema at its best. The film has ‘Hit’ written all over it. Let me put it this way: Cancel whatever you’re doing today and go watch Ghajini instead.

Ghajini is not Memento (most believe the makers were inspired by the classic English film). There’re minor similarities, but Ghajini takes a completely different route to tell its story. Director AR Murugadoss tells this one differently. It starts off with what happens in the past, comes to the present day, goes back in time again and returns to the contemporary again. This is a breathless, exciting story, heart breaking and exhilarating at the same time.

Hindi movies have often depicted people suffering from amnesia/memory loss, but Ghajini is poles apart because the protagonist recalls events only for 15 minutes. The story is its USP, without a doubt. But what adds sheen and glory to the story is Aamir’s portrayal of a man suffering from short term memory loss. Aamir hardly speaks. In fact, the leading lady (Tamil Actress Asin) speaks more than Aamir in the film. But Aamir speaks volumes with his eyes, he conveys whatever has to be conveyed through his body language, he says it all with his facial expressions and that only makes Ghajini a memorable, never seen before experience.

Director AR Murugadoss deserves brownie points for not just coming up with an interesting story, but also presenting it differently. The storyteller balances the light moments and the ones demanding intensity with expertise. There’s dum in every sequence. Even if the director has to depict violence, he doesn’t resort to blood n gore or knives, swords, pistols for effect. AR Rahman’s music is top notch. At least three numbers have the unmistakable stamp of a genius ‘Guzarish’, ‘Behka’ and ‘Kaise Mujhe’. Ravi Chandran’s cinematography is stunning. The film bears a stylish look all through. The action sequences are brilliantly executed. The Hindi moviegoers haven’t seen such scenes ever.

Aamir delivers his career best performance. In the first place, it requires courage and maturity to name the film after the villain. Knowing how egoistic our stars are, something like this is next to impossible in Hindi films. A lot has been said and written about the Ghajini look. Aamir’s hairstyle and his dream physique. It’s awe-inspiring and if more people adopt the ‘Aamir look’ or hit the gym, it would be courtesy the actor. As far as his acting is concerned, he’s natural as the tycoon, but like a wounded, ferocious tiger when he goes on an avenging spree.

Without doubt, it’s a concentrated, layered performance. He acts with his entire being. His body movement, the details of his performance, everything rings true. He is both vulnerable and hard. The pain in his face when he can’t remember, is palpable. It’s not only the plot that carries GHAJINI. It’s also the mood and the expression on Aamir’s face that makes Ghajini a treat (to watch). Asin is fabulous. To share the screen space with an actor of the stature of Aamir Khan and yet remain in your (viewers) memory even after the show has ended is no cakewalk. She looks fresh and photogenic and acts her part brilliantly. Pradeep Rawat, the villain, is first-rate. Jiah Khan impresses, especially in the sequence when Aamir follows her to a shopping mall.

On the whole, Ghajini is a winner all the way. The film will set new records and has the merits to emerge one of the biggest hits of all times. The weekend business should be historic, the Week 1 business should be unparalleled, the lifetime gross should be amongst the biggest of all times. In short, GHAJINI has ‘Blockbuster’ written all over it.

Taran Adarsh rated the movie 4.5 on 5 stars.

Ghajini Review – Anupama Chopra

At the recently held Indian Screenwriters’ Conference in Mumbai, writer-director Abbas Tyrewala lamented the lack of villains in Bollywood. He said that clearly defined villains used to be our staple diet. This was true until some time in the mid-1990s, when happy smiling families and yuppies in designer clothes took over. Well, I’m happy to report that the villain is back.

Ghajini, played ferociously by Pradeep Singh Rawat, is the kind of villain who wears thick gold chains and rings on every finger. He is defiantly brutal – he runs a pharmaceutical company but for reasons never explained, he likes to smash iron rods into human heads and forces young girls into both prostitution and organ trade. He has one gold tooth, wears shiny white shoes and keeps a posse of henchmen so ugly that they look like they were airlifted from Ram Gopal Varma’s last film. And of course Ghajini routinely drops lines like: aise marenge ki uska nakhun bhi nahi milega and my personal favourite: short-term memory loss patient mujhe kya yaad dilaayega.

Ghajini, director A R Murugadoss’s remake of his Tamil blockbuster, is a throw back to what Hindi films used to be: a three hour extravaganza of romance, comedy, action, set-piece songs and drama. It’s a standard revenge film given a fresh twist with a dash of Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed Memento. Like that film, the protagonist here, Sanjay Singhania played by Aamir Khan, is hit on the head and suffers from short-term memory loss. He cannot remember anything for more than 15 minutes. So, he tattoos his body with instructions: the most important one being that his girlfriend Kalpana was murdered, and he must find the murderer and kill him. The film is riddled with logical loopholes but Murugadoss, who also wrote it, doesn’t give you enough time to think about them.

