Viruddh | The Critique

Jessica Lal Murder case and similar incidents have inspired many movies, Viruddh is one of them. Largely inspired and beautifully written, movie is very straightforward in story telling without anything that can be edited after the final print released. Director Mahesh Manjrekar is credited with some great works of cinema like Vaastav and Astitva, and Viruddh is in the same league.

An old couple is living a peaceful life and to add more pleasure, their son comes to India from London with his girlfriend. Happily couple gets them married. Everything is pictured perfect till now but not after that… On eve of his birthday, son gets killed outside a pub while saving some girl. Aghast at the episode, couple lodges complain against a bigshot who with the help of his links proves that their son was a drug peddler. Now, what will the old couple do? Live with the stigma that their son was a criminal. It’s an insult to their son who was perfect in all possible ways.

Amitabh Bachchan as father Vidyadhar and Sharmila as the strict yet loving mother Sumitra was perfect as couple. The chemistry between them was just perfect. May be I underestimate it when I say perfect. The small fights and sweet romance were the moments of first half while their care for each other was simply spectacular performance-wise. Sanjay Dutt’s role as a neighbor was a small one but his impact was outstanding. His support shaped the climax. John was apt. This was one of his better performances.

Watch this movie to see this scene… In a tough moment, when both Vidya and Sumitra are about to cry, Vidya asks for tea. Sumitra leaves and cries in isolation. Next scene, Vidya and Sumitra comes to bedroom and Vidya asks for tea. Sumitra says that she forgot about it. Vidya says that he no longer wants it. Such scene might have been repeated in Indian Cinema umpteen times but the chemistry between the two legends is simply incomparable.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh