Abhishek Bachchan's Best Performance, but Shoojit Sircar's Understated Drama Falls Short
Shoojit Sircar's I Want to Talk, very true to the title, presents us with a deeply personal and emotional story of a man who finds himself up against a desperate battle for survival against a terrible diagnosis. Lying at the core of the movie is the title character played by Abhishek Bachchan, who not only comes to grips with a life-threatening illness but also uncovers newer facets of his personality, more so as a father. However, while Bachchan's acting stands out, the subdued manner of telling the story may leave audiences asking for more.
Abhishek Bachchan Performance—A Game-changer
No doubt, Abhishek Bachchan as Arjun Sen is the strongest point of the film. Known for larger-than-life roles, Bachchan steps into a far more vulnerable and earthly character. He has shed off any semblance of vanity to assume the physical changes in his character as his gut thickens and scars tell the tale of the pain he's endured. His performance is raw, honest, and captures the struggle of a man wrestling with his own mortality, as he struggles to balance his health and be a father.
Arjun's journey starts with the shocking news of a laryngeal cancer diagnosis and follows him through multiple surgeries, bouts of chemotherapy, and ultimately, the emotional toll it takes. The film does not really delve too deep into melodrama, but Bachchan's acting of a man trying to balance his personal demons and a complicated family dynamic gives the film its emotional anchor.
A Story of Survival, but Is It Enough?
Arjun's survival story is envious-19-20 surgeries, an agonizing fight with cancer, and the will to run a marathon add enough weight to his resilience. But here comes a valid question: does mere survival story make an interesting cinematic experience? The film is busy for most of its first half with Arjun as a patient, undergoing surgeries and treatments, which, though essential, hardly interests the audience. Insistent as Bachchan's performance is, the generally languid pace of the narrative may make some viewers feel that this is a bit less than what they were expecting from a soundtrack of his journey into medicine.
Shoojit Sircar tells I Want to Talk with such quiet subtlety that there is no emotional outburst; there is no melodramatic background score hinting to the audience when to feel sad or sympathetic. Refreshingly different this is from the cinema of today. But that restraint also keeps it emotionally distant. The film's core performance is about the relationship between Arjun and his daughter Reya, played by Pearle Dey, which, though touching, seems too restricted in scope.
When the Film Finds Its Spark
The story picks up in the second half of the film as Arjun's world expands beyond his medical fights. His interactions with the crusty surgeon, his spirited daughter, and even the local handyman bring much-needed life into the narrative. These are moments that make the film more wholesome, with the ties that bind everybody together other than family.
Pearle Dey and Ahilya Bamroo, the two child actors who play Reya at different junctures of her life, support Bachchan adequately. The father-daughter relationship is the core of the movie, but it's the supporting characters and their passing appearances that give an otherwise somber plot much-needed texture.
Final Thoughts
I Want to Talk feels like a film waiting for a bigger story to happen. As sure as Abhishek Bachchan acts out of his skin here and as resounding the themes of survival, family, and the indomitable human spirit are, Shoojit Sircar lets much of that promise go begging. The quiet, understated tone works in part, but it also makes the experience less expansive than it ought to be.
If you're a fan of subtle drama and performances that say a lot without screaming too loud, I Want to Talk might work for you. If your expectation is for a more energetic narrative with deeper exploration of its support characters, you will probably be left wanting.
Rating: 3.5/5
Have you watched I Want to Talk? What was your impression of Bachchan's acting? Let us know in the comments section below!