Amitabh Bachchan turns 80: Why 'Piku' will always remain superior
October 11, 2022, marked the 80th birthday of Bollywood's "Shahenshah" Amitabh Bachchan. The megastar grew from being the "Angry Young Man" in the 1970s to playing nuanced father figures in the 2000-2010s. While the "Best Big B films" list is going to be long and highly variable, there's one film that made Bachchan an icon for me and that was Piku. Here's why.
Seemingly about nothing, 'Piku' was about everything
Before I go ahead with all the reasons why Shoojit Sircar's 2015 comedy-drama will always remain superior, here's a refresher. Piku focused on a Bengali father-daughter duo (Bachchan and Deepika Padukone) living in Delhi. Bhaskor Banerjee suffers from chronic constipation and links every incident in his life to his bowel movements. Seemingly about nothing, the film was funny, relatable, calming, nostalgic, and supremely emotional.
We got a cinematic father-daughter duo that we needed
Unlike mainstream Hindi cinema depictions, Bhaskor-Piku's relationship wasn't superfluous where the father makes up for the lack of emotional bonding with material gifts and the daughter lacks agency. Instead, we got a pair who are each others' pillars. While we see Piku actively take care of Bhaskor, Sircar gives Bhaskor subtle moments (like the party scene) to establish how well he knows her.
Bachchan delivered masterclass in acting
And, Bachchan aced every frame while portraying this layered relationship. He mastered the annoying traits of entitlement, rude behavior, and constant complaint, yet managed to soften viewers' hearts with his vulnerability and candor. Playing an eccentric, pot-bellied 70-year-old Bengali widower, Big B perfected his gait and Bengali accent and stole every shot he's in. No wonder, this act got him a National Film Award.
Cast, principal photography, music, and Kolkata's landscape made it unparalleled
When talking of performances, one can't overlook the actor's chemistry with co-actors and the film's environment. And, this is where Piku, to me, is unparalleled. Be it Bachchan snapping at Piku's maternal aunt Chhobi Mashi (Moushumi Chatterjee), or behaving hysterically with Rana (Irrfan Khan) on a highway, every actor here delivered. Principal photography, Anupam Roy's music, and Kolkata's landscape further elevated the venture's authenticity.
Catch the gem today on SonyLIV
Despite his gruff nature, Bhaskor managed to make us smile and cry on the basis of a solid story, layered characterization, and Bachchan's marvelous act. And, we know this feat won't get repeated, so why not celebrate the Jhund actor's birthday by rewatching this gem?
