Piku (2015)

The trailers told us what to expect, and the film definitely lives up to what it endorses. Piku may have taken the subject of constipation quite too seriously, but it really is a realistic depiction of (familial) relationships.

Story of a septuagenarian Bhaskor (Bachchan) who is more concerned about his health issues, especially his holiday tummy, has a daughter named Piku (Padukone). Piku takes care of Bhaskor like a child SHOULD take care of her parent. And that is what the primary theme of the film is, and it slightly preaches that towards the end. Although one cannot call the film preachy, it does convey a message or two.

The plot begins with Bhaskor diagnosing his Delhi belly and ends when he finally empties his bowels, literally. His violent relationship with his digestive system is the reason he acts temperamental, which has far-reaching effects, mostly on Piku. How Piku tackles his snappiness forms the essential part of the film. It is appealing to watch the story unfold, and if one concentrates on the natural dialogs that are delivered by the characters, one is sure to lay back and enjoy a hearty chuckle. The humor is natural and the family ambiance is ideal for an afternoon watch with your family.

How old age has to be handled the same way infancy is handled should be learned by the titular character, played beautifully by gorgeous Padukone. She is shimmering throughout the frames, but for me personally, Bachchan takes the pie. His portrayal is simply fantastic. That brings the attention to the perfect casting done by the makers; Irrfan is phenomenal and so are the pillaring cast. The subject of constipation is so comprehensively addressed one doubts if it is a guide for dummies. The soundtrack and score by newcomer Anupam Roy sounds repetitive, but strictly complements the theme of the film, which is part road drama.

BOTTOM LINE: Soojit Sircar has carved something essential in Bollywood with Piku - a fine story whose effect may not stay for long, but its themes and performances certainly remembered in years to come. 7/10 - recommended.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Fmovies: Piku is quite likely a tribute to Satyajit Ray as it is named after a short film the legendary filmmaker made some decades back, and also because of the references of Ray the director sprinkles in the early part of the film. However, if you expect Sujit Sarkar to match up to that of his influence, you would be truly disappointedÂ…The director says in a Television promo that he is a bit of Bhaskar, the eccentric Bengali central character played by Amitabh Bachchan. The film is seen through the eyes of his daughter Piku (brilliantly played by Deepika Padukone). For the storyline you can refer to any of the several reviews out there. My nit-picky trait uncovered the following:

1. Bhaskar is shown to be a self-centered 70 year old man. He is so selfish that he doesn't want his daughter to get married and go elsewhere. In real life such a Bengali would be very difficult to come across. I haven't seen any Bong father who is as selfish as Bhaskar is depicted in the movie.

2. Bhaskar is a confused person. Someone who is petrified of traveling in a car because a knife is in the dickey of the vehicle, and who wouldn't allow his daughter Piku drive on the highway, goes cycling for 30 km on the streets of Kolkata one fine morning. Didn't the unruly traffic of the city bother Bhaskar? What about his motion when he ventured to go quite a distance from his home?

3. Bhaskar introduces his daughter Piku to guests as a non-virgin. Which crazy Bong father would do this?

4. A greedy promoter flies down from Kolkata to Delhi and comes to Bhaskar's house in Chittaranjan Park with a proposal of a buyer for Bhaskar's Kolkata house. Bhaskar is so rude that he doesn't even offer a cup of tea to this man. Quite unlike a Bong trait again.

5. What was the point of this movie? Maybe the film is a bit of family drama/road movie but exactly what message did we learn from Bhaskar and his life?

As Piku in a dining table conversation remarks "There is a limit to how much one can tolerate talk about sh*t." (Piku's father's only subject of discussion revolves around sh*t) Perhaps the director ought to realize that there is a limit to the extent a viewer can keep patience on a never-ending conversation about human sh*t.

Piku unpretentiously painted a portrait of an average upper middle class family. Amitabh Bachan acted as a retired father and widower who still enjoyed spending time with his daughter while battling health issues. Deepika Padukone's role as the daughter involved hilarious exchanges with her father and other employees of their family. Irrfan Khan's character managed ferrying Amitabh and Deepika in his taxi after being under fire from his mother and sister to do business. Shoojit Sircar delivered a truly simple yet effectual Bollywood film considering the lack of dance numbers and villains. Juhi Chaturvedi sprinkled this award winning hit with lively witticisms for plenty of laughs to accompany the distresses of reality.

