User reviews

One thing that helps Shamitabh in making it a decent watch is a new story line. The concept itself is not yet tried in Bollywood. The trailer pretty much speaks about the story yet watching it unfolding on screen can be interesting.

The second great thing about Shamitabh is the performances of Amitabh and Dhanush. Dhanush just nails it again and manages to get noticed even when he shares the frame with Indian legend Amitabh Bachchan. Kudos!

On the flip side you might have wanted the screenplay of the movie to be more tight as there are few dull moments in the movie which at times hamper the narrative.

Nevertheless, Shamitabh is a one time watch owing to fresh new story and decent performances by its lead protagonists.

The film is another salute to the phenomenon by director R. Balki who previously presented Amitabh in two unconventional roles superbly in CHEENI KUM and PAA. Though in SHAMITABH, he once again brings in a fresh concept that in fact is not an easy one to shoot with all the voice and expressions matching to be done perfectly. Still the basic theme of the storyline is much thinner than his last two projects, which in turn makes it look like an overstretched, uneven film having few highs and lows together till its sudden and sad climax.

It begins with a great promise from a star studded premier of a film called LIFEBUOY attended by celebrities giving supportive TV bites and then introduces Dhanush the new star of the industry more famous for his heavy & impressive voice along with the acting. During his speech on the stage we are taken back to his flashback introducing another exceptional child artist who is a treat to watch (in a mute appearance) in those 10 opening minutes accompanied by an apt, catchy song with the lyrics "Salaam-E-Fillam" talking about the love for cinema in the general public. The intercuts of more flashbacks further introduce us to a grown-up Dhanush (as a bus conductor in a small city), who cannot speak but is confident enough to be a Hindi film hero rushing to Mumbai.

After this fine start the first unconvincing phase of SHAMITABH comes as Akshara meats Dhanush (who is just an Assistant Director) and she at once decides to help him out by even sending the struggling actor to foreign land for a costly operation of planting a voice box into his throat. A device, that enables him to lip-sync someone else's voice with a kind of micro recorder/transmitter working between two persons within a range of a few 100 meters. Now though the proceedings try hard to explain the procedure clearly, still the explanation remains a confusing one and the viewer has to accept that OK, let's assume that its possible!

Anyway the brilliance returns on the screen when the enigmatic Amitabh Bachchan is introduced as a drunken, beggar like defeated personality living in a graveyard and from here on we have the few worth watching sequences of the film written and enacted impressively. Both Akshara and Dhanush choose Amitabh to be the voice behind Dhanush's face and the fun begins as SH from Danish (Dhanush's name in film) and AMITABH together becomes SHAMITABH. Their first movie together becomes a hit and then the ego clashes begin claiming who he is the bigger star among the SH and AMITABH from the SHAMITABH.

The story progression featuring a hit film-star (who cannot speak) living a celebrated life, fooling the entire industry, successfully hiding the man behind his famous voice in the closet, turns out to be unconvincing repeatedly. And so does the character of Dhanush, who doesn't seem to be caring about anybody around like an arrogant celebrity proud of his instant success. As a result the ride becomes even more bumpy post intermission with uninteresting sequences coming at regular intervals like the use of bathroom pots in the immensely likable "Pidlee" song, Amitabh giving voice to a rival producer's B-grade film without any issues raised, his unnecessary dialogue with Robert De Niro poster leading to jail abroad, a lot of brand endorsement made in its various sequences and then the investigating reporter track left in the middle.

Yes, no doubt the director comes with many realistic characters with a visible effort of delivering a fine product based on a thin but fresh plot line particularly in the film's first half. Yet overall its only the superfine performances that actually carry the film forward much ahead than any other department of music, cinematography, background score or art direction. Promoted as the maestro Ilayaraja's 1000th film as a composer, the soundtrack has both good and average songs together with Swanand Kirkire's theme related lyrics.

In the performances, as I already mentioned it's a film once again proving the Shehenshah status of Amitabh Bachchan in the industry, who gives another worth watching and worth cheering performance as the deserted man with a golden voice. And I must say that I haven't seen anyone doing a better drunkard act in Hindi films ever with so much ease, elegance and conviction winning hearts right away. Also another appreciable feature of Amitabh's act remains that he never tries to outshine the co-actors giving them much space to perform too. And that's what proves the greatness of this 'Actor of the Millennium' evidently. Dhanush, the 'on-screen' hero of SHAMITABH confidently manages to stand in front of the magnetic persona of the Big B throughout and wins your heart in the early part of the movie before becoming the Superstar. Plus he also leaves a highly emotional impact on the viewer after the sudden, unexpected tragedy striking in the climax. Akshara Haasan makes a stunning as well as sincere debut amongst two towering personalities and so does the actor playing the landlord of Amitabh in the Graveyard hut.

Though the film revolves around a few characters only, here we also have some smartly inserted cameos by the industry figures too such as Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar, Raj Kumar Hirani, Rohit Shetty, Ekta Kapoor, Javed Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Boney Kapoor and many more along with Rekha giving an award to Dhanush on the stage smilingly calling him SHAMITABH.

On the whole, SHAMITABH certainly cannot be rated as a close to perfection project as Balki's CHEENI KUM or PAA but it does have its appreciable highs along with the avoidable lows (offering a novel, inventive plot), making it a one-time watch for sure, especially for its enjoyable performances led by Amitabh Bachchan and his cult baritone voice.

i watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!! this is the first movie I watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!! this is the first movie I watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!! This is the first movie I watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!! this is the first movie I watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!! this is the first movie I watched in which no STORYLINE is there and seriously END is so low with no result and sadness...and this HASSAN don't know acting..I bet....!!

I love when they make films about films, the reason I love some of those offbeat Indian indie flicks (the most recent one being Sulemani Keeda (2014)). So when R Balki came out of the cave and collaborated with personalities of two very different generations, the end result turned out to be a spectacle.

The film starts with a proper flashback montage telling a concise story of a mute, aspiring actor and film enthusiast Danish (Dhanush). The fact that he is a superstar now increases the excitement. He meets Akshara (same name), an assistant director and what follows is although slightly unbelievable (literally, in its premise), it is immensely enjoyable. The muteness vanishes and we welcome Amitabh's (same first name) baritone voice talking for Danish while he acts his character.

The only things that bothered me are one, why would an amateur assistant director help out an aspirant? and two, the voice technology. Of course, it is not a foolproof way for a mute person to speak his feelings. But, all these thoughts withers away as the narrative indulges you into it, demanding your attention about a consequential rags-to-riches story coupled with a mysterious source of envy.

The film amazingly addresses issues of that of envy and ego and how these two feelings can cause self-destruction, creating waves that also affect the people closer to one. The singleton phenomenon Shamitabh turns into two different entities as the film unfolds toward climax. The film basically acts as an intellectual spoof of the cinema industry, and it does it with finesse.

Dhanush is marvelous, and the measure of his excellence is only competed by his co-star Bachchan Sr, who displays a splendid air of being a drunkard wannabe. His mystery could have been demystified, given the importance it plays in the story construction, but it is forgivable. Akshara Haasan did not impress me much because clearly she cannot pull off romantic scenes properly. She may be the chip off the old block, but has a long way in order to master the art of acting.

Other than having a literally impossible setup, Shamitabh excels in all other departments, from the beautiful art setup and production sets to the beat music (by the maverick Illayaraja), from a fine camera job to inventive writing by Balki. He has carved out a fine plot, often taking potshots at recent filmmaking trends viz. masala nonsense, illogical songs (and even more illogical videos), etc. But, these potshots are not cringe-worthy, instead they will make you laugh. The film has a great amount of humor if you watch closely, and helped by Bachchan's fabulous dialogs delivery, you will roll on the floor laughing.

BOTTOM LINE: Despite a drag in the funnier second half, Shamitabh does not disappoint at all. Bachchan's few solo sequences made me yawn, but I am ready to call this the first good Bollywood film of the year. Go watch the next show, because this is one drama we have all been talking about haven't seen. You will be enthralled by the catchy songs.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES (if few expletives from the mouths of Bachchan Sr and Haasan's second daughter are okay with the heads of the family).

‪#‎SHAMITABH‬ Review: Just came from the movie... I can't get the words properly to right about this movie... Even while typing movie name I was confused that what should I keep bigger, SH or ‪#‎AMITABH‬ ... That's how the acting was done from both of the lead actors... To compete in acting with such a superstar is really tough but ‪#‎Dhanush‬ has done it fantastically... Even in some scenes fabulous then Big b... Big b is also splendid n natural in almost every scene... I can say he did enjoy this movie for sure while acting... Superb concept n great direction... Music is also fantastic... Songs mean more for me then previously... I think Balki is making scripts to make big b immortal n unforgettable by giving him such movies... Must must watch... Best movie of the year for me although many more to come...

This type of movies if you make that should be believable but this movie fails to do so. Old sentimental movie that too fails to impress very boring movie. 6 star because of that song try not to laugh.

Positives

1. Amitabh and too some extent Dhanush's acting. 2. An excellent first half. 3. Dialogues were witty and powerful. 4. Good BG score. 5. Love-hate relationship between the two main protagonists. 6. The sophisticated humour in the first half.

Negatives

1. AKSHARA HASSAN: the girl can NOT act.

2. The lengthy second half was a major letdown. Lots of forced humour and a needlessly stretched ending reduced the momentum of the entire film. The editor could heave done a better job and knocked off around 20 minutes on the whole.

Of Balki's three films, this is my least favourite. But, his direction and Amitabh's yet another powerful performance, makes this ode to the Hindi film industry's greatest baritone ever, a definite one time watch.

THE RISE OF SUPER STAR! Why we liking him now as comparing to past? First we wanna separate his Carrer as Before Aadukalam and After Aadukalam. For all, am asking how many Dhanush movie you like before Aadukalam? Maximum Two to Five right? (Like Kaadhal Kondein, Pudhupettai, Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Polladhavan) Picked Most rated 4 Movies from 17. But Fact is after Aadukalam (Like Mayakkam Enna, 3, Raanjhanna, Maryan and VIP) all movies were performance wise Top Notch! He won National Award for Critically Acclaimed Aadukalam (At the Age of 28) and He won Filmfare award Consecutively 3 times and Best Male Debut For Raanjhanna (First South Indian actor to get this). Who all are getting amazed with his performance and and his growth there is nothing to wonder and absolutely he worth on that! Now we wanna accept as He is not having any opponent and this horse will run till his last breath. Play Back Singer, Producer, Script Writer, Even he is interest to Direct himself too! When reporter asked About 'WHY THIS KOLAVERI DI' He Said, When I was writing down the lyrics, I kept in mind all the English words that are used in the Tamil vocabulary. Words like I, you, me, how, why, cow. I just framed them into sentences and that's how I came up with the song. After this success He Became Internet Phenomenon of India. Indian Prime Minister invited for the dinner party along with Japanese Prime Minister in his New Delhi residence, (I Came to know, The political parties in north India used variants of the song in their campaigns for assembly elections)

Now Coming to Shamitabh! First of all i don't know Hindi. But i know our own Dhanush ! smile emoticon Plot is, A Dump boy, Daanish (Dhanush) dreams to become an actor since he was a kid. After his mother's death, he leaves for Mumbai to pursue his dream. There he has a chance to meet with assistant director AksharaaHassan (Akshara) who sees his true potential and wishes to help. Through her father's friend, She gets to know about a technology (which one the speech impaired person can speak). A device is planted in Daanish's throat, which records the voice of the person speaking to him through an ear piece and plays it every time he opens his mouth. All he gotta do is lip sync with the voice! Akshara and Daanish then search a drunkard Amitabh(Amitabh) to be Daanish's voice. After that one time Daanish becomes Shamitabh and a superstar overnight but all the limelight makes Amitabh jealous. Then ego clashes between the two and they split.. (Watch out movie for More...)

