Page 3 (2005)
Cast: Konkana Sen Sharma, Sandhya Mridul, Atul Kulkarni, Bikram Saluja, Tara Sharma
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar
Music Director: -------
Synopsis: A surprisingly biting satire on Mumbai high society
Reviewed by: Faiz Khan

 

After the risible Aan, Madhur Bhandarkar redeems himself with a surprisingly biting satire on Mumbai society, epitomised by the glamorous yet utterly superficial world of the Page 3 circuit.

The film's protagonist is the idealistic journalist Madhavi Sharma (Konkona Sen Sharma), who shares a flat with the forthright and outspoken air hostess Pearl (Sandhya Mridul). From the outset, the film establishes its mood with a succession of lavish parties thrown by the rich and powerful, where it quickly becomes apparent that appearing on the society pages is an obsession for everyone concerned. Not only established socialites but aspiring hangers-on are desperate to make it onto Page 3, whatever the cost.

Bhandarkar then explores a multitude of issues, exposing the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy lurking beneath the glittering façade of Mumbai's elite. Through a series of interconnected stories and encounters, he paints a portrait of a world built almost entirely on pretence and vanity.

Madhavi's job is to cover these endless parties and celebrity gatherings, producing lightweight copy for her newspaper while yearning to pursue more meaningful journalism. At one such event she meets Janaki (Tara Sharma), an aspiring actress determined to make it in Bollywood without compromising her principles. Failing to find success, Janaki eventually moves in with Madhavi and Pearl, only to be manipulated and ultimately destroyed by the very industry she dreams of joining. Her tragic journey draws Madhavi into a growing moral crisis as she begins to question not only the ethics of those around her but also her own profession.

Janaki's story does not end there. Eventually she too succumbs to the system, embracing the sleazier side of Bollywood in order to survive. Bhandarkar leaves little doubt about his views on the infamous casting couch. Given the controversies that later surrounded the director himself, these scenes have acquired an added layer of irony.

Meanwhile, Madhavi embarks on a tentative romance with the aspiring actor Tarun, only to discover him one day in a compromising situation with a close male friend. Yet this is merely the tip of the iceberg. Bhandarkar touches upon depression, wife-swapping, drug abuse, child prostitution, paedophilia and homosexuality, weaving them into his wider portrait of a society consumed by appearances while concealing rot beneath the surface.

Madhavi's determination to move into serious investigative journalism alongside Vinayak (Atul Kulkarni) eventually leads her to uncover a story with devastating consequences. Instead of exposing the corruption festering beneath the glamorous veneer, she finds herself dismissed from her job, realising that in this world money dictates everything—and truth counts for very little.

Bhandarkar makes a welcome return to form with this sharp and often unsettling satire. Rather than resorting to the heavy-handed preaching that has occasionally blighted his work, he allows the various episodes to speak for themselves, trusting the audience to draw its own conclusions. The climax is quietly devastating, illustrating the ultimate compromise in a society that has gradually surrendered its moral compass.

Konkona Sen Sharma is effortlessly natural, bringing warmth and intelligence to the role of an idealistic journalist whose innocence is steadily eroded by the world around her. Atul Kulkarni has relatively little screen time, as indeed do most of the supporting players, who drift in and out of the narrative. Tara Sharma is rather weak, but Bikram Saluja captures the superficial charm of the two-faced Bollywood star effectively, while Sandhya Mridul delivers a lively and engaging performance.

Lean, focused and refreshingly unsentimental, Page 3 remains one of Bhandarkar's finest films.

This is one that should not be missed.