The film revolves around Nikhil(Sanjay Suri) who is the state swimming champion in Goa. His father/coach(Victor Bannerjee) has always pushed him to be the best and is proud of his son. He is everyones favourite and Nikhil has such a charming aura that you can't help but like him. His mother Anita(Lilette Duney) does on him and his sister Anamika aka Anu(Juhi Chawla) is more his friend than a sister. Everything is perfect in the life of Nikhil-loved by all around him. But all this changes in August 1989 when Nikhil is arrested and put in isolation as he has identified to be HIV Positive.
What follows is Nikhils fight for survival against all odds. His friends turn their back on him...he is kicked off the school swimming team...his father abandons him and stops talking to him. Nikhil must now face a society that is full of prejudice, a world of people who don't understand let alone know what HIV or Aids is as most people-fear something they don't know. How Nikhil overcomes these obstacles, finds happiness again and ultimately finds peace within himself forms the crux of the story.
The topic of AIDS has been tackled before in the Abhishek-Shilpa Shetty starrer PHIR MILENGEI. Where PHIR MILENGEI was a direct remake of the Tom Hanks-Denzel starrer PHILADELPHIA, MY..MY BROTHER NIKHIL is a entirely orignal film.
Director Onir deserves a standing ovation for having the guts and conviction to make a film like this in todays times. The film delivers a loud and bold message in the most humble, sensitive and sincere format that one can't help but watch. His narrative style deserves a special mention. The characters in the movie introduce themselves to the audience and throughout the movie in between flashbacks talk to the audience as if they are being interviewed. Right from the start the audience is mesmerised by proceedings. While watching the movie one feels like they are living in the world of Nikhil....going through his his happiness..his pains....and Onir manages to connect his film entirely with the viewer. Keeping in mind the film deals with homosexuality as well as AIDS-yet again Onir deserves full credit as he manages to bring to screen a homosexual couple who are totally in love with each in the most natural, simple and beautiful manner that even those who are prejudice will find it hard not to accept the film. Above all Onir manages to create such a storng emotional bond with the viewer that it is impossible for the viewer not to shed a tear..and there is no melodrama..no loud shouting or crying..just 100% pure reality which makes one think " hey that could be my brother".Full respect to director Onir for going against the norm and above all....believing in himself and his story.
The films biggest trump card is no doubt its performance and the entire cast of the movie delivers flawless portrayls of their character.
Sanjay Suri delivers a flawless performance that will leave the viewers totally in awe. No doubt one of the most talented actors we have in Bollywood(and most underrated) Suri fits into Nikhils character like a glove and portrays all the motions and nuances of his character with utmost perfection. He literally becomes the character Nikhil and leaves the viewer teary eyed and speechless. Sanjay Suri hands down deserves a nomination foir BEST ACTOR in every Award ceremony.
Juhi Chawla yet again delivering a towering performance and proves that she is one of the finest actresses we currently have around. After two brilliant performance in JHANKAAR BEATS and TEEN DEEEWWAREIN, Chawla again delivers a flawless portrayl of a complicated character comes out in flying colours.One actually feels like they are watching Nikhils sister throughout the movie. Hats off to Miss Chawla.
Funnily enough Chawla and Suri both played husband and wife earlier in JHANKAAT BEATS.
The supporting cast in the movie too are excellent
Victor Bannerjee delivers a heartwrenching performance as Nikhils father and is a definite shoe-in for Best Supporting Actor. The actors eyes speaks volumes and this is no doubt Bannerjees best performance of late. The scenes that he shares with the Sanjay Suri in the latter half will have the tears flowing-simply surreal.
Lilette Dubey is fantatsic in her part and proves yet again that she is one of the best Supporting actresses to come out in recent times.
Someone who deserves a special mention is Purab Kohili who plays Nikhils friend, and gay lover in the movie. A character like this needs to dealt with utmost sensitivity and Kohili manages to bring the right motions to his character and delivers a extraordinary performance.
Dialogues by Amitabh Varma are natural to the core and are absolutely brilliant
Technically the film is good considering that this is al ow budget film. Arvind Kannabirans camerawork captures the locales of Goa well and the ambience of the film in the second half is captured well on screen as the film goes from bright to dark keeping in sync with the films story.
Music by Vivek Phillips is functional.
All up MY..BROTHER NIKHIL is a MUST-SEE and a hands down classic. The film is a soft and sensitive film with a social message that comes across loud and clear without being forced upon the viewer. Above all the film is a emotional rollercoaster that will leave the viewer with a lump in the throat at the end....
Final Rating: * * * * ½