I don't know About Amitabh Bachchan, Just Knew about him as he was a Genius and a great Actor. What is a wonder is, this is My First Amitabh movie to see at Theater! But he is simply delight to watch. Main reason why am came here was to speak about Daanish! Oh! Sorry Dhanush.. completely rocking, understandable and so matured. (The Scene make you cry which one small age Dhanush Performing for what his teacher told and various reactions form Dhanush in his intro song) Still If you not like Dhanush after this, there is nothing to speak about! Ilaiyaraaja Official BGM is out of world but there is Dejavu of some OLD Songs and Cinematography is PC Sreeram ISC what to say more than that? For me There is no exception before watch! but once you come out you will think of this. Feel free and go.. Worth a Watch For Splendid Performance from Lead Actors Like Dhanush Amitabh Bachchan and Akshara Hassan

Hello Bollywood..

a. I don't need to slog for 2.5 hrs to appreciate a movie. please slim it down to 1.5 hrs

b. Feed our imagination, not our patience

c. Let the Indian audience do some thinking too..infuse complexity into your scripts

d. Rajkumar Hirani effect works for his movies only. Please make us dislike Hollywood if you REALLY can (hint: don't spoon feed us with things that are predictable)

e. A leads to B leads to C leads to D is a very passé..twist the plot so that even you (directors) find it challenging to truncate it down to a successful movie.(Hint: Allegory is powerful if used in smaller doses)

Give some meaning to your beard and glasses which an ordinary man like me regards as "Intellectual"

The movie Shamitabh is a Indian comedy-drama film written and directed by R. Balki.The theme of the movie was just an average. But related scenes and sets of Imaginary field was very nice. The film features Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Haasan. the soundtrack album and background score was good. The story of Movie was interesting .moreover, the theme music of movie was attractive & it's touching according to the visualization. The soundtrack album and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Besides, emotional scenes were very nice.Songs of movie was good according to compositional aspects.

Finally i rated this movie with 5 stars as average movie .

It is simply phenomenal to see a daily wager/bus conductor/rickshaw puller/bonded labour looking guy pull of Amitabh Bachchan's baritone. Yep ! that is the thing to check out in Samitabh !! Nothing in place yet everything in place, is what is Dhanush ! I am absolutely Dhanushstruck !! A tribute to 'the' voice of Amitabh Bachchan and all the valets of Bollywood....Samitabh clearly shows Balki's fanaticism with AB. Akshara Hassan is a very welcome change from the usual Bollywood glamour actresses. Watch it only if you are another Balki or me....;-)(Meanwhile I am trying to download a new ring tone on my phone....sha sha sha mi mi mi)

Shamitabh is a very unlikely possibility ... I share this for the following reasons.

1. Two unknown people come together to collaborate for their own good (sans the usual 'mutual' approach seen in the beginning at the least). Sinha is a difficult man right from the beginning and the friction is needlessly dragged for a good length of the movie ... On the other end, if it was about a built camaraderie gone wrong over time, the story would have made sense like in Omkara. Human beings usually take an avoidance approach at the earliest time possible with strangers and after a few benefits of doubt if there was 'trust' factor applicable between both. The plot lacks strength.

