Ashutosh Gowriker is famous for his sense of history and cleverly blending populist themes in period dramas. Lagaan was a wonderful example. Expectations are high for Mohenjodaro.
The story of Mohenjodaro is uninspiring and as ancient as the period it is set in. The narration too is lethargic and the curiosity in the pre historic era is the only hope the movie tries to survive on. Save for a few details even that does not help. Ashutosh flirts with his favorite “Tax” theme again but very briefly. He also has a few of his character routines in this movie as well.
Hrithik Roshan breezes through his role. The greek god look makes way for a normal character with simple looks but yet he performs in a script that has little scope for any character. Good news is Hrithik Roshan is not the only hulk in the movie there are bigger guys who lift him effortlessly. HR does his role effortlessly. Pooja catwalks through out the movie with little else to do. Others are very average.
Technically the movie looks stitched in a shoe string budget. Surprising for a pre historic subject. The visuals are just OK. Art direction is very functional. ARR does well with the background score elevating a few scenes though the songs sound more contemporary. The dialogues too border on being plain. A movie of this setting required better CG. Sadly the graphics look very amateurish.
With a very basic story and lack of freshness in presentation or narration Mohenjodaro suffers from being very ordinary that is unusual to expect from a director like Ashutosh Gowriker. Perhaps Mohenjodaro could have passed off as a decent movie for a different direction but certainly not from Ashutosh from whom the expectations are huge.
MOHENJODARO – MODEST
2.5/5
B.U.Shreesha
