Guzaarish (2010)

A paralyzed Magician-turned-Radio Jockey files a Petition in Court seeking permission to end his life.

Director:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Writers:

Sanjay Leela Bhansali (screenplay), Bhavani Iyer (dialogue)

Stars:

Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shernaz Patel

Top Rated Indian Movies #222 | 4 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hrithik Roshan	...	Ethan Mascarenhas
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan	...	Sofia D'Souza
Shernaz Patel	...	Advocate Devyani Dutta
Aditya Roy Kapoor	...	Omar Siddiqui
Nafisa Ali	...	Isabel Mascarenhas
Monikangana Dutta	...	Estella Francis (as Moni Kangana Dutta)
Suhel Seth	...	Dr. Nayak
Rajit Kapoor	...	Public Prosecutor Vipin Patel
Ash Chandler	...	Yasser Siddiqui
Vijay Crishna	...	Judge Rajhansmoni
Makrand Deshpande	...	Nevile D'Souza
Olivier Lafont	...	Father Samuel (as Sanjay Lafonte)
Jineet Rath	...	Little Ethan
Parveen Rabbani	...	Rosy
Farida Mistry	...	Maria

Storyline

Ethan Mascarenhas, formerly the world's greatest magician, has been quadriplegic since a performance went wrong 14 years before. For the past 12 years Ethan's health has been relatively stable, largely due to the relentless dedication of his nurse, Mrs Sofia D'Souza. He lives and works at his home, spreading new magic to millions of people with his irrepressible wit and spirit through books he has written and his radio show. But now his internal organs are failing. To avoid permanent hospitalization and machine life-support, Ethan petitions a court to be legally allowed to die. Ethan's request - his 'guzaarish' - shocks everyone in his world, but especially threatens his relationship with Sofia, who is the core of his existence. Will Ethan's petition succeed? How will Sofia respond?

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | magician | quadriplegic | euthanasia | physician | 

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Taglines:

come fall back in love with life

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi English

Release Date:

19 November 2010 (India)

Also Known As:

Request

Filming Locations:

Goa, India

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$488,121, 21 November 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,017,335, 12 December 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Prime Focus, Sanjay Leela Bhansali Films, UTV Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Did You Know?

Trivia

Madhuri Dixit who had returned to India for a comeback in film saw the film and tweeted that she saw Hrithik Roshan assisting his father on the sets of Kishan Kanhaiya 1990 and said that this boy would really make it big some day wherein she appreciated Hrithik Roshan's performance.

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Quotes

Advocate Devyani Dutta: Do you need anything else?
Ethan Mascarenhas: Some sex would be good. Bring me one packet of condoms and one beautiful, willing woman, please. What do you say?

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Connections

References Romeo and Juliet (1968)

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Soundtracks

Daayein Baayein
Written by A.M. Turaz
Composed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Performed by Krishnakumar Kunnath
Courtesy of Super Cassettes Industries Limited (T-Series)

User Reviews

Absolute Must See film -- 'come fall back in love with life'

Yes, "Guzaarish" is THAT good.

"Guzaarish" will not just upgrade your expectation of what is possible to achieve through the medium of film. "Guzaarish" will change your life.

Easily the best film of 2010 -- anywhere -- "Guzaarish" joins the ten or so truly seminal movies throughout cinema history that are so groundbreaking and perfectly executed that we leave the experience seeing the world, even our own lives, in some fundamentally different way.

SEE THIS FILM.

"Guzaarish" is the masterpiece of famed director Sanjay Leela Bhansali ("Black", "Devdas", etc.) who here not only directed but wrote the script, co-produced the film, and composed the music.

The core storyline is borrowed from the 1981 classic "Whose Life Is It Anyway?", in turn adapted from the Broadway and West End multi-award-winning play of the same title: an artist (originally a sculptor, here a great magician), quadriplegic after an accident, when his internal organs start failing petitions a court for the right to end his own life, inciting a whirlwind of controversy in the lives of all those who love and care for him. But do not be deterred by the bleak-sounding premise. Through the genius of Bhansali -- and actors Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan -- "Guzaarish" transcends any and all preconceptions. "Guzaarish" becomes a joyous celebration of Life, of living every moment to the full and living with dignity.

Mr Bhansali stated at the music launch that unless both Mr Roshan and Ms Rai signed for the project, he would not have attempted this film.

The resulting film proves Bhansali's point: no other actors but the individually so-gifted Mr Roshan and Ms Rai -- AND their matchless on screen synergy together -- could have brought "Guzaarish" its power and magic.

But in the safe hands of Bhansali, Roshan, and Rai you really will 'come fall back in love with life'.

"Guzaarish" joins my personal list of the 10 Best Films Ever Made.