2. This is my personal opinion: Dhanush and Amitabh has given great performances individually and together too but the voice doesn't match. Dhanush did stand taller to the extent he could but his Shamitabh's (the name is a misfit) survival hinging on Sinha exclusively was a ridiculous plot. Abhishek's sounds real than Amitabh's given the age difference ... And to emphasize severely on Amitabh Bachchan's imminence (his baritone voice) doesn't seem the best approach. The director's bias for Amitabh has gone overboard. Had the voice been someone else's, I don't think there would have been any story. Had Balki tried a clash between Rajinikanth and Dhanush as two super-stars who admire each other secretively, there would have been thrill. There are several other contexts where Dhanush/Amitabh combo could be tried ...

Balki has a glorious example of Mohan, the Karnataka-based actor who sizzled with a dubbing artist in his Tamil films initially ... the relationship fizzled out and Mohan's career did get doomed. Balki's enthusiasm has translated into short-sightedness.

3. To think that none picked Dhanush's speech difficulty in the industry is a bit too much. And I am bored seeing Dhanush killed for no real reason and to see him die back to back in two Hindi films is just too much.

PS. Akshara is alright. Got to see more of her in the screen to take a stand ...

I expected more from Amitabh's movie. It was great to watch Amitabh and Dhanush. However other characters were not visible enough to be judged.

There were a few odd points I found.

1] The technology shown was odd but great, but it can be taken for granted as it is just fantasizing the idea. Dhanush was able to speak what Amitabh was speaking. But this effort takes lip sync, and air movements from lungs, which cannot be expected of a microprocessor chip. Although, I should not comment on this technology, but I saw this as far fetched idea.

2] Hero Dhanush was buried ??? It sounds odd with Hindu name.

3] He was buried at the same place what was reserved for Amitabh. If the place was reserved, why he was buried at that place without Amitabh's permission.

However, I saw a great humor in the movie, which was a fun to watch.

Amitabh could not have been better. If it introduces to a concept that Amitabh could actually be mute its a great movie. I see movie all over the world this is the best-est freshest concept and entertaining movie I have seen. Proud to see that... hate the ending. The voice vs the actor is the pinnacle of movie making.

Go watch this in theaters.

There will not be any more.

I don't know why r baliki likes dumb and deaf concept so much but he can make a cinema out of it and its a true marvell.

All praises except for ending. If it would have ended with a punch it would be resounding for ages.

However the movie the concept is worth a watch to inspire to think.

"Shamitabh," directed by R. Balki, is a satire that brings together an unusual yet captivating collaboration of talent, starring Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan. Released in 2015, this film dared to tread a path few would have imagined, especially during a time when patriotic films, action dramas, and biopics were dominating the Indian cinema landscape. This unique narrative features a South Indian actor from the Tamil industry, Dhanush, in his second Hindi film, working alongside the legendary Amitabh Bachchan in a film that stands out for its originality and unconventional storytelling.

The film follows Danish (played by Dhanush), a small-town boy with a dream of becoming an actor, despite having no voice, no connections, and an unassuming appearance. Danish's character defies the typical Bollywood hero archetype, which usually demands good looks, height, and a commanding screen presence. Danish's journey is filled with obstacles, not only due to his lack of voice but also because of societal expectations.

Enter Akshara Pandey (played by Akshara Haasan), who becomes the catalyst for Danish's transformation. With the help of her father's technological prowess, Danish is equipped with a voice modulator. The search for the perfect voice leads them to Amitabh Sinha (played by Amitabh Bachchan), whose deep, resonant voice becomes Danish's own. This unlikely partnership between a mute aspiring actor and a disillusioned, alcoholic voice artist forms the crux of "Shamitabh."

Dhanush delivers an impressive performance as Danish, capturing the character's vulnerability and determination with finesse. His portrayal of a man battling physical limitations and societal prejudices is both poignant and inspiring. Amitabh Bachchan, as always, is exceptional. His portrayal of Amitabh Sinha, a man grappling with his own demons, adds depth to the film. The dynamic between Dhanush and Bachchan is electrifying, creating a compelling narrative that keeps the audience engaged.

