My Brother... Nikhil (2005)

Too much of everything

Highly Overrated But Still Good

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

This is again such a touching movie!!! Very well directed and all the actors justified their performances and it did touch my heart. Moreover, I watched this movie right after watching "Black" (Amitabh and Rani Mukherjee starer) and these both movies had me on an emotional roller coaster ride. So if you cannot handle a lot of emotion in one go, so I suggest you take a break in watching these movies.The movie is very well done. The locations are well chosen. Makeup is also very good considering the situations. Juhi plays a very good role as a loving sister. Sanjay Suri has his own grace and seemed to have really put in all his efforts. Especially the scenes towards the ending of the movie are very touching. A definitely worth watching movie, if you are attached to your family.

To draw an audience and gain access to distribution channels in India, the director selected an actress of considerable talent and fame. Her title role (she's the sister of the proud gay man Nikhil about whom the story revolves) no doubt adds mass-market appeal and human warmth to this film.But it's the writing, directing, and pacing of this drama that pulls you in and never lets you go. There are many aspects of Indian culture touched upon, but the central story is universal. When you watch this film, every little nuance of dialog and on-screen action will immediately resonate with some important person or event from your own life.It's exceedingly rare to find a screenplay that can accomplish so much in 120 minutes (a pleasant not-too-long length given some of the 3-hour Bollywood fare out there). The director keeps the focus on one four-letter word throughout: LOVE. The family values shown in this film should be seen and felt by everyone.When I walked into the screening here in Boston, I expected something a lot lighter. Instead I got the AIDS drama of a lifetime, it really blew me away. AIDS has never been among my favorite film topics; there are too many me-too melodramas and preachy films with cardboard characters out there. Be prepared to shed a few tears, not just of sadness but of pure joy at seeing people caring for one another in the way we all want to be loved.A young doctoral student from China wandered into today's screening by accident, and struck up a conversation to ask me what to expect. He opted to sit through the film instead of touring the art museum. Afterward I asked him if he was glad he saw it. He said no, he's seen a lot of cases (of AIDS-related ostracism) like this in his homeland: it must have been hard for him to watch. But I'll bet he'll remember this story years from now, as I surely will.This is a thinking and caring person's drama. Don't miss it!

Plot Outline: Nikhil Kapoor (Sanjay Suri) is a happening young man, state swimming champion of Goa, loathed in the love of girlfriends, friends and a family consisting of Father Navin (Victor Banerjee) and mother Anita (Lilette Dubey) and sister Anu (Juhi Chawla); All put together seems 'picture-perfect'.Things take a sudden turn when Nikhil gets knocked off his job and the swimming team while his family is ostracized by local community. Things get uglier when his parents disown him, gets arrested and confined to a sanitarium; reason: he is HIV positive, a condition about which social awareness was at its nadir in the 80's.Only Anu and friend Nigel (Purab Kohli) support Nikhil through his phase of social disapproval till the inevitable. The movie is a portrayed from the POV of his family/friends circle on his first death anniversary.Comment: The movie underscores that love can spark hope for people like Nikhil. Predecessor Phir Milenge highlighted the career part. But both these movies could have addressed AIDS awareness while doing the love/sympathy theme. The theme is fresh, editing neat but the music is nothing great.Rating: 3.5/5

A story of a man whose life changed due to one incident. Nikhil- State champion of Goa beloved by his father seemed to have a perfect life until he was detected of AIDS. His whole life changed. He was shunned from society, his swimming team and by his own dad. Then comes the story of his life after that, how he has to battle the fight against society. Here comes Juhi Chawla, his sister who helps him the most. A well portrayed story, though a little slow many at times, does touch your heart. The main flaw in the script is that the writer has shown everything in the first scene ie they show that he is dead, leaving no suspense as one would already know the ending. On the whole a good movie, mainly for people who like watching slow and sentimental movies.