One of my top five picks last year was ‘Shahid’ – a brave film which I’m sure many missed on the big screen. It went on to bag two National Awards – Best Director (Hansal Mehta) and Best Actor (Raj Kumar Yadav now rechristened Rajkummar Rao). The Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor also went to Rajkummar. Indeed, the guy has come a long way since his first appearance in ‘Love, Sex aur Dhokha’ to ‘Ragini MMS’ to some itsy-bitsy roles to ‘Kai Po Che’, ‘Shahid’ and even ‘Queen’. The same director joins hand with him again and brings you ‘Citylights’ this week backed by the Bhatts. Yes; it is a small film but you expect.
An official remake of an award-winning British-Filipino movie ‘Metro Manila’ – Director Hansal Mehta’s version of it is appropriate in the Indian scenario. Deepak (Rajkummar Rao) and Rakhi (our hero’s real-life girl-friend Anwita Paul debuting by the screen name Patralekha) live in a small village in Rajasthan with their daughter. Unable to repay the loan taken to start a saree shop, Deepak decides to move to Mumbai with his family for a few years. “Wahaa koi bhookha nahi sotaa”, he assures his wife that they will earn bucks in the city of dreams for a few years and come back to their village. “Bambai mein samandar bhi hain”; he tries to cheer her up. On arriving in the city, they are duped of the little money they have. Deepak hops from one odd job to another and lands up in a security agency with risky work. His wife reluctantly ends up in a dance bar.
‘Citylights’ is about a family migrating to a city with the hope of a better life. You see many such people sleeping on the streets and yet ignore; you may not even want to look at them. Rural migration isn’t a new topic but Mehta does add sensitivity to it here. He succeeds in telling us a story which we want to relate to; a story perhaps we all want to listen to because it is important enough for us to change our views towards such people who come to the big cities. Where he fails is at keeping the audience engaged throughout the film. The narrative takes a dip once Deepak joins the security agency and while it is integral to the plot, you might start wondering if the director wanted to direct a thriller or address an issue. The climax is filmy for a movie like this and even if it ends on both a tragic and positive note, it doesn’t really leave much of an impact. A few scenes are well-directed like that scene when Deepak breaks down on knowing his wife has taken up a job as a bar dancer or even the one when he cracks a joke during the interview without understanding it. But for the most part, ‘Citylights’ is ordinary. Unlike ‘Shahid’, this one has songs and a background score perhaps because the Bhatts are known for good music in their movies. The songs are good and not lip-synced but the background score could have been more subtle in a film like this. ‘Muskurane Ki Wajah Tum Ho’ is the pick. Music by Jeet is soothing.
Rajkummar Rao is an actor who can slip into his character and make you believe he is it. Here is an actor par excellence, in the lines of Irrfan Khan. He gets the dialect correct and his body language is in sync with his performance which is excellent yet again. Debutante Patralekha makes an impact but doesn’t have what it takes to be a star and I’m not judging her on the basis of her deglamourized role here. Manav Kaul as Deepak’s superior with a plan is perfect for the role.
Watch it or not: You may watch it only for Rajkummar’s performance. If you think it isn’t a good enough reason, miss it and you won’t miss much!
At the Box-Office: The low budget and a good production house are in its favour but films like this grow due to word-of-mouth which will be mixed. ‘Shahid’ flopped but was acclaimed and bagged awards. This should flop too but I’m sure the Bhatts will manage to recover costs through non-theatrical sales. A biggie – ‘Holiday’ releases next week so there isn’t ample time to make big bucks.
My Verdict
My Rating
It isn’t a power cut but the ‘Citylights’ are too dim to be called sparkling!
