Despite flaws, Balki is definitely a brave director who has attempted something new in Shamitabh. The concept is novel and he deserves a pat on the back for it. He loses his grip somewhere during the transition from sarcasm to irony, still he gives the glimpses into his latent talent. Certainly an able director.

Shamitabh’s strength lies in the mighty performances of its two leading men, which to a large extent fill the holes in the plot and allow us to look beyond the many flights of fancy.

…amidst the high-wattage attention around the Dhanush-Amitabh pairing, less is paid to Akshara, whose performance, although sincere, sometimes looks a tad banal.

As does the film occasionally, a pity because Shamitabh’s striking story could leave you speechless.

R Balki holds the story together and keeps you entertained through this two hours and twenty minute film. The concept itself is quite different and works very well. Using Bachchan’s popular voice seems like a brilliant idea.

Shamitabh may not appeal to the masses for its unique storyline and is more so for the niche audiences. The brilliant performances by Dhanush and Amitabh Bachchan and an emotional climax make up for this faulty plot that drags post interval. For its novel ideas and stellar showcasing of acting talents.

Shamitabh is not just a homage to the great Bachchan baritone it is also a magnificent ode to the theme of human mortality . The love of Bollywood (sorry, Mr Bachchan) runs across the plot in frenzied rhythms. The two principal actors play out their conjoined karmaswith a passion that burns your soul.

The movie is novel – it is in no way a masala blockbuster and yet it does not mock the mindless cinema of Bollywood churns out outright, despite the many chances that it has.

…completely intoxicated by the magic of the incredible Mr Bachchan and the amazing Dhanush. Though ‘Cheeni Kum’ as compared to Balki’s previous creations, the awesome twosome act of Amitabh and Dhanush keeps the audience mesmerized while fans will go home with heads up and clouds in their hands others will not find much to repent.

It is a rarity in Indian cinema to find a film that is both highly entertaining, thought provoking and clean at the same time. Backed by some powerhouse performances of Big B and Dhanush, Shamitabh is one of the finest films this year. Don’t miss it. Do yourself a favour. Go and watch Shamitabh right way.

This is one of the few films we experience and not just watch. We revel in and relish the unusual story, the characters, their equations, and soak in the performances and aesthetics. Don’t miss!

While I am a huge fan of the voice and was rapt every time I heard it; while I am a huge fan of the man to an extent that he is one of the few people I think who has earned the right to be arrogant; while I think if there is a personality whose career deserves a film, it is him – I’d like to see it in a documentary or a film that is blatantly about that. Not in a film that is masked as a story about how incomplete the voice is without a face while clearly being overwhelmed by the voice.

While Shamitabh may not be gripping from start to finish, it’s a treat to watch its lead actors. They make it work even if it’s not heavy on plot.

In the context of contemporary Hindi cinema, Shamitabh does come across as a breath of fresh air, but it certainly isn’t tailor-made for casual viewers on the lookout for porcornish entertainment. However, if you truly love cinema or are a diehard fan of Amitabh Bachchan, then Shamitabh is not a film that you can afford to miss!