It’s monumental

Nonika Singh

If faith can move mountains, the indomitable spirit of a man fuelled by love can literally, ahem, physically move it and not just by way of a metaphor. The tale of Dashrath Manjhi, an unsung hero, has been in the domain of public knowledge ever since Ketan Mehta decided to make a biopic on this remarkable man from Bihar.

Now, as it leaps out on silver screen predictably there isn’t much by way of surprise. We all know it took 22 years for Manjhi to carve a road out of a mountain. We also are aware that it was an accident involving his wife that set him on this path. What, where, how …. there isn’t any great mystery here? Yet, Mehta holds you with his story telling structure that begins dramatically enough with Manjhi confronting his bete noire, the mountain, that later becomes his muse. Before that happens, the narrative moves back and forth in time weaving in a love story to recount this unusual saga of human grit and determination.

Some films tell a story, some entertain, some make you emotional. Mountain Man does all this in bits and parts if not consistently enough and finally moves you in heart and spirit. 

Set in rural Bihar, it’s a throwback to early sixties. While chronicling the trials and tribulations of a man born in abject poverty, the film simultaneously presents a socio-economic document of the times when villages and its inhabitants were cut off from the rest of the world. Sure Mehta might have gone a little overboard and even has a Naxal angle thrown in. Yet, painting this picture of rural India defined by feudalism and casteism was most essential. It’s against this oppressive background and not just the mighty mountain that the dare of Manjhi, a low caste man stands out. As the film tracks the chutzpah of Manjhi’s early years, his passion and finally his zunoon, it soars and dips too but has you teary eyed by the end of it.   

Shaandar zabardast zindabaad… like Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s (playing Manjhi) constant refrain, you too are tempted to echo the same enthusiasm and hail Nawaz if nothing else. From a rebellious young guy to a lover obsessed with his wife (Radhika Apte) to a man possessed to finally his missionary zeal to accomplish mission impossible, he is certainly a master class in acting. Presenting many shades of his role with remarkable ease, Nawaz can take a bow once again.

Sans fluff of any kind the earthy tone of the film also matches the performance of other actors that apart from sensuous Apte also includes talented director Tighmanshu Dhuliya as the malevolent mukhiya. The battery of actors helps in putting together this part imaginative part realistic take on Manjhi’s life. Inspired from a real story as the film qualifies in the beginning, it sure is an inspirational tale. Before the curtains fall it also reminds the legend of Mountain Man lives on. Mehta too deserves kudos for making Manjhi live in cinematic memory. Watch it for Manjhi or for Nawaz. Skip it only if shine and gloss alone is your cinematic floss.