Hussain is back and this time with more zeal, more passion and with a better film than the last one that he made with his then film idol Madhuri Dixit. 'Meenaxi' is several steps ahead of 'Gajgamini'. There may still be elements of ambiguity and some loose ends that M.F.Hussain preferred to let remain loose as far as the story of the film is concerned. But 'Meenaxi' proves two things; M.F.Hussain's films will be termed as classics in coming days for portrayal of the women sensuality on silver screen in a totally different manner that what Bhatt does in his films that are straight from Hollywood flicks. And, second he is the person who can weave a film on silver screen over just a string of a thought and still impress those who love to watch something other than underworld's gory saga and hero-heroine's running around bushes. He is still in the process of learning nuances of cinema and what leaves an impression in 'Meenaxi' is that he plays with camera just as his fingers move on canvas with brush. Colors get a new meaning, dialogues are just right for emotions and above all it is Tabu who is a true actress in 'Meenaxi'.
Hussain tells the story of 'Meenaxi' with the help of a narrator Nawab (Raghuvir Yadav) who is close to his own looks. One can draw parallels between Nawab and Hussain, and at least one part of the film where Tabu is presented, as Maria is indeed a true incident from Hussain's life. This brings this film close to realism. Nawab is restless because he has lost magic touch in his writing. He wants to write something afresh but ideas seem to have run out of his mind. In between this dilemma he meets Meenaxi (Tabu). Meenaxi urges Nawab to write for her. Nawab is ready but there has to be at least a male character too to delve in the feminity of Meenaxi. In comes Kunal (Kunal Kapoor) out of the blue. We are told that he is a car mechanic.
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The film moves ahead to Jaisalmer. Kunal and Meenaxi are bound to spark with each other. He is intrigued by Meenaxi's mysterious looks but is too shy to show his love for her. Meenaxi on the other hand wants to have him and would not mind taking the initiative. But, Nawab's gut feeling doesn't permit. Meenaxi wants him to defying things for her, but Nawab wins and Meenaxi in his novel remains in the periphery of society. Then, Meenaxi provokes him to write some thing extraordinary. Nawab sets the story in Prague. Maria (Meenaxi's new avatar in new novel) is a free spirit who walks everywhere on her cycle. She waits for her prince charming at the station and he arrives in the city to meet some one. They meet and they hit it off immediately.
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This time Nawab is around. Nawab questions Meenaxi alias Maria about her feelings for this prince charming, Kamleshwar. But she won't let Nawab know about this. The film moves towards ambiguity once again and with an impressing though confusing way. The climax takes the movie to an unusual but impressive end. 'Meenaxi' boasts of high technical values in terms of filmmaking. Hussain's madness for films has been seen often in his paintings, and the women have been his point of attraction from the very first day when he held the brush. The agony of the emotion within him is very much present in every frame of 'Meenaxi'. Hussain with the help of his son Owais, who has assisted him, bridges the gap between the present generation and the older one.
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The duo has managed to create an altogether different atmosphere, and have succeeded in taking the film to a different level in portrayal of its protagonists. But, the film lacks qualities of a masterpiece. The main flaw is the characterization. Be it Meenaxi, Kunal or Kamleshwar; none of them has been established in a logical manner. Their professions are known with the help of references. One never gets to see that on screen. Even the screenplay defies the basic needs of a film pattern. But Tabu is brilliant. She marvels in a role that requires caliber of a great actress. And Tabu has not let Hussain down. This would be mentioned in coming days as one of her best films of her career.
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She looks breathtaking. One can watch the film just for her. In 'Gajgamini' Hussain may not have succeeded in the portrayal of a woman as he had imagined, but Tabu makes him feel as a creator here. Newcomer Kunal Kapoor is a pleasant surprise. His freshness befits sensuality of Tabu. Raghuvir Yadav fits the role. His acting has come ages and he catches the tension, the conflict and the dilemma of Nawab rightly on the screen. And, last but not the least, 'Meenaxi' has a very good music score by none other than A R Rehman. On the whole, 'Meenaxi' is a visual treat for the connoisseurs of the filmmaking. Though it may not win hearts in small centers, it will find enough patronage in metros to make Hussain feel happy. He is going to make a comedy next time!
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