“102 Not Out” Review: An Enjoyable Journey with Two Legends!!!! Chirag Shah, May 4, 2018September 26, 2019 There are films that entertain, and films that enlighten. Some open the doors of imagination, while some work as a reflection of society. Then there are the few films that manage to do both. You laugh at the right places, and you cry at the right places. “102 Not Out” by Umesh Shukla, falls in the unique category where it balances entertainment with enlightenment. Here is a film that can make senior citizens feel young at heart, and indeed they should. Life is all about what you make of it! There is more to the film than just this, however this is the message that hits all the right notes. But does it completely work? Well, yes and no. The story is simple, although I can’t and shouldn’t give anything away. The Wikipedia page of the film gives us the synopsis: “Dattatraya Vakharia is a 102-year-old man who wants to break the record of oldest living male. There’s just one problem — he must find a way to change the sad and grumpy demeanor of his 75-year-old son.” Yes, that is indeed the synopsis, but there is obviously much more to it. The great Amitabh Bacchan plays Dattatraya, and the iconic Rishi Kapoor plays Babulal Vakharia. Before delving into their performances, let’s get to everything else. This film is based on a Gujarati play, of the same name, written by Soumya Joshi. Meanwhile, the film has been written by Vishal Patil. The screenplay moves smoothly, for the most part. It doesn’t take long to connect to the characters, and as situations unfold, we learn more about the characters. But yes, there are screenplay flaws in the form of a contrived backstory. I would say that the first half is more of a joy ride, while the second half is an emotional journey, albeit, monotonous at times. There are moments where the film seems too talkative, but the dialogues are so beautifully penned (And delivered by the stalwarts), that we are still kept engrossed. By the look and feel, one can tell that this film was adapted from a play. The penultimate moments are what takes the film to an all-time high. On the technical front, the cinematography is simple, but goes with the flavor of this film. At times the shots and transitions get a bit repetitive, but perhaps that’s what happens when you only have 3 central characters, and one main location. The songs are well shot. The editing is pacy at the right moments, and stand still at the right moments. The music is noteworthy, and brings life to the film. Speaking of life, let’s get to the actors! Along with the story of the film, they are the ones who add soul to the movie! Both Amitabh Bacchan and Rishi Kapoor stand out equally. While Bacchan, who has more to do, proves once again why he is amongst the best actors in India, Rishi Kapoor is marvelous and you understand his dilemma. Both of them delve into the character of senior citizens so perfectly, in regards to the body language, and dialogue delivery. Kapoor falls into the “Cute grumpy old man” category while Bacchan is the “young at heart and live life” type of character. Both excel in their roles! In fact, they are main reasons to watch the film since they carry each scene on their shoulder. Jimit Trivedi is decent, but seemed to be there only for the purpose of emotional manipulation, and simply because you need a 3rd person besides the main 2. Overall, this is a light, breezy, emotional journey, and worth a watch. There are many moments, along with the performances, that makes this film a celebration of life. The message is clear: Age is just a number, and ultimately it’s all about what you make of life, regardless of age! 4 out of 5 stars Movie Reviews