Piku fmovies. Shoojit Sircar is one such director who comes up with a sensitive topic and the end result is always beyond the viewer expectation. After directing gems like Vicky Donor and Madras Cafe, the director has added another gem to his filmography. The director has been able to showcase a complex relation between a daughter and a senile father with ease.Sircar was also able to show the reality in a humorous manner. Perhaps Shoojit Sircar is the director who has the chance of taking the vacant throne of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee, because like these director's Sircar is also able to show such sensitive topics in visual in the mold of these director's. Coming to the performance Deepika Padukone in this film has overshadowed her veteran peers in terms of acting and which she was able to carry out with ease. Irfan khan portrayal was realistic and showed how he was jumbling with his family and business life. Amitabh Bachchan portrayal as a senile and medically ill father was great and considering his character's age, his ideas and thoughts were quite funny and party progressive as well. Meanwhile supporting actors like Jisshu Sengupta, Raghuvir yadav, Moushmi Chatterjee portrayal were quite effective.

Piku stands out to be one of the best films of the year and it will be interesting to watch Shoojit Sircar's further directorial and production ventures in future.

DeePika is the Piku. Just watched this not so famous but quite praised movie of Indian cinema. But my opinion vary from others in a major aspect. To begin, I enjoyed the movie on a whole, it has many flaws technically still its worth 10/10 from me.

Piku is rewarded as great movie, simple movie, entertaining and light movie, warmhearted movie and what not. But I don't think its great for its entertaining simplicity. Just as an artist with something in his mind that reflects his views, emotional and intellectual, as a poem or a painting which is developed by him, film making is more or less the same depiction of artists thoughts and mood. In Piku, it is clearly seen that the director and the writer have certain perspective of life, certain interest points in day to day life, something that they give importance to. In the movie this is what they tried to do, being simple and heart- warming is just the outcome of the painting they created. Its like the shadow of the tree that you grow up in your yard.

Director and Writer has done a beautiful job and in this movie there is a good amount of sync between the both in terms of there focused points of life moments. Amazing acting was taken out from A-D-I trio. Except the scattered and hasteful ending, there is actual nothing that gets it down. Amongst the category of drama (Bollywood), realistic(Others mostly) and entertainment, Piku is entertaining one which has the illusive appearance of the realistic-drama.

Music and soundtracks were good, fresh trio combination, emotional development and the most powerful of all ; the dialogues, totally mindblowing, linked, connected and cohesive. Until the interval they barely stop, it was like a chain of punches. The story was great but the way it was crafted and laid upon was just like the makers blew up the bomb of their desire to have certain points in the film that are crucial in there view and think should also be anticipated by others as significant at least, upon the canvas. Not many will understand how successfully the film is made, yet its a movie watch-able and enjoyable by all.

Director Mr. #SoojitSircar has done wonderful job. He was very clear about the emotions of every character. He has taken far ahead the script by his visualization. Writer #JuhiChaturvedi breaks the all taught grammar of a script but still succeeded to posses its soul. Hats off to her. She had just an idea on the name of story but she developed this beautifully which was not an easy work. Screenplay is good. Dialogues are sweet and witty. Writing and direction are so gelled that it is hard to believe that actually that is written by two persons. Both were creatively tuned on the same note. This film is a great example that good rapport of writer and director can even carry a very thin subject to an entertaining flick. All characters are very real. You start believing them very soon. Love scenes are realistic, unusual but project the correct emotions. Film is slow but you still enjoy it throughout like home made food. You will be wearing smile and sometimes burst in laughter too. Brilliant performance by all actors is icing on the cake. One can watch any film just for Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. He is par excellence. Deepika Padukone is one of very fine actor, who can carry very glamorous character as well as hard core real, authentic and girl next door role with ease and conviction. Irrfan Khan is fabulous. Moushumi Chatterjee and Raghuvir Yadav are very good. Music by Anupam Roy and lyrics by Manoj Yadav and Anupam Roy are impressive.