Munna: a typical dhobi in the morning & a secretive rat-killer in the night.. his intriguing liking to Sai.. slowly but steadily developing into love & the overwhelming confusion subsequently.. and in the background – his family & Arun!

Sai: an investment banking consultant from the States on a sabbatical in Mumbai.. her one-night-stand with Arun & the longing/desire for a lifetime relationship.. her interest in Munna triggered initially due to her passion for photography in ‘the maximum city’ and in the end due to his pure heart!

Arun: a painter, a loner, a widower.. his tryst with Yasmin through those precious video-tapes & the ensuing emotions ranging from astonishment to happiness to extreme sadness.. his unwanted escapade with Sai followed by attempts to set things straight.. and the majestic painting!

Yasmin: a beautiful & haunting portrait of a small town girl from U.P., married to a cheating husband in Mumbai.. her attempt to stay in touch with her brother Imran through stories told via video tapes.. and the devastating end!

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) is the story of these four people living in Mumbai and their intersecting stories which are a part and parcel of life in the maximum city. The inaugural directorial venture by Kiran Rao grows on you minute by minute and then leaves you introspective as well as retrospective of the city called Mumbai and the diaries of its inhabitants.

Few of the scenes are bound to take your breath away:

The extreme shock on the face of Munna, when spotted by Sai during his rat-killing chronicles in the night..

The tear(s) in Sai’s eyes, when Munna gives him the address of Arun’s new place..

The utter despair & horror that engulfs Arun while coming to reality with Yasmin’s end..

Yasmin’s happiness while shooting the first tape for her beloved brother & the unimaginable distress with which she says “Mujhe maaf kar dena” in the end..

Aamir Khan Productions has scored another perfect 10, with its fifth movie, just like it did with the other four: Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Peepli Live! There has always been a group of critics which have not found alignment with these four movies in the past and that is quite understandable. However, the widespread flak and the degree of criticism faced by Dhobi Ghat has left me atleast, absolutely shocked and bewildered! And to think that it has come from the most unexpected quarters saddens me even more! Yes, it’s a pity that on one hand, we tend to condemn the Indian cinema of producing only commercially viable movies and its inability to match the high standards so often set by Hollywood, while on the other hand, when presented by a real piece of art and cinematic brilliance: we hate it with all our angst!

Being a Mumbaikar (for almost 18 months) and having experienced the highs and lows presented by the maximum city myself, I could perfectly relate with the Mumbai Diaries and which is why I admired this 95 minute spectacle so much! Why most of other Mumbaikars could not do so, is really besides my wildest dreams! And for all those who think that the movie’s entry as the official selection for the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival’10 was due to Aamir Khan’s presence and nothing else, need to do some serious introspection!

For this movie is not about a Aamir Khan, but all about raising a toast to the maximum city “Mumbai”!