"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" - Story of Love, Promise and Perseverance

"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" is the inspiring story of Man named "Dashrath Manjhi" from Bihar.

Director Ketan Mehta presents the unbelievable  love story where "Dashrath's Love" inspires him for 22 long years and generates energy in him where he could cut a mountain into pieces and creates a road for villagers. To direct an Inspiring cinema is an art and Ketan Mehta succeeds here on all grounds.

Entire screenplay occurs in a village which is situated near a mountain. As mountain is stopping the path of village from reaching to town, it does not have school or even hospital. Dashrath, a Young villager, is in love with beautiful Village girl named "Phaguniya"(Radhika Apte). Ketan Mehta  ( Director) does well in creating the master-plot where character "Dashrath" ready to sacrifice everything for his love "Phaguniya" and her father ready to prevent him at any cost. Dashrath and Phagunia run away from home to get married and become married parents very soon.

The plot is what happens in a movie; the story is how the characters feel about what happens.

 What happens (Story) and how characters feel ( emotions), both have been seamlessly integrated, and the audience can feel Dashrath and Phagunia's happiness after marriage.

Phaguniya dies after falling off the mountain and scumbles to her injuries for the want of timely medical attention. Before dying she tells Dashrath, "Hum pahad paar nahi kar pae, bahut uncha hai." Phagunia's death breaks the heart of Dashrath and he decides that he will break the mountain and create a way for villagers so that nobody should lose his love due to unavailable medical aid.

One of the fundamental ingredients of love story is the purity of characters. Poor rural village "Dashrath"  and Phagunia's' love story is incredibly pure where writer and Director creates the scenes which displays pure love, smile, excitement  on the face of lead characters Dashrath and phagunia.

Here, Art director/ set creator does brilliant job in creating a rural village situated near a big mountain. It is said that "when you create set matching to the story then there is less pressure on the script because your sets are speaking and giving the story a context". The entire village and all scenes where Dashrath and Phagunia move around with smiles  sets a foundation for a script and remarkably beautiful love-story.

Films music is average with one gripping song called "Phagunia". Music is context driven and no chartbusters or any party song. On the acting front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is brilliant as Dashrath Manjhi. This is a natural performance from Nawaz where u will always feel the Character of Dashrath so real.  During the love sequences or even after when he is digging that mountain alone, you can not separate Nawaz from this character. Radhika Apte as Phagunia is has done an excellent job where "girl in love" has been portrayed in a realistic manner.

There is term called as "Convincing Cinema." The Dasarth manzhi falls in that bracket. Barring few scenes like he cuts his own finger and eats insects for survival, Manzhi -The Mountain Man remains an entirely convincing story and the heroic activity. Another observation is there is growing number of biopic  (PAAN SINGH TOMAR, THE DIRTY PICTURE, RANG RASIYA, BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG, MARY KOM,)

in India these days and this type of cinema is creating its own audience for sure. Is this the best biopic in India till date? This is better one for sure and cannot term as best.

How much a love inspire a person? It can inspire u to cut a mountain for 22 years. Ketan Mehta's biopic gifts an incredible hope that almost everything is possible when the driving force is love.

The movie is must watch for adults, not for kids.

At last I leave you with this famous love quote.

"No matter what has happened. No matter what you’ve done. No matter what you will do. I will always love you. I swear it."