Talking Talking

The Bhandarkar brand of filmmaking is well established — hard hitting cinema with an overdose of realism, coupled with a very efficient handling of the subject. Fashion falls in the same league.

It is the story of Meghna (Priyanka Chopra), a small town girl with big ambitions. It is the story of Shonali (Kangana Ranaut), an arrogant and drug-addicted Supermodel. It is the story of Janet (Mugdha Godse), a veteran struggler in the modeling world. It is, the story of female bonding in this topsy turvy world of Fashion, where everything can change in an instant.

Meghna comes to Mumbai with big dreams, and a certain confidence that she is better than the rest. She makes friends, finds love, and quickly climbs up the fashion ladder. Within no time she she finds herself at the top. However, can she handle success? Perhaps not. She falls prey to her mentor, loses her love, distances herself from her friends, and even takes to drugs. Ashamed of herself, she takes the road back to her so called ‘small’ town. The story hereupon acknowledges her phoenix like rise as a model again. This time, however, she’d be careful!

Fashion is a bold film, not just because you get to see sex and wardrobe malfunction scenes, but because the subject is handled in a way it should be. When a gay designer proposes to her college mate, she agrees. When a struggling model finds her once rival stranded on streets, she takes her home and gives her all the love and care. When the parents see their only daughter distraught by the perils of modeling, they encourage her to go back and start from scratch. The story is crafted in utmost perfection.

Director Madhur Bhandarkar has tried to cover all aspects of the Fashion world — be is plagiarism “Made in Bangkok? Arrey yaar, label toe hata dete!”; rivalry (its Meghna v/s Shonali); social stigma (Meghna gets kicked out of her uncle’s house at four in the morning).… the list goes on. And the result? Fuckingly awesome!!

Priyanka might be the protagonist, but the movie really belongs to Kangana. Surprised? Well.. this is one of the few movies she is looking, and acting good. Her portrayal of a disturbed drug-addict demands applause, as well as laurels. It might sound weird, but you have to watch the movie to believe it.

Did you hear me? You have to watch the movie!