So, you never ask how Sanjay, the fabulously wealthy owner of a cellphone company, conducts a lengthy romance with Kalpana, played by debutant Asin, pretending to be an ordinary man? Or why Ghajini, a master-thug and expert killer, doesn’t have a gun when he needs it the most? Or why the key conflict, which leads to Kalpana’s death, is such a random imposition on the script? Instead, you are caught up in the mystery of how a superbly stylish businessman becomes a killing machine who routinely cracks necks and in his introduction scene, plunges a broken tap into a man’s stomach. Ghajini isn’t for the faint-hearted. The violence is gory and elemental. The climax is pure man-on-man combat with lots of crunching bones.

For Aamir, Ghajini is a 360 degree turn from the sensitive teacher he played in Taare Zameen Par. With a buffed up, eight-pack body, here he is a brutal killer in a murderous rage. Watch him as he explodes with grief and then just as quickly forgets it. It’s a memorable performance indeed. Thankfully Asin is less animated than she was in the Tamil version. Some of their romantic scenes, and particularly her death are nicely done.

Ghajini isn’t a great film or even a very good one but I recommend that you see it. It is, as we used to say in the old days, paisa vasool.

No rating.

Official Indicine Review – Ghajini Hindi Movie Review

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35 Comments

  • I dont trust Taran Adarsh’s reviews but then… Aamir Khan is known for his quality movies. I will watch Ghajini tomorrow and send my review.

  • hi all,
    if thr r no changes frm the tamil version of the movie then this movie is going to b a stunner bcoz for me the tamil version was 8/10, though i still appreciate Christopher Nolan’s Memento….
    this movie can b only ruined by bad acting or changes in the script
    hoping 4 the best frm Aamir , the tamil actor was very good.

  • its a block buster 1 of the finest movie bollywood has produced
    must watch film
    gurantee full on pasa vasool

  • Ghajini is a flop film . It is not better then RBNBDJ. CHANDNI CHOW TO CHINA and RBNBDJ are the Blockbuster movies. Ghajini will be flop and bad movie.

  • movie is not up to the mark. i have seen the movie in tamil and was expecting a lot from hindi but it let me down only few scenes are good. aamir khan acting is not praise worthy i feel suriya acting was much better. i am not biased. can watch only 1 time not more than that.

  • I liked tamil version of the movie.I liked surya’s acting and he was kinda cute in the movie.But I was truly expecting more from Aamir.I think he is’nt upto the mark.Anyways I liked asin more in hindi version with her own voice ringing in the background.I hope this movie makes her career bright brighter in bollywood.Whatever my suggestion is “watch the movie and just think of aamir and asin and nothing else.It will be great.Enjoy”

  • Ghajini: An excellent act by Aamir…….
    Itz a must watch movie……….It has Romance as well as Action………..
    Go n watch it!!

  • It gonna set to be new records in Bollywood. I have seen this movie two times in a day.
    Its good movie. Amir acting is excellent (better than Surya (tamil).

  • remakes should never be compared .. aamir was great .. nice fun to watch him act .. as long as u dont compare the movie is great fun to watch !!

  • i watched ghajini yesterday n it’s gr8.asin is fabulous,it’s a must watch film,aamir’s action is much better than surya’s in tamil ghajini in tamil did not end well but ghajini in hindi ended well.

  • I am sure Kiddo and Mansa haven’t seen Tamil Version and Surya’s subtle body language and facial expression acting.. first watch and then comment about Surya’s acting

  • After seeing over rated Aamir’s expressionless acting, i really came to know none of the bollywood actors are near to the south indian legendery actors. Showing skin and glossy settings alone will not reflect the acting– northies should know. Watch Tamil ghajini and assess natural surya’s acting along with animated Aamir. Then talk

  • no.. i think Aamir was done ..!!! well , awsome !!! d movies was realliiii too gd ..!!!! i was also saw d south indian ..surya,s acting but aamir was also give his best ..!!!!

  • Please don’t compare actors and movies. Different actors have different style in delivering. Aamir has done excellently in this movie, as he is fun loving in most of the movies as serious character in this one.

