Amal (2007)

Fate of a billionaire and that of a poor rickshaw driver both in love of humanity tries to meet and help each other in their bid to keep humanity alive. But destiny has some other plans which results in them lost in translation i.e. a letter that Amal can't read.

The production value of this movie is over 5 million dollars, but the movie is shot on a horrible DSLR. I don't even want to talk about the script, which is full of flaws. Amal (the lead character) is played by an actor who clearly has no clue what it's like to be in a poor man's shoes. All the actors cast seem to be members of the director's family. What a nice way to use the budget to make your family famous, Richie!Please save yourselves the torture and do not watch this Punjabi wannabe artsy movie. Trying too hard to be clever, but crashes badly.No beginning, climax or ending. The funniest part was the Italian connection, one of the characters was literally called 'The Godfather'. The filmmaker wanted to add a gangster touch. All this movie highlights is the evident class struggle in India, where servants are exploited and the rich can do whatever bullshit they like, including gambling away over 60,000 dollars in a night. Thank you for the perspective.

My gripe is the screenplay. Family greed and corruption is put squarely on the line by the departed multi millionaire's will. His last act and wish is to screw his corrupt family. The flip side of corrupt family is our hero Amal who is good natured beyond belief. So many plot holes. Amal drives his motorized richshaw but has no friends and enjoys no entertainment or social life. Just work and go home to mother who lovingly massages his feet. There is a woman but Jamal will not utter one social word to her. Do we expect 'she would really make the first move? Other then mother Theresa no one would help a stranger by signing over their means of livelihood, especially in India and especially when that means of that livelihood was inherited with love from one's father. I am thinking being jobless in India puts Amal and his mother at unacceptable risk. The movie emphasizes, against its will, that in an instant a great sum of money offers the only chance to survive. Amal tells us just how important money can be. The only question remaining is whether Jamal will have a shot at being Bill Gates of India,helping countless thousands of lives or will greed and corruption and even sordid crime be rewarded.While Jamal's love is as real as Gates and Melinda the immense good he could do with millions is another reality tossed at us throughout the film. For me this roller coaster crashed and burned.

As I watched Amal, I thought "This is two films which won't please Indians because both present the beggar child as working for some slumlord."I fully expected rags to riches would win out as in Slumdog; but no, something special and unexpected here. Amal is a lovely film, rich photography, wonderful subtle acting, suspense, love, moral values,great yarn. A rich hotelier, disillusioned by morals of family,colleagues and other service providers goes vagabond in search of the 'honest person" The one he finds is a humble autorickshaw driver. His decision to endow Amal upon his death leads to a great story.