FilmyReviews

'The Dirty Picture' banks heavily on shock-value, sex-value and most importantly, script-value. It's an exceptional portrayal of an ordinary person's rise from scratch to extraordinary heights and her subsequent fall. Without doubt, it is one of the most comprehensive scripts to come out of the Hindi film industry in 2011. A film with a universal theme and terrific mass connect, it has remarkable potential to set the cash registers ringing for one more valid reason -- entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.

The Dirty Picture, despite the comprehensive objectivity implied through its title, is not a full-fledged biopic. Instead of painting a layered portrait of Silk, it draws an outline of an unapologetic resident of a flesh-obsessed film industry responsible for her rise and ruin. But Vidya lends her so much transparency, aplomb and sauciness, the outcome is far more awe-inspiring than it deserves to be. Whether she's cracking crude innuendos or bursting out of her tightly-fitted clothing to expose all those meticulously added calories, the actress, literally, puts her soul and body to embody Silk. In a world, where a majority of women obsess over a flat stomach above anything else, Vidya flaunts a protruding belly as though it didn't exist. Such commitment would impress anybody -- you, me. Tom Hanks? In terms of creativity, it's a middling effort. But where bravado is concerned, The Dirty Picture kicks ass by virtue of three very strong reasons: Vidya Balan. Vidya Balan. Vidya Balan.

The Dirty Picture is essentially Vidya Balan's film, all the way. She gives a towering performance as the protagonist who remains unapologetic about her life till the very end. The high point of her act is the fact that despite portraying a sex bomb, her sexuality never ever gets vulgar and crude. Also, it is the naughty dialogues (Rajat Arora) of the film which add immense flavour to the proceedings. It's a no-holds-barred screenplay which rightly refuses to treat sex as a four letter word. Kudos to Milan Luthria for handling such a controversial theme with such sensitivity and boldness. The Dirty Picture is definitely not only your film for the week, but is a seminal work that will be studied in feminist discourses.

With a highly entertaining first half, and a mediocre second, The Dirty Picture falls short of being truly remarkable. But for that ‘boombaat’ of a performer, Vidya Balan (one star solely for her), and entertaining dialogue, the film is worth the ticket price. Watch The Dirty Picture for the gutsiest, most versatile actor we have today.

The Dirty Picture is a lovely picture. It will work wonders at the box-office and work in both, multiplexes as well as single-screen cinemas. Its dialogues, music, performances and mature handling are its biggest plus points. The Dirty Picture is a wonderful film and will do extraordinary business. A sureshot hit! For the genre of film it is, The Dirty Picture will write box-office history!!

Vidya lives, breathes and executes the character to the 'T'. Even her 'one-size-tight outfits' that has her flesh spilling out of her costumes are tastefully done. You don't loathe her... you fall in love with the character she portrays and almost sympathize with her. As the rest of the south film industry pine for a 'piece of her', all that Silk yearns for is some Tender Loving Care. Her final adieu is poignant. It echoes her state of mind and what she really is looking for. The other 'hero' of the film is dialogue writer Rajat Arora. There's this one line in the film Vidya's character mouths to a 'holier than thou' director played by Emraan Hashmi. "Filmein sirf teen cheezon se chalte hain - entertainment, entertainment, and entertainment..." It won't be wrong to say that The Dirty Picture is all about Vidya Balan, Vidya Balan and Rajat Arora.