Masand's Verdict: The Last Lear is slyly over the top

HIGH-HANDED DRAMA: Despite a terrific narrative, much of its plot feels unnecessarily contrived.

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Cast: Arjun Rampal Amitabh Bachchan Preity Zinta Shefali Shah Divya Dutta

Director: Rituparno Ghosh

The Last Lear, directed by Rituporno Ghosh is what I'd describe as a great idea that doesn't quite translate into a great film.

An adaptation of a play by Utpal Dutt, The Last Lear uses the film-within-a-film device to tell the story of Harish Mishra or Harry, an ageing theatre actor played by Amitabh Bachchan who knows Shakespeare off the top of his head, and who's persuaded by hotshot new-age film director Siddharth (played by Arjun Rampal) to perform his first ever film role as an old, disfigured clown.

Harry struggles with the cinematic process, but finds refuge in dispensing acting tips to his co-star Shabnam (played by Preity Zinta), with whom he gradually develops a warm friendship.

This story is revealed in flashback, unfolding side-by-side with the present day scenario in which Harry lies unconscious following an accident on the set; attended to by three women — his partner Vandana (played by Shefali Shah), his nurse Ivy (played by Divya Dutta), and Shabnam who has stopped by on the night of their film's premiere to get away from her over-possessive boyfriend.

Despite its terrific narrative style, there's much about the plot of The Last Lear that feels unnecessarily contrived. Like the revelation about how Harry is injured that is too far-fetched to believe. Or even the unconvincing explanation provided for Harry pulling out of a production of King Lear just days before the performance and going into voluntary retirement overnight.

But it's really the film's snail-like pace and the stodgy direction that comes in the way of this film realising its full potential. The script wastes too much time before establishing the characters and their relationships; and long silences, pregnant pauses and affected performances by the supporting cast only makes the pace slower.

Yet, there is so much to appreciate about The Last Lear; some remarkably written scenes for one. Like the first meeting between Harry and the journalist which ends with the thespian chasing after the hack when the latter displays complete ignorance of even basic literature. Or the scene in which Harry teaches Shabnam to channel her anger into her performance, and proceeds to show her how to effectively throw her voice.