Has it really been 27 years since Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor last acted together in a movie? The legendary duo that gave Indian cinema classics like Amar Akbar Anthony, Kabhi Kabhi, Coolie and Naseeb, were last seen together in Ajooba.
Fittingly, they’ve returned in a movie where the number of years – and in turn time as currency – is at the very heart.
This is not to suggest that 102 Not Out is an epic coming-together of the undoubted powers of two of the finest actors that Bollywood has ever seen. The script is simplistic – perhaps deliberately so – and doesn’t quite require the two veterans to go beyond second gear in terms of acting prowess.
And yet, it is their presence that makes the film absolutely worth watching.
Based on the Gujarati-play of the same name, 102 Not Out is the story of 102-year-old Dattatray Vakharia’s (Amitabh Bachchan) unflinching desire to break the world record for being the oldest man alive, and his relationship with his 75-year-old son Babulal (Rishi Kapoor) whose zeal for life heads in the other direction.
Perpetually stuck in the past, Babulal would be your typical 75-year-old, had he not had a 102-year-old father brimming over with the exuberance to live, and in turn making his son appear as the anomaly.
As is pretty evident from the storyline, 102 Not Out intends to drive home the point that age is superfluous, and the experience of life cannot be trapped in numbers – while at the same time underscoring the protagonist’s quest to extract the essence of living in his quest to breach those very numbers.
The film also depicts the father-son relationship – especially of South Asian origin – which is timeless and isn’t bound by age, or indeed living existence.
As has often been the case for the previous five decades, it is not the performances of Amitabh Bachchan or Rishi Kapoor that would be gauged in any critique, but whether or not the script and direction had enough depth to extract the infinite volumes of ability that the two have.
And perhaps in the case of Bachchan, 102 Not Out falls short on that particular front, especially considering the similar – and more profound – roles he has had in Piku and to a lesser extent in Paa.
However, Rishi Kapoor is always a shoo-in for a grumpy old man these days, and hence seamlessly does Babulal.
Jimit Trivedi is the only other actor starring in the movie besides the leading duo, and he provides a break from monotony whenever he enters the frame. 102 Not Out might be his break into regular roles in Bollywood.
Director Umesh Shukla’s penchant for adaption from theatre – following the immensely successful Oh My God – is evident in 102 Not Out, which unlike the Paresh Rawal starring classic from 2012 unravels as a play on the screen as well, with almost all the shooting in a single house.
Therefore, fans of theatre would enjoy 102 Not Out more than those that might prefer more dynamism in motion pictures.
Even so, despite all the limitations, what makes 102 Not Out a must watch – especially for families – is the towering partnership between Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor.
If ‘102 not out’ is the metaphor for the dogged Test innings where staying at the crease for the longest of times is crucial to save the match – symbolic for life here – then Babulal at 75 not out is the perfect foil for Dattatray Vakharia at the non-striker’s end.
It is by guiding his younger, lesser experienced batting partner who might not have similar patience – but is similarly clocking the time and runs – that the older centurion gets his drive to reach the milestone he desires, all the while helping the partner understand the importance of the match.
And neither of the two would have the will to keep slugging it out, had the other not been at the other end.
Fittingly, they’ve returned in a movie where the number of years – and in turn time as currency – is at the very heart.
This is not to suggest that 102 Not Out is an epic coming-together of the undoubted powers of two of the finest actors that Bollywood has ever seen. The script is simplistic – perhaps deliberately so – and doesn’t quite require the two veterans to go beyond second gear in terms of acting prowess.
And yet, it is their presence that makes the film absolutely worth watching.
Based on the Gujarati-play of the same name, 102 Not Out is the story of 102-year-old Dattatray Vakharia’s (Amitabh Bachchan) unflinching desire to break the world record for being the oldest man alive, and his relationship with his 75-year-old son Babulal (Rishi Kapoor) whose zeal for life heads in the other direction.
Perpetually stuck in the past, Babulal would be your typical 75-year-old, had he not had a 102-year-old father brimming over with the exuberance to live, and in turn making his son appear as the anomaly.
As is pretty evident from the storyline, 102 Not Out intends to drive home the point that age is superfluous, and the experience of life cannot be trapped in numbers – while at the same time underscoring the protagonist’s quest to extract the essence of living in his quest to breach those very numbers.
The film also depicts the father-son relationship – especially of South Asian origin – which is timeless and isn’t bound by age, or indeed living existence.
As has often been the case for the previous five decades, it is not the performances of Amitabh Bachchan or Rishi Kapoor that would be gauged in any critique, but whether or not the script and direction had enough depth to extract the infinite volumes of ability that the two have.
And perhaps in the case of Bachchan, 102 Not Out falls short on that particular front, especially considering the similar – and more profound – roles he has had in Piku and to a lesser extent in Paa.
However, Rishi Kapoor is always a shoo-in for a grumpy old man these days, and hence seamlessly does Babulal.
Jimit Trivedi is the only other actor starring in the movie besides the leading duo, and he provides a break from monotony whenever he enters the frame. 102 Not Out might be his break into regular roles in Bollywood.
Director Umesh Shukla’s penchant for adaption from theatre – following the immensely successful Oh My God – is evident in 102 Not Out, which unlike the Paresh Rawal starring classic from 2012 unravels as a play on the screen as well, with almost all the shooting in a single house.
Therefore, fans of theatre would enjoy 102 Not Out more than those that might prefer more dynamism in motion pictures.
Even so, despite all the limitations, what makes 102 Not Out a must watch – especially for families – is the towering partnership between Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor.
If ‘102 not out’ is the metaphor for the dogged Test innings where staying at the crease for the longest of times is crucial to save the match – symbolic for life here – then Babulal at 75 not out is the perfect foil for Dattatray Vakharia at the non-striker’s end.
It is by guiding his younger, lesser experienced batting partner who might not have similar patience – but is similarly clocking the time and runs – that the older centurion gets his drive to reach the milestone he desires, all the while helping the partner understand the importance of the match.
And neither of the two would have the will to keep slugging it out, had the other not been at the other end.