Paul McNally (Dhritiman) and his wife (Shernaz Patel) have a daughter who suddenly goes deaf and blind as a child. They are aghast.
Paul wants to send the child Michelle to a school for the deaf and blind… he even considers a mental asylum! But his wife wants to try
getting her a tutor.
The principal of the school, an old friend, believes in his ability and sends him to the McNally house to teach Michelle.
Debraj's arrival at the McNally home is far from auspicious, as he arrives drunk, angry and rude. On encountering Michelle,
Debraj realizes that the only way to tackle her is to shock her, be aggressive at times and at the same time, be tender.
Despites obstacles, Debraj succeeds and Michelle miraculously learns her first word - Ma. But this is just the beginning.
There are several battles to be won. Debraj dreams of Michelle going to a college with students without any disability.
But, at this stage, Debraj starts to suffer from Alzheimer. He slowly forgets everything including all words and their meanings.
The roles are now reversed!
The first half of the film is a series of events that, try as it might, does not connect to the audience. It is in the second
half that it comes together and becomes a viewing experience for the discerning cinegoer. And even then, it is difficult to see
the masses sitting through a film like this.
Performances are brilliant. For Amitabh Bachchan, this is easily the best performance of his career. He has various shades in the
film and displays a variety of emotions. His performance can make you cry for ever in the film. Amitabh Bachchan has entertained us
throughout his career. But in this one, he surpasses himself.
Prakesh Kapadia's deft dialogues, however, lift the script. So do the hide-and-seek glimpses of a comic touch -- watch Amitabh Bachchan saying, 'bull*&^%', in sign language; and the initial meeting between Debraj Sahai and little Michelle McNally.
Speaking of Michelle, the performer in Rani Mukerji must have turned more than a few mental cartwheels when she got Black. It is a pure, performance-driven role, and Rani does it with a fluid maturity that is great to watch.
Cinematography [Ravi K. Chandran] has an international feel. Every frame is worthy of an accolade. Sets [Omung Kumar] are authentic to the core. The Mall of Shimla has been recreated to perfection in Mumbai. Background music [Monty] is appropriate.
BLACK is a present-day, Sanjay Leela Bhansali interpretation of Helen Keller's exceptional life and the role Annie Sullivan played in her life. The real-life story was presented on the big screen in the Hollywood flick THE MIRACLE WORKER [1962], which starred Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft.
On the whole, Black is definitely worth the cost of the ticket..
