Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai

Its a simple film, but takes a turn after the first half where they mention the seious issue regarding Millworkers. I dont wanna give away the film entirely in this review, but I'd say that every character's story was incomplete in a way, which is not bad but unique especially in 1980s I believe, as during that period many movies were of Romance OR Action genre, and this seems to be a bit different, which is why I used the word Unique. I really enjoyed Naseeruddin's acting, his persona in the film was fun to watch. There is basic humour in dialogues (without bgm laughters/claps), which some might find off, but I liked it. For example Joan's response to the guy who says 'Aap meri behen jaise dikhti ho', Albert's dialgoue which follows Mr. Braganza's words after their conversation, 'Ye sab strike wike sab gunda logon ka kaam hai'. If you get it, you get it. Wrapping it shortly, one beautiful film this was portraying a life of a Mechanic who has anger issues but is funny by nature as well with a social issue entering in his and the city's life.

'Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai' revolves around the Pintos and the people connected to them. There's Albert who's pretty much angry at everybody. His brother Dominic who thinks it's better to be jobless than to work an underpaid job, his patient sister Joan who works at a sarishop, his independent girlfriend Stella who feels under-appreciated by her boyfriend, his father and his colleagues, client and Stella's family. The film is very much a social commentary about Middle-class life in Bombay during the late 70s and the conflicts arising in the labour force because workers were getting severely underpaid. Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Kundan Shah don't follow a story with a distinct resolution. It's more of a collage with the Pinto family at the center and how the conflict in labour force affects them and the people around them. The writers give it a touch of comedy satire but they're also serious about making a relevant point. Akhtar Mirza succeeds in his approach to bringing the story to screen. Naserrudin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Arvind Deshpande, Sulabha Deshpande and Om Puri deliver outstanding performances. I particularly liked Smita's straight to the point Joan who has to live with a physical handicap and yet she manages to keep her head high and go to work. While everyone around her is either worried or in chaos, she remains calm and patient and has the answer to all questions.

This is a slow movie depicting life style of average christian in commercial Indian society of early 80s. The time set of the movie is that of the great strike in the city of Bombay. Apart from an insight into the life style and the nature of the city itself, there is very little for a viewer to find out of the exact life of the christians in India.

If you watch this movie with the hope that it will unravel some secret aspect of Albert's life to you which will explain all his anger, then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. This movie is not about the person Albert Pinto, but rather its a socio-political statement on middle-class life in Mumbai during the 70s. In some ways, there is no plot. Its a sketch of family ups and downs, mostly downs. But its a very honest and terse sketch. Lots of good actors and realistic acting in the movie give it a very non-filmy feel. I specially liked the characterization of the women - played by Shabana and Smita. Very strong and opinionated and hardy. I suppose that the broad message of the movie is that the average man in those days was generally speaking angry because society holed him into only that slot.

Directed by the creator of the rags to riches story "raju ban gaya gentleman" and the excellent tongue-in-cheek comedy "Yes Boss" this is a superlative movie about the life of the Indian lower middle class of the late 70s. The angst, the issues are portrayed in a poignant manner. The acting is memorable with Naseerudin Shah as the titular character overshadowing everybody else. There are also other great actors like Om Puri in a two bit role, Satish Shah in a small but effective role as a local ruffian, Smita Patil as the handicapped sister of Albert(absolutely intense performance) and above them, Shabana Azmi as the girlfriend of Albert who has to bear his tantrums and face his insecurities regarding her. The movie plays on the backdrop of the Mumbai Cloth Mill strike. It perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 70s like Dev D. did for the the first decade of the millennium. A must watch for every lover of good cinema. This is one movie which Indians should be proud of. The technical details could have been better but it has its heart in the right place. 4 out of 5 for this. A shame that no channel carries such socially relevant movies any more.