334. 102 Not Out; movie review

102 NOT OUT
Cert 12A
102 mins
BBFC advice: Contains implied strong language, infrequent moderate sex references

Over the years, I have learned that there are certain actors who are likely to denote a good movie if their names are on the cast list.
Among the Hollywood elite, I would include Tom Hanks, Leonardo Dicaprio and, until very recently, Daniel Day Lewis.
For me, the same could be said of Bollywood veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Of course, I have only been watching Indian films for the past decade and his career stretches back 50 years but my experience is that his movies always have a combination of spark and depth.
Here, a heavily made-up Bachchan plays a vigorous 102-year-old who is so determined to reach the world record set by a Chinese man that he puts up a cardboard cut-out of him in his living room.
Meanwhile, he organises to put his 75-year-old son (Rishi Kapoor) in a home for the elderly because he fears his negative vibes will stunt his chances of an even longer life.
Bachchan is impishly super as the unstoppable old fella who, with a combination of comedy and hard reality, wants to break his son out of his routine of misery.
Therefore, he sets up five conditions which have to be met if he is to be dissuaded from registering his son in the aforementioned home.
His son begrudgingly agrees without realising that his dad has prompted a journey which will spark memories of the past and help rejuvenate him.
Umesh Shukla's film may be a love letter between father and son but it also highlights some of Mumbai's long-lasting sites where memories have been made across many years.
Kapoor plays an excellent foil, portraying the 75-year-old as initially frightened of life before lifting the veil on its joys.
Having seen the poster and watched 102 Not Out's early stages I presumed it was going to be an unchallenging comedy.
I was wrong, there are amusing moments but this is much more a message to the elderly to squeeze every pip out of life and not be hamstrung by convention.


Reasons to watch: Great chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor
Reasons to avoid: Some of the pathos is a bit convoluted

Laughs: Chuckles for me rather than belly laughs
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7,5/10

Director quote - Umesh Shukla: "The play is based on a real incident and both Amit ji and Rishi ji wanted to bring their own interpretation to the film. They were wary of getting influenced after seeing the play and thus decided against it."

The big question - How long before living until 102 is the norm?

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