Raincoat

Year : 2004
Runtime : 120 Min.
Genre : Drama
Director : Rituparno Ghosh
Movie Stars :  Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai
Country: India
Language : Hindi
Watch Online: Veoh
Quality: Fair-Medium
Subtitles: English

Raincoat  is a hit film that has received many awards for best foreign film and various categories. It stars the queen bee of Bollywood as well as Ajay Devgan Bollywood legend in the lead roles. Even with those big names this film could not be saved from two hours of boring conversation and little action. The acting, in it's self was superb. I have not seen the Plain Jane side of Aishwarya in so long I've forgotten what she looked like when she was not all glamored up.

It's not that I did not like the story it's the way it is told instead of shown. The film occurs utterly in Neeru's house. I realize the scenery was to add to the story telling but it just panned out to be a boring two hours. Acting and great characters can't carry a film alone. I guess I'm trying to say that I wanted more action. For all you that can't appreciate character dept with limited action alone this film is not for you. One of my favorite parts of the movie was the irony. 

Raincoat tells the story of Manu an unemployed man visiting Calcutta in an attempt to gather enough borrowed money from friends to start his own business. He travels to see his long loved friend Neeru expecting to receive money from her wealthy husband. When Manu arrives at Neeru's home he sees a shadow of the woman he once loved. Her face is sullen and covered by hair. Manu questions her about her relationship. She assures him that everything is grand and shes happy, though her husband is never home but on tour going from country to country.  Her home is full of furniture and dim poorly lit cramped living space. Neeru makes excuses for every question asked by Manu as to why the room is the way it is.  Manu sits down on the coach and the two begin a long conversation. Series of flashbacks occur to show Neeru before she was married. The flashbacks show a life opposite how it is now. The lights are bright and colorful. Neeru's face is full and happy.

As the evening and rain progress, Neeru leaves to buy food for Manu. At first chance he opens the closed windows to let in the little bit of existing daylight. A man yells into the window asking if he may use the bathroom. Manu reluctantly agrees. After using the restroom the man refuses to leave. He states that he must speak with Neeru. When Manu questions why the man explains that he is the landlord of Neeru's building. She has not payed rent in seven months and allows film crews to use the space to store  furniture, hence the crowded living space. She will be evicted within the next few days if she does not pay. The landlord continues to tell Manu that Neeru's husband is an unemployed drunk that disappears during the day. Manu hands over the money he borrowed to start his business to the landlord. It is not enough to pay all seven months of back rent but the landlord promises to compromise. Satisfied with the money the man leaves. Manu writes Neeru a letter with the rent receipt and reveals what he knows about her. He hides the letter under her blanket.

Neeru returns and the two finish their conversations. She tells Manu that her husband and herself will be moving soon. Manu inquires about her new address and phone number, but Neeru says she is not sure of any of those answers. Manu and Neeru bid goodbye.  Upon arriving at his friend's house he returns the raincoat that he borrowed. Inside the pocket of the raincoat is a note Neeru wrote Manu. It states that Neeru knows about his terrible financial problems and wished he would have just asked for the money. Enclosed in the envelope is Neeru's jewelery. She says that they do not keep cash inside the house so the jewelery will have to do instead.