anirban ghatak " Tragedy in the form of King Lear's play is not new to Shakespeare fans. However , Rituparno used King Lear as a character sought to be played by Harish (Amitabh) ; a veteran stage actor primarily on Shakespeare's plays. However, the basic crux of the film "The Last Lear" is neither about Shakespeare primarily nor King Lear. So what was it all about ? Well here you go – 1. Dying Art form and the desire to perform one last time – Harish played by Amitabh is an ex stage artist on Shakespeare's plays. He now lives a retired life in unknown alleys in Kolkata along with his live in partner 'Vandana' (Shefali Chaya). Harish is a purist who had a last desire to perform the lead role of the tragedy King Lear, however his past did not allow him to play it. Hence there is a fire in his belly to perform Lear which will never come as films today have killed stage plays. Hence Harish hates films and differs to agree it as an art form. The film moves on where 'Siddharth'(Arjun Rampal) offers him a script of a character known as 'Maqbul', once a renowned skillful clown who goes jobless because of invasion of TV in life of kids, commits a crime and absconds.' Maqbul' then lives in the hilly slopes, secluded looking for a perfect opportunity to run away from life and Police. The character of 'Maqbul' reciprocates that of Harish himself and he agrees to play the lead role in his first film. 2. Women – Like most Rituparno films Women play a pivotal role in the "The last Lear". There is a common facet here, viz. Men taking Women as a moral right to bully and try to control them. The film shows the same act of bully with the nurse of Harish, with the co-actress 'Shabnam', with 'Vandana' as Harish's live in partner. This flow is shown in common across the society. 3. Tragedy – King Lear divides his property among his daughter and ultimately becomes insane in strange circumstances. 'Maqbul' too is tragic who falls from a cliff while escaping Police in the climax and so does Harish who refuses to take a dummy action lead and dictates to do the last climax of Maqbul himself and get's his backbone fractured. 4. Film within Film – Maqbul's story drives the main film. There is a film within a film. Harish is basically 'Maqbul' in some ways. 5. Confusion and gaps in contemporary Indian film production – Its diwali when the film finally premieres. This is not strategic but due to a planning blunder. Siddharth the director does not want to meet media, The lead Heroine Shbanam (Preity Zinta) runs away to Harish as he is bedridden and overall the lead 'Maqbul' is missing too. However, I would be candid in saying that this is a very complex film and if someone does not like Shakespeare much he would be bogged down by the numerous dialogues which the film uses. See this film if you love Amitabh and just admire the acting skills of him. For sure, it's also one of the best performances by Arjun Rampal as the young director. Rituparno did a great job but this for me is not his best work but definitely in his top 10. As I leave you in the wonderful world of the clown Maqbul and his dying arts I ask you all, how will you fell if you give 30 years to a profession and excelled in it, but just to realize that today your expertise is history; a null and void past. What you would have done if you were Harish/Maqbul ? Would you have taken a second chance to do your best , one last time ? If yes, then you too are the Lear ! "

Sudershan Banerjee The last lear is certainly one of the best art film that i have seen and also the only one that I truly love watching.The pairing of Amitabh Bachchan and Rituparno Ghosh is simply superb and does yield the fruit in the end.All stars in it are brilliant.Amitabh Bachchan in particular is excellent in the movie and has given a lifetime performance in this Shakespearean age play. The Last Lear is the story of an aged theater personality who claims to have set the stages ablaze with his performances. The kind of actor who considers himself too good simply because he just cannot be bad.Each and every scene has been beautifully shot and the emotions of actors are beautifully relayed across the screen. The Last Lear is a very intelligently and well-made movie.It has a beautiful script and the film over all is simply superb throughout.

Pryinshu Maheta The Last Lear is a movie that should not be missed by anybody.I really like the movie and i can watch this movie again and again.The movie is purely based on Shakepeare's play.The last lear is about Harish Mishra(Amitabh Bachchan),a retired Shakespearean theater actor who spent precisely more than thirty years on stage and then suddenly quit.He is immensely passionate about Shakespeare and believes that nothing even comparable can ever be written, knows all his plays by heart, lives in those stories, condemns modern cinema and considers theater as a much higher art form for directors and actors to convey their message to an audience. As the story unfolds, one gets to know Harish's relationship with Vandana, the reason behind his quitting theater and last but not the least the reason for his illness.

Abhra Ghosh I have seen Rituparno's Dosar and find that movie amazing,despite of be in Black and White,he always takes risk as taken in this movie,the movie is an art film which most of the people don't like to see but this movie,everyone should watch.Everyone in this film are really nice and have produced great performance.Be it Arjun,Preity Zinta or Shefali Shah.All are superb.Amitabh Bachchan is exceptionally talented and needs no words to describe his performance. Rituparno as a director is awesome in the last lear.The emotions are beautifully relayed across the screen.Those who can easily stretch their imagination find the movie amazing.