Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture [2011] Movie Review

Star Cast – Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor, Anju Mahendroo
Director – Milan Luthria
Producer – Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor
Music Director – Vishal Shekhar
Watched at Innox, Hyderabad
Reels: 16
Length: 3927mts

Survi Review: 3.25/5 (0.25 more for Vidya Balan)

The Dirty Picture all about a STRUGGLER turning HOT SHOT then FADING AWAY star. Reshma (Vidya Balan) who run behind the dreams of becoming a actress. In spite of having good looks and acting skills Reshma get rejected until she gets her first shot in an Abraham (Emraan Hashmi) film, But as an ITEM GIRL. Even though the Item was shot HOT its gets edited by Abhraham (It was against his moral values). But Selva Ganesh (Rajesh Sharma) gets to know about the item number and adds it in the flick. The same flick which failed due to no mass element turns out to be a successful venture with the addition of the Silk song. At a time when a casting person told, you missing the “Nammak” in you, you are not even eligible for acting. How she moulds herself to face the challenge and how she leaves the regular stream line characters and fits into VAMP roles to get noticed. How she climbs the star race and declines, how her interest in LOVE and CAREER gets threatened is the remaining storyline.

Vidya Balan walks away with HONORS with her terrific performance. She lives in Silk Smitha’s character as a aspiring actor to Wooing Item girl and to the Fading star. Vidya must be appreciated for accepting this kind of role.  The Dirty Picture will be remembered for her BOLD and DEDICATED effort.  Emraan Hashmi gets into skin of the character as FOILED director and LOVER in the second half.  Naseeruddin Shah is good as Superstar Surya a womanizer. Tusshar Kapoor is adequate as writer and brother of Superstar Surya. Rest of the cast is supportive.

After Vidya Balan’s Mesmerizing act, its Rajat Arora who must be appreciated for his HIDEOUS dialogues. As follows,

• Hero ho ya villain, har kahani ki VAMP main hi hoon.
• Jab upparwale ne ek ZINDEGI di hai, tho DOBARA kya sochna.
• Director: Dard bardasth kar pavogi?? Vidya Balan: abhi thak kiya hai tho aage bhi kar pavungi sir
• Silk cheating nahi karti, jo hai bas wohi dikathi hai.
• Jab devi samne swayam prakat ho, tho mandir ka darshan kon kartha hai.
• A film works for three reasons: entertainment, entertainment, entertainment. Aur mein entertainment hu.

Milan Luthria was succeeded in accomplishing the connotation of this film. That is wooing the audience. The direction of the film is GOOD. Seems like the director did enough homework to check out how SILK SMITHA dressed and behaved in past. The screenplay of the film is fair, but gets dragged in the second half. Music by Vishal – Shekar is apt, NAKU MUKKA by Vijay Anthony is likeable. The cinematography (by Bobby Singh) and background score are PERFECT too. Editing (by Akiv Ali) could have been crispier. Costumes by Niharika Khan were appealing. Pony Verma choreography is RHYTHMICAL.

The Dirty Picture starts off entertaining and bold. But drags a lot in the second half. The positives of The Dirty Picture are Vidya Balan, Dialogues and Music. On the flipside its Dragging second half, too much of Bold content and slow narration. Overall,   The Dirty Picture works for three reasons: Vidya Balan, Dialogues, and Music. Go for it if don’t mind watching a BOLD and BRAVE attempt.

Theatrical Trailer: