Dhobi Ghaat
Encyclopedia
Dhobi Ghat (also known as Mumbai Diaries) is a 2010 Hindi drama film directed by Kiran Rao
in her directorial debut. The film stars Aamir Khan
, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra
, and Kriti Malhotra and is produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions
. Aamir Khan plays one of the lead roles in the movie as a painter. Gustavo Santaolalla
was signed to compose the score and soundtrack of the film, which includes a song by Ryuichi Sakamoto
.
Dhobi Ghat had its world premiere in September 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival
. It was released in cinemas on 21 January 2011.
), a reclusive artist, moves into a run-down flat in the older part of Mumbai
. After attending an exhibition
of his works, he meets Shai (Monica Dogra
), an American banker who has come to Mumbai to devote time to her hobby, photography
, and takes her back to his flat, where they have a one-night stand
. The next morning, Arun expresses his disinterest in continuing the relationship and Shai angrily storms out.
Shortly after, Munna (Prateik Babbar), a dhobi (washerman) who dreams about getting a break in Bollywood
, arrives to deliver Arun's laundry. Arun moves into a new apartment the next day. While unpacking, he finds a small container that had been left by the previous tenant of the apartment. In it, he finds a silver chain, a ring, and three video tapes by Yasmin Noor. The tapes turn out to be video diaries in which Yasmin communicates with her brother. In the tape, she is generally happy, and shows her apartment, which is the same one Arun is occupying now. The next morning, Arun is informed by his manager that art dealers, impressed with his art, have decided to open a gallery in Sydney
featuring his works. Arun is pleased by this, as it would also give him a chance to visit his ex-wife and children, who have settled in Australia
. He begins to work on a new painting.
When Munna delivers laundry to Shai's house, they meet and soon become friends. Munna agrees to show Shai around Mumbai and help her gather photographs about the occupations of the poor. In return, Shai agrees to shoot a portfolio
of Munna to help him get into the film industry. Arun continues watching Yasmin's tapes and learns more about her life, including that she has recently married a man who seems distant. Shai obtains Arun's new address from Munna and rents a house opposite to his, as she wishes to be close to him, though Arun remains unaware of this.
Munna continues struggling to find work in films. To earn a living, he washes clothes by day and kills rats by night. He disapproves of his brother's criminal activity but they are close, and Munna's brother uses his underworld contacts to try to get Munna a break in the industry. In the meantime, Munna shows Shai the different facets of Mumbai, including the dhobi ghaat, where he works as a launderer. Munna develops feelings for Shai but is unable to express them, mostly because of his working-class status. One day, Arun spots Shai nearby and invites her to his house. He apologizes about their first meeting. Munna sees them together and feels betrayed but Shai is able to convince him to keep helping her. One night, while Munna is at his rat-killing job, Shai sees him and takes pictures. Dismayed, Munna flees from her.
Arun watches the final video by Yasmin. Her tone has changed considerably since the previous tape, in which she revealed learning that her husband was in an extramarital affair. She strongly indicates that she intends to commit suicide. Shaken by the knowledge that Yasmin might have hanged herself in that very room, Arun flees the apartment and moves into a new one. Munna arrives home to find that his brother has been killed. He and his family relocate to a new flat and Munna visits his brother's contact in the film industry to show him his portfolio.
Arun studies the painting he has been working on, which is now complete. Yasmin is prominently featured along with other things she had left behind. Shortly after, Shai finds Munna and Munna again tries to flee her, but she catches up with him. She insists upon their friendship and asks about Arun's whereabouts. Still hurt, Munna lies to her and they exchange an abrupt farewell before Shai leaves. Moments later, Munna changes his mind and runs after Shai's car, weaving through the traffic. The film ends when Munna catches up to the car and gives Shai Arun's new address.
All of the songs were only included in the film. No soundtrack of Dhobi Ghat was released in the market.
In an interview, Rao expressed that the film was meant to be a tribute to Mumbai and that she sought to reveal other sides of the city not often portrayed.
The film was shot in Mumbai using "guerilla"
techniques. Due to the 2008 Mumbai attacks
, shooting was delayed when, citing safety concerns, the government denied Rao permission to shoot scenes at a railway station. According to the director, Mumbai is the "fifth character" in Dhobi Ghat.
The movie was shot at skycrapers under construction, Mohammed Ali markets, sea facing bunglows at Worli
, Dhobi Ghat
at Mahalaxmi
, Chowpatty and Marine Drive
. No special sets were constructed to shoot the movie. The movie was released in 2 versions. The original version is around 40% English, while the second version has all dialogue dubbed in Hindi.
Rapid Eye Movies, a German distributor bought the rights for the film's theatrical release in Germany.
gave the film a score of 70%, with an average
score of 6.8/10.
Blessy Chettiar, film critic of Daily News and Analysis wrote, "With Dhobi Ghat, Kiran Rao finally gives Mumbai a film that represents its true hues and tints." Mathures Paul
of The Statesman
gave the film four stars out of five noting that, "Dhobi Ghat is part atmospheric portrait, part video diary that has enough heart-breaking moments you don’t want to watch. But neither can you look away".
Pratim D. Gupta of The Telegraph
compared Dhobi Ghat with Satyajit Ray
's Charulata
in the way that the five characters, including Mumbai, operate like a string quintet. Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times
gave the film three and a half stars stating, "Bombay, is the centre of this film’s attention. It’s probably the only city in the world where so many classes so closely merge into a common river of sorrows, beauty or hope: unaware of how each affects the other every day. This film is first-rate tribute; it’s visceral, I realize -- both clichés for compliments. Nothing more appropriate comes to mind." Anupama Chopra
of NDTV
gave the film three stars, stating, "If you are willing to have patience, Dhobi Ghat comes together nicely. It has a poetry and melancholy that stays with you.""Dhobi Ghat is a Poetry on Canvas!" said Swati Deogire of The ILIKE Times giving it a 3.5/5"
Gaurav Malani of India Times Movies
gave the film two stars, stating "Dhobi Ghat is a pretentious attempt at producing an arthouse piece". The reviewer sums up the movie as "being dull, dreary and disappointing!". Kunal Guha of Yahoo! India Movies
found the film to be undeserving of undivided (break-free) audience attention. He states that "despite the aimlessly drifting script, the performances definitely deserve a mention".
Bhawana Somaaya Senior Editor of Ticket Please gave the film a five stars out of five, stating that "Rao portrays the drudgery and the magnificence of the city in unforgettable imageries" she also says that "There is no doubting that Dhobi Ghat is amongst the most significant films in the history of Indian cinema"
, Dhobi Ghat with the star power of Aamir Khan was expected to rake in substantial gross collections worldwide after the humongous success of Ghajini
and 3 Idiots. However the film did not fare well with 14 crores domestic gross, and $102,076 overseas gross. It was declared as "below average" by Box Office India, on the contrary others argue that the movie made profits despite its offbeat theme.
Kiran Rao
Kiran Rao is an Indian film producer, screenwriter, and director.-Early life:Rao was born in Bangalore into a Konkani family on November 7, 1973. She was raised in Calcutta where she attended Loreto House and La Martiniere Calcutta. In 1992, her parents decided to leave Calcutta so she shifted to...
in her directorial debut. The film stars Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan
Aamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
, Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra
Monica Dogra
Monica Dogra is an American singer and actress. of Indian heritage. She is one half of the Mumbai-based electro rock duo Shaa'ir and Func, and has recently acted in the Bollywood film Dhobi Ghat....
, and Kriti Malhotra and is produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions
Aamir Khan Productions
Aamir Khan Productions is an Indian motion picture production and distribution company, based in Mumbai. The company was founded in 2001 by actor Aamir Khan. The company has produced six films so far, all of which five succeeded commercially and critically.B...
. Aamir Khan plays one of the lead roles in the movie as a painter. Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
was signed to compose the score and soundtrack of the film, which includes a song by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
.
Dhobi Ghat had its world premiere in September 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
. It was released in cinemas on 21 January 2011.
Plot
Arun (Aamir KhanAamir Khan
Aamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
), a reclusive artist, moves into a run-down flat in the older part of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. After attending an exhibition
Art exhibition
Art exhibitions are traditionally the space in which art objects meet an audience. The exhibit is universally understood to be for some temporary period unless, as is rarely true, it is stated to be a "permanent exhibition". In American English, they may be called "exhibit", "exposition" or...
of his works, he meets Shai (Monica Dogra
Monica Dogra
Monica Dogra is an American singer and actress. of Indian heritage. She is one half of the Mumbai-based electro rock duo Shaa'ir and Func, and has recently acted in the Bollywood film Dhobi Ghat....
), an American banker who has come to Mumbai to devote time to her hobby, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, and takes her back to his flat, where they have a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
. The next morning, Arun expresses his disinterest in continuing the relationship and Shai angrily storms out.
Shortly after, Munna (Prateik Babbar), a dhobi (washerman) who dreams about getting a break in Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
, arrives to deliver Arun's laundry. Arun moves into a new apartment the next day. While unpacking, he finds a small container that had been left by the previous tenant of the apartment. In it, he finds a silver chain, a ring, and three video tapes by Yasmin Noor. The tapes turn out to be video diaries in which Yasmin communicates with her brother. In the tape, she is generally happy, and shows her apartment, which is the same one Arun is occupying now. The next morning, Arun is informed by his manager that art dealers, impressed with his art, have decided to open a gallery in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
featuring his works. Arun is pleased by this, as it would also give him a chance to visit his ex-wife and children, who have settled in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He begins to work on a new painting.
When Munna delivers laundry to Shai's house, they meet and soon become friends. Munna agrees to show Shai around Mumbai and help her gather photographs about the occupations of the poor. In return, Shai agrees to shoot a portfolio
Portfolio
Portfolio literally means "a case for carrying loose papers," ....
of Munna to help him get into the film industry. Arun continues watching Yasmin's tapes and learns more about her life, including that she has recently married a man who seems distant. Shai obtains Arun's new address from Munna and rents a house opposite to his, as she wishes to be close to him, though Arun remains unaware of this.
Munna continues struggling to find work in films. To earn a living, he washes clothes by day and kills rats by night. He disapproves of his brother's criminal activity but they are close, and Munna's brother uses his underworld contacts to try to get Munna a break in the industry. In the meantime, Munna shows Shai the different facets of Mumbai, including the dhobi ghaat, where he works as a launderer. Munna develops feelings for Shai but is unable to express them, mostly because of his working-class status. One day, Arun spots Shai nearby and invites her to his house. He apologizes about their first meeting. Munna sees them together and feels betrayed but Shai is able to convince him to keep helping her. One night, while Munna is at his rat-killing job, Shai sees him and takes pictures. Dismayed, Munna flees from her.
Arun watches the final video by Yasmin. Her tone has changed considerably since the previous tape, in which she revealed learning that her husband was in an extramarital affair. She strongly indicates that she intends to commit suicide. Shaken by the knowledge that Yasmin might have hanged herself in that very room, Arun flees the apartment and moves into a new one. Munna arrives home to find that his brother has been killed. He and his family relocate to a new flat and Munna visits his brother's contact in the film industry to show him his portfolio.
Arun studies the painting he has been working on, which is now complete. Yasmin is prominently featured along with other things she had left behind. Shortly after, Shai finds Munna and Munna again tries to flee her, but she catches up with him. She insists upon their friendship and asks about Arun's whereabouts. Still hurt, Munna lies to her and they exchange an abrupt farewell before Shai leaves. Moments later, Munna changes his mind and runs after Shai's car, weaving through the traffic. The film ends when Munna catches up to the car and gives Shai Arun's new address.
Cast
- Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
as Arun - Prateik Babbar as Munna
- Monica DograMonica DograMonica Dogra is an American singer and actress. of Indian heritage. She is one half of the Mumbai-based electro rock duo Shaa'ir and Func, and has recently acted in the Bollywood film Dhobi Ghat....
as Shai - Kriti Malhotra as Yasmin
- Kitu GidwaniKitu GidwaniKitu Gidwani is an Indian actress and model. She has starred in some movies as well as serials in Indian television. She became popular after a TV series, Air Hostess aired on Doordarshan in 1986, and received critical acclaimed for her roles in Dance of the Wind , Deepa Mehta's Earth , Govind...
as Vatsala - Nafisa Khan as Amma
Music
- "Stranger Lives" - Gustavo SantaolallaGustavo SantaolallaGustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
(7:33) - "You With Me" - Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
(6:45) - "Ghat Kaisi" - Monica Dogra and Gustavo SantaolallaGustavo SantaolallaGustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
(3:12) (composed by Gustavo SantaolallaGustavo SantaolallaGustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
and Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
)
All of the songs were only included in the film. No soundtrack of Dhobi Ghat was released in the market.
Production
The film was shot in Mumbai using "guerilla"
Guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available...
techniques. Due to the 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
, shooting was delayed when, citing safety concerns, the government denied Rao permission to shoot scenes at a railway station. According to the director, Mumbai is the "fifth character" in Dhobi Ghat.
The movie was shot at skycrapers under construction, Mohammed Ali markets, sea facing bunglows at Worli
Worli
-History:Worli was one of the original seven islands that constituted the city of Mumbai. Although primarily a fishing village, the Worli Fort, a British fort that is now in ruins, is located there. Its original resident was the legendary Dishankeshwar Kalsi who has also been recognized in several...
, Dhobi Ghat
Dhobi Ghat
Dhobi Ghat is a well known open air laundromat in Mumbai, India. The washers, locally known as Dhobis, work in the open to wash the clothes from Mumbai's hotels and hospitals. There are rows of open-air concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone...
at Mahalaxmi
Mahalaxmi
Mahalaxmi can refer to:* Mahalaxmi : the Hindu goddess of wealth and patron goddess of the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra.* Mahalaxmi : a location in the city of Mumbai....
, Chowpatty and Marine Drive
Marine Drive
Marine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west...
. No special sets were constructed to shoot the movie. The movie was released in 2 versions. The original version is around 40% English, while the second version has all dialogue dubbed in Hindi.
Rapid Eye Movies, a German distributor bought the rights for the film's theatrical release in Germany.
Critical response
Review aggregation website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
gave the film a score of 70%, with an average
Average
In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set is a measure of the "middle" value of the data set. Average is one form of central tendency. Not all central tendencies should be considered definitions of average....
score of 6.8/10.
Blessy Chettiar, film critic of Daily News and Analysis wrote, "With Dhobi Ghat, Kiran Rao finally gives Mumbai a film that represents its true hues and tints." Mathures Paul
Mathures Paul
Mathures Paul is a journalist working with The Statesman newspaper in India. With articles spread over a wide range of subjects—films, music, information & technology, photography, dance and books—he is also the newspaper's film and music critic...
of The Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
gave the film four stars out of five noting that, "Dhobi Ghat is part atmospheric portrait, part video diary that has enough heart-breaking moments you don’t want to watch. But neither can you look away".
Pratim D. Gupta of The Telegraph
The Telegraph (Kolkata)
The Telegraph is an Indian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and the newspaper vies with the Times of India for the position of having the widest widest circulation of any newspaper in Eastern India.According to the Audit...
compared Dhobi Ghat with Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
's Charulata
Charulata
Charulata is a 1964 film by Bengali director Satyajit Ray, based upon the novella Nastanirh by Rabindranath Tagore...
in the way that the five characters, including Mumbai, operate like a string quintet. Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
gave the film three and a half stars stating, "Bombay, is the centre of this film’s attention. It’s probably the only city in the world where so many classes so closely merge into a common river of sorrows, beauty or hope: unaware of how each affects the other every day. This film is first-rate tribute; it’s visceral, I realize -- both clichés for compliments. Nothing more appropriate comes to mind." Anupama Chopra
Anupama Chopra
Anupama Chopra is a noted author, journalist and film critic. She has written several books on Indian cinema and has been a movie reviewer with NDTV and India Today.-Career:...
of NDTV
NDTV
NDTV is an Indian commercial broadcasting television network founded in 1988. It was founded by Prannoy Roy, an eminent journalist and current chairman and director of NDTV Group. NDTV currently has more than 1,000 employees producing news from over twenty locations in India...
gave the film three stars, stating, "If you are willing to have patience, Dhobi Ghat comes together nicely. It has a poetry and melancholy that stays with you.""Dhobi Ghat is a Poetry on Canvas!" said Swati Deogire of The ILIKE Times giving it a 3.5/5"
Gaurav Malani of India Times Movies
Indiatimes
Indiatimes is the Internet subsidiary of The Times of India Group, under which, some of the largest websites in India - The Times of India, The Economic Times, Navbharat Times and Maharashtra Times operate....
gave the film two stars, stating "Dhobi Ghat is a pretentious attempt at producing an arthouse piece". The reviewer sums up the movie as "being dull, dreary and disappointing!". Kunal Guha of Yahoo! India Movies
Yahoo! Movies
Yahoo! Movies , provided by the Yahoo! network, is home to a large collection of information on movies, past and new releases, trailers and clips, box office information, and showtimes and movie theater information. Yahoo! Movies also includes red carpet photos, actor galleries, and production...
found the film to be undeserving of undivided (break-free) audience attention. He states that "despite the aimlessly drifting script, the performances definitely deserve a mention".
Bhawana Somaaya Senior Editor of Ticket Please gave the film a five stars out of five, stating that "Rao portrays the drudgery and the magnificence of the city in unforgettable imageries" she also says that "There is no doubting that Dhobi Ghat is amongst the most significant films in the history of Indian cinema"
Box Office
Though an art filmArt film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
, Dhobi Ghat with the star power of Aamir Khan was expected to rake in substantial gross collections worldwide after the humongous success of Ghajini
Ghajini (2008 film)
Ghajini is a 2008 Indian Hindi action film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by Tagore Madhu and Madhu Mantena. It is a remake of Murugadoss's own 2005 Tamil film Ghajini starring Surya Sivakumar in the lead role. The film stars Aamir Khan, Asin Thottumkal and Jiah Khan in lead...
and 3 Idiots. However the film did not fare well with 14 crores domestic gross, and $102,076 overseas gross. It was declared as "below average" by Box Office India, on the contrary others argue that the movie made profits despite its offbeat theme.