  • Tamil gajini is better….this is just a image of the original one…and amir is good in this moview….but surya suits the role pakka. Asin..she is okay in tamil……

  • So,now i will end the discussion.
    I think Amir at his best,Its his controlled actng,taking a risk of remake and too in such a scenario whr comedy & light movies r workng.Its the confidence of this great actor that worked all the way.
    Romantic Action thriller,poised by fantastic screenplay,exiting sequences,a new experiment in bollywood.A must watch film.
    My rating 4.5/5.

  • THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CRITICISE GHAJINI JUST BECAUSE ITS A REMAKE OF A TAMIL FLICK AND CONSIDER RAB NE BANA DI JODI TO BE A BETTER FLICK.
    IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT RAB NE BANA DI JODI IS A REMAKE OF THE OLD HINDI FLICK NAMED PONGA PANDIT.
    ATLEAST AAMIR HAD THE BALLS TO ADMIT THE REMAKE FACT…BUT SHAHRUKH?????

    “HATE MY NAME FOR THAT”

  • Ghajini!
    IS a blockbuster, bonanza from year 2008 crossing 2 billion within 2 days!! Movie is a love story which lights up different concerns such as short term memory loss, disability, blindness, Trafficking etc… Does it really? No it’s just a love story where hero gets his revenge. One might say; so what? Nobody professed to discuss any issue here. It’s just bollywood’s regular remade – masala – action – romance – movie. Well here is the one fact you don’t know. The characters in the movie, of course not the leading one’s but the little boys and girls showcased as destitute are actually what they are portrayed as in real life. The children are from NGOs across Mumbai. When the shoot was done there were producers, directors crying for these children who had been trafficked, disabled etc …, for their condition. They were given one assurance that they’ll be given credit, their roles will be acknowledged. Let’s just forget the money part which was in hundreds & no one cares about it as idea was not money making but bringing out the burning issue.
    Watch it from the beginning until the end of the movie credits… not once have they been acknowledged. This is a movie which has spent millions for the songs. This is how our nation works! Exploitation by the great is always rewarded. What will you tell those children that half of their scenes were removed while editing because Amir Khan’s body is more important than harsh realities of their lives? That they have been forgotten yet again? That it was blessing that they even got a chance? Well it is blood sucking success, repeating the history of profit making enterprises all over the world. Watch Ghajini and acknowledge its brilliance! Applaud!
    Social Worker.

  • Aamir’s acting is excellent. That’s the only good thing in this movie. The story is bad. The short term memory loss concept is totally wasted. It’s a cheap masala movie, nothing more. Christoper Nolan’s memento was brilliant in using the short term memory loss concept, coupled with backward story concept. However, in Ghajini, the short term memory loss concept is totally irrelevant. If not for Aamir, this would have been a flop movie.

  • This is what I wrote to Yash Raj Films.
    I have already given feedback earlier on the movie but after watching Ghajini I want to add that although both RNBJ and Ghajini have flaws , RNBJ is by far the better movie. I prefer RNBJ’s entertainment value to Ghajini’s violence. And let me give a little feedback on Ghajini just to show why RNBJ should have been the one to break all box office records and not Ghajini. Anushka was by far better than Asin. No doubt Asin is beautiful but the role she essayed I couldn’t help but think that it was a copy of a yesteryear actress perhaps SriDevi. And somehow Asin came across boring until the intermission. She was going on and on and I just wished she would stop talking for once.( It was like real chatter box – talkative role )
    I still cannot believe that Ghajini has broken all box office records. As I watched the movie I made notes and truly the movie has nothing to offer except some superb action comparable to Hollywood movies.
    Personally I only liked one song Tu Meri Adhuri Pyaas.
    Jiah looked awful for most of the movie. RNBJ had four wonderful songs. As for Ghajini –
    Violence was relentless. Violent Galore. Aamir does not have any preparation for his revenge act in the end. He just gets off from the hospital bed and goes straight for his revenge with not even any gun – just truly himself to finish off the killers. And in the end inspite of being poked by the Villain with that heavy metal rod deep enough he is still able to get it out and fling it at the villain.
    There was a touching moment when Asin calls Aamir and gives him cash sold from her car sale. That scene where the soldiers saved the girls was also touching. The theme of Asin helping others was dominant. Conclusion. I am done watching Ghajini. No way I would want to watch it ever again. RNBJ I will repeat – even in the future. To be fair Aamir does have several moments of excellence but the award goes to SRK for his dual role in RNBJ.

  • i watched rnbdj after watching ghajini i think the second half was quiet boring in rnbdj.ghajini has a very gud concept,but rnbdj has no gud concept.according to me i would give ghajini the first place and rnbdj the last place,yes offcourse violence was excess in ghajini but it’s a gr8 film .

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