Sanjay Leela Bhansali co-wrote, helmed, as well as co-produced Black, a 2005 Indian drama movie in English and Hindi. Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan appear in the film, which also has Shernaz Patel and Dhritiman Chatterjee in minor parts. Michelle (Mukerji), a deaf and blind lady, and her connection with her instructor Debraj (Bachchan), an ageing alcoholic teacher who subsequently suffers Alzheimer’s disease, are the subjects of the movie.
Bhansali announced the development of his latest film, Black, in 2003. It all started when he met a group of physically challenged youngsters while filming Khamoshi: The Musical in the 1990s.
Helen Keller’s life and autobiography, The Novel of My Life, published in 1903, served as inspiration for the storey. Ravi K. Chandran shot the principal photography in Shimla and Film City over the course of 100 days from mid-January to April 2004. The production designer was Omung Kumar, whereas the action director was Sham Kaushal. Bela Sehgal edited the footage after it was shot. Monty Sharma and Mychael Danna created the soundtrack and score, respectively.
On February 4, 2005, the film Black was released. It was considered a financial triumph and rated among the highest-grossing Indian films that year, with such a total gross of $409.4 million.
The movie garnered a lot of positive feedback from critics, who praised the tale, Bhansali’s directing, and the actors (mostly that from Bachchan and Mukerji). The movie received a total of eleven Filmfare Awards, the most ever for a single film at the time, as well as three National Film Awards. Bachchan was awarded prizes for Best Feature Film in Hindi and Best Actor. Benim Dünyam, a Turkish remake, was released in 2013.
After recuperating from an illness at the age of two, Michelle loses her eyesight and hearing, and she grows up to be an aggressive, unmanageable child. Paul and Catherine are at a loss for how to discipline their daughter until Debraj, an elderly alcoholic instructor, enters their life. Debraj takes it upon himself to help Michelle develop her ability to speak and express herself. Michelle’s father first disapproves of his harsh techniques and begs him to leave. Debraj stays with Michelle when her father is gone on business, teaching her a few words and improving her manners. When Michelle’s father returns, he packs his belongings. Debraj is irritated when he sees Michelle acting arrogant again just before he departs.
He tosses her into a water fountain. It motivates her to pay attention to Debraj’s lessons; she eventually grasps the concept of water, recognises her parents, and can vocalise the first syllables of little sentences. It persuades Debraj’s parents to retain him.
Michelle has matured into an expressive woman who can dance and sing skillfully after many years. With Debraj’s support, she gets into a bachelor’s programme and moves away from home to live with Debraj and one of her slaves. She strives over the next two years to get her degree, failing year after year, but she never loses hope.
One reason is that she must rely on Debraj for material interpretation, but the principal assists her by developing a braille version of the first-year course of study. Debraj’s Alzheimer’s illness progresses, and he forgets Michelle at one point, leaving her stranded during a party. As a result, Debraj makes the decision to abandon her.
Michelle receives her degree twelve years later as well as gives a graduation address in front of her pleased parents. She refuses to put on her graduation robe, claiming that she wants Debraj to be the first to see her in it. Debraj is currently in a mental institution since he is unable to recall his history or even talk.
Michelle pays him a visit in her robe, which brings back memories for Debraj, who knows she has graduated. Michelle reaches out to the rain as the window opens, Debraj’s hand in hers, and the two pronounce the first syllable of “water,” evoking Michelle’s first understanding of language when Debraj flung her into the fountain. Michelle is shown amid a swarm of individuals dressed in black carrying candles approaching a church towards the end of the movie.
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