Cast: Dev Patel, Tena Desae, Lilette Dubey, Richard Gere, Maggie Smith
The Second Best
Exotic Marigold Hotel, a British comedy-drama
film by John Madden. It is a wonderful watch, an entertainer. It is a sequel to
2012 superhit movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Shot mostly in Jaipur, it projects
various philosophies of life, people’s search for their soul-mates, people seeking
happiness, confusions in decision making, romance etc. There are so many moments
of joy, thoughtfulness, emotions. Storyline also incorporate the pain of the
people getting old, calling off relationships, issues of commitment,
complicated pasts, desire for freedom etc. There is a whole amount of sweetness
in the movie.
Dev Patel
(Slumdog Millionnaire and Chappie fame) plays a vibrant role of Sonny Kapoor,
who is in the process of expansion of his business and for that he has to buy
another hotel. His successful hotel – ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ has
senior citizens as inhabitants who would go ‘only when they go’. It is
hilarious, since everyday morning, Dev moves around with attendance register
and takes role call, just in case, someone unintentionally passes away during
the night. Tena Desae as Sunaina – Dev’s fiancée takes care of the reception
and the guests. Dev chooses to call his mother – Lillette Dubey (Chandrima
Kapoor) – Mummyji. All at the hotel are looking forward to Dev and Tena’s
marriage. A home away from home for everybody who are staying there.
The Best Exotic
Marigold Hotel is filled to capacity, so Sonny Kapoor and Muriel Donnelly (Maggie
Smith) fly to America in search of a partner for their expansion idea. Sonny
has already selected the potential property for his second hotel, but he needs
Hotel Mogul Burley’s (David Strathairn) money for the purchase. This meeting
scene is hilarious, where Burley is left intrigued, when Muriel Donnelly gives
a lecture on brewing tea to his young staff waiter. Sonny is being told that
Burley will send an agent to inspect the two properties.
So, when Richard
Gere (who plays author Guy Chambers) reaches the hotel, Sonny misunderstands
him to be the hotel inspector sent by Burley. Sunaina asks Sonny that how does
he know, Guy Chambers is the inspector, Sonny says: “Instinct is the nose of
the mind and I have a big nose.”
Parallel to the
storyline of Sonny-Sunaina’s marriage and hotel expansion plan, there are other
stories as well. There is Kushal (Shazad Latif), with whom Sonny is envious
since at times he feels that Kushal is trying to woo Sunaina. This movie celebrates
old age as well. Evelyn Greenslade (Judi Dench) gets an offer at the age of 79
to design for a brand. She puts up a brave front and ‘I don’t want anyone’ attitude,
but actually is very soft from within and has a soul craving for affection for Douglas
(Bill Nighy). Douglas’ public speaking attempts with somebody reading out
script to him is also an interesting scene.
Donnelley’s
friendship with Sonny is paramount to the center of this film. Guy Chambers is
smitten by Chandrima Kapoor. There is a scene, where both of them talk and
Chandrima says – “After Mr. Kapoor, it was my second with you”. Guy Chambers
says – “You weren’t my first, but I want you to be my last”. Other cast Celia
Imrie (as Madge Hardcastle), Penelope Wilton (as Jean Ainslie), Ronald Pickup
(as Norman Cousins), Diana Hardcastle (as Carol Parr), Tamsin Greig (Lavinia
Beach) also form part of parallel but interesting storylines. As these stories weave
together – each with his or her own journey and destination- wonderful moments
are delivered.
Certain lines in
the Movie:
“We have no idea
what will happen. Don’t try to control it. Just let go. There is no present
like the time”.
“I will wait,
until I can wait no more, because you are worth waiting for.”
“In the end, it
is simple: all it takes is saying yes, that this is what I want, with someone
who wants it too.”
“There is no such
thing as an ending; just a place where you leave the story”.
Watch “The Second Best Exotic Marigold
Hotel”. It has Bollywood heart. It makes you think, feel, and laugh.
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good
+)
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