Mumbai Diaries

Yes, it is a colossal disappointment, but let me add that the film is watchable in parts. I quite liked the performances of the two new female faces, no matter how far fetched the premise of a New York investment banker on sabbatical in Mumbai shooting photos with a research grant seemed to be. Moreover, the scenes of the Mumbai landscape often reminded me of my childhood and family visits back home (though I have nothing to do with Mumbai in the least) The problem though is that the film just plods along, truly like a diary often with not much excitement in the story-telling. So what, you might argue, that's just like real life. True, but cinema is most engaging and exciting when it has a story to tell and is dynamic and engaging. Too much of Dhobi Ghat, especially the first 20 to 30 minutes, is just too boring. You're not even invested in the characters yet, and newcomer director Kiran Rao expects us to enjoy watching them stare or stand silent or just be, doing nothing, from the get go. Sorry, that's not the way it works for most viewers Ms Rao. I must also add that the whole self-video taping concept though brilliantly acted, was a million times better handled in last year's brilliant Love Sex Aur Dhokha.