Oh, Apologize for the delayed response. I've been meaning to reply to this. Now that I have all the time, Let's start. I'm glad that morality is out of the question, why would such an elementary view be discussed? :)
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The middle-class people (I for one don't!) might revere Ambani for what he became, but that's in the aftermath. And, his "spirit" (whatever it means) is anything but middle-class.
Well, that's precisely what I meant. Mani himself is a part of the consummate bourgeoisie who isn't politically well equipped. His line of thinking is much in line with middle class consumerism and consumption, who cares zilch about the effects of capitialism, but still revere the dhirubhais of the world, for it benefits 'em of course. But, I couldn't care less on the "effects of capitalism" or whether it's good or bad i. But what I do care about is Mani's handling , and his craft of sculplting brilliant narratives with such refinement and finesse!
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With Guru, Mani's love for the middle class spirit is ostensible enough. He clearly stresses, that India needs many such Gurukhants to cope globally (with the Gandhi metaphor in the courtroom, you go 'wtf',) and he brings the middle class values along.
We talk about nonjudgmentality, borrowing my favorite critic's phrase, Guru is an ode to capitalism. Whether this is good or not, is not my issue, but how this simple premise was made, it's too sensational for my liking. But, to claim that Mani didn't stress it out is not true. Guru is nothing but Reliance's baby!
Let me also clarify this,
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He(Guru) says to the effect that the rising of the middle class is curbed in India (he says even the Sarkar and the system is a part of it,) and hence Guru's rise is being questioned, now isn't that contradictory to the defense of Guru being too powerful to not to let go scot-free? (let me play the devil's advocate here)
This was for,
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The truth, I think, is we've watched way too many films in which criminals are let go off just like that, and this was equated to that. Really, what other sort of judgement can one expect on a man as powerful as Gurubhai?
If Guru was in fact that powerful, then why defend on lines of being targetted as a middle class entrepreneur to the jury, and his rise is curbed? Isn't that a contradiction to the fact that he's too powerful for the jury? However, I realize the fact that Guru once again could have played with the legal hassles too, and came out the winner. So, the speech and the court proceedings fall in place, yet again.
And to the beginning. Guru has always been a keen observer, and the street gambling sequence in turkey where he wins it all, is what the film was about. And, what we get is less rewarding and an equal gamble like the last bet, (except that we end up being underwhelmed, more so for a Mani fan.) I say it again, there was an unabashed glamourization of Gurubhai's rise for the most part, except that there was a dramatic paralysis phase, Sujatha-Guru pick themselves up from, that was perhaps a countermand to Vidya balan's life, (Btw, Saxena's relationship with her ends up tragic/short, Manikda is left stranded with no one,) whats more than a visual cue in her funeral, when Gurubhai helps Manikda out to place the last log? :) Besides, we also see Guru end up successful both personally and professionally, while none of the ideologists, or socialists or even communists aren't spared one way or the other (whats more than the commie who ran incapable of supporting Sujatha? .) If the film was to slamdunk the *other* completely, then why debunk it with such elusive deftness, and such propaganda. Worst of all, a tag of "Villager, Visionary, Winner" (thanks for reminding,) cringeworthy for Mani standards!
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The film challenges the audience to judge him for what he is. There's no pretentious reason offered for his corruption.
The reason is clear, he is ambitious, and he tweaks and breaks the set rules - Fine. But that wasn't ambiguous in any case, and the film doesn't let us judge, because it already challenges us with a propagandistic product! What's more ridiculous is the way the court sequence was kitsch, weird, and utterly ridiculous, for it makes the Jury more gullible than the audience. Wait, before the court proceedings too, The shareholder to Gurubhai about his unmarried three daughters, and his support for Guru - Is there anything more judgmental, and slanted than that? Such manipulative sequences has often been a part of his, but it's exaggerated to no measures here. Finally, I have to end up with the positives, Mithunda and Maddy were both brilliant, and the acting wasn't bad in general (perhaps a more nuanced actor could have helped the film, Irrfan in Guru would be the *thing*.) Rajeev Menon's work here is absolutely brilliant. And, heartfelt eulogies to Mani, for this film was still decent enough for the premise it hangs with, and proves that he wouldn't get substandard even if he was forced to. :notworthy:
