The Dirty Picture

By: He Who Must Not Be Named Cast: Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor, Rajesh sharma Producer: Ekta Kapoor Director: Milan Luthria Rating ***1/2 First: a disclaimer. If cheesy one-liners, ample cleavage displays and orgasms - fake or otherwise - make you uncomfortable then stay away from this film.  'The Dirty Picture' not only thrives on these traits but literally celebrates them like never before in its 144 minutes of unabashed, in-your-face entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. Undoubtedly, it is Vidya's one of the finest outings in which she portrays the role of a troubled item queen Silk, 'inspired' from the real-life story of Silk Smitha.  Here's a sneek peak into her tragic tale: Reshma (Vidya) is a non-conformist who leaves her home to become a star in the big bad world of Tollywood. She has no qualms about her sexuality. She is brazen enought to put her neighbours to sleep with her fake moans. She is well aware that everything comes at a price, especially the much-vaunted fame.  After a series of rejections at the hands of casting directors, she finally lands up a solo-dance number but the 'artistic' director of the film Abraham (Emraan Hashmi) robs her off that big-ticket to silver screen. Heartbroken, she is ready to go back to her sleepy village, when the producer (Rajesh Sharma) restores her risqué jig in the film to pep up the tepid collections and sets box-office on fire.  The world wakes up to Silk and now no film is complete without her 'dirty' antics. Be it Suryakant (Naseeruddin Shah) her childhood crush and now aging superstar or millions of wolf-whistling frontbenchers, no one seems to keep their eyes, minds or hands off Silk.  She relishes in every bit of attention coming her way and treats every strand of criticism with utter disdain. Magazines and gossipmongers damn her as the scum of this planet but Silk won't budge. She belittles them on their own turf with her raw charm.  But as they say, success without honour is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good. And Silk learns this bitter truth the hard way. Though people lap up her every act yet she remains their dirty secret only, stashed somewhere in their closets, baths or dark bedrooms not deemed worthy of their company. She chooses not to pay attention but reality comes to bite her at last when her own mother spurns her and slams the door on her face. And so does rest of the world, one day. Series of failed love/lust affairs with Surya and his younger brother Ramakant (Tusshar) leave her bitter and Silk smashes all the remaining pretence of decency and decorum in public as well. In her last ditch effort to salvage her pride Silk takes on her nemesis, Abraham, in a triple-role extravaganza but eventhat turns out to be a flameout and she sinks further into the abyss of depression. The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success and Silk stands miserable and exposed on both counts. Ironically, Abraham - the man who hated her the most, is now the only solace in her troubled life. But even his affection is too little too late to resuscitate her decrepit soul... With 'The Dirty Picture' director, Milan Luthria tries to explore the dirty underbelly of the Indian cinema and excavates a gem in the form of Vidya Balan. You can't help but appreciate the effort she puts in to make her Silk look authentic.  In the age where majority of leading ladies won't dare to look ugly or overweight, Vidya carries her ample love-handles and haggard looks with aplomb. It's the role which is bound to earn her some of the most prestigious awads in town Here are a few things you'll like about the film, apart from Vidya: A taut first-half replete with Rajat Arora's witty and at-time borderline one-liners. Naseer Saab's slithery lothario Surya and Emran Hashmi's understated yet powerful Abraham. What you may not like is the dragging second-half where the films seems to run out of steam. Unlike the situational 'Ooh La La', both the songs in the second half seem forced. Silk's fall from the grace looks a bit too simplistic as well, though Milan does redeem himself in the climax as she meets her tragic end. All in all, 'The Dirty Picture' may not be your perfect family outing but it sure is the 'Silk' route you must take this weekend.