Akshara Haasan, in her debut role, adds a refreshing presence to the film. Her character, Akshara Pandey, is pivotal in bridging the gap between Danish and Amitabh, and she handles the role with grace and confidence.

R. Balki's direction is commendable, as he successfully navigates the film's unique premise, blending satire with drama seamlessly. The screenplay is sharp, with moments of humor and introspection that resonate deeply. The film's music, composed by Ilaiyaraaja, complements the narrative beautifully, enhancing the emotional depth of the story.

However, "Shamitabh" is not without its flaws. The pacing of the film, especially in the second half, could have been tighter. Some subplots feel underdeveloped, and the climax, while emotionally charged, might not satisfy everyone.

In conclusion, "Shamitabh" is a bold and innovative film that explores themes of identity, ambition, and the power of voice. It stands out for its originality and the stellar performances of its lead actors. While it may not have achieved commercial blockbuster status, it remains a significant film for its daring narrative and the memorable collaboration between Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan. It's a must-watch for those seeking a break from conventional storytelling and looking for a film that challenges norms and expectations.

This movie is not using it's full potential. Where there are almost endless chances for major cluster comedy and hilarious screwball scenarios it stays timid. A little out of sync here, a little tension when a journalist finds out the truth there, a little conflict but it ends there. Beautiful concepts that did not follow through. The storyline contains many forceful unnatural conflicts. It would have been so much more fun to have Shamitabh team up together whole heartily to make this voice double thing work.Instead Bachchan's character is forced to sabotage his own chance of success. However the worst is the abrupt, over dramatic misplaced ending of this film. How have they missed a brilliant comedic ending? If Danush lacks charisma or if the storyline didn't provide the opportunity is hard to tell but he fails to be convincing in his role as new mega movie star. Obviously Bachchan is a god and even in this uneventful script he does nothing less then a great performance.

Mr R. Balki came up with a very unique and new idea. this movie is a one time watch but i must say that now i am a fan of dhanush. there is no contradiction about Amit ji's acting. through out the movie his performance was very amazing.

Let me tell you about dhanush. Dhanush is a superstar in south. As i am staying in south, i know what type of superstar he is. there has been always some debate about his acting in south. H e has a very good fan following here (Count me in). In this movie his performance was really amazing. he has done the role of a dumb guy. who has a dream to be an actor. he reaches mumbai and made his way to the filmcity. then the struggle starts because he can act but can not speak.

This movie is all about the struggle, sacrifice, ego, understanding and love.

happy to see this movie.

The theme of the movie is based on audio and video.... It means how video and audio are part of each other and one is incomplete without the other. One is dumb but his acting is bold and other is old with a voice of a gold. The concept was awesome as i said but the film's story is kinda messed up. It starts.....continues but in middle it somewhat sways to and fro....kinda stretches the story. I was waiting for such movies with concepts coz such movies are not there in our cinemas anymore. It was due to this that i watched this movie(and for Amitabh bachchan too). As you see.......in Hollywood, they have great conceptual movies like one being made on Stephen Hawkins.... I see that such kind of movies have been started being made in Indian cinemas too which have good concept... All they need is a bit improvement. Still actors have done a great job as it is first time any movie has made me to review it.

Excellent performances from Amitabh and Dhanush. Not too sure about the green eyed beauty. Honestly, she seemed a bit lost especially in front of such other great actors. Dialogue delivery was very poor. I absolutely love Dhanush and his acting skills but this movies wasn't as good as it COULD be. Story-line lacked a solid foundation.

Also, even after the end of the movie I wasn't sure about Dhanush's love interest. Pretty confusing in terms of who he wanted to be in a relationship with. This reminds me, there was a short sex scene that didn't seem to add anything fruitful to the storyline. Expected more from the movie. Also, too much advertisement of products like Lifebouy, Knorr soup and FinnAir. And the way it was incorporated into the movie line was just ridiculous.