An unending darkness… A world of shadows… A ray of light that found its way… A teacher’s dream… A student’s miracle… A valiant journey… From ignorance to knowledge… From darkness to light… An extraordinary story of an ordinary life.|Feb. 04, 2005|India|124 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bollywood;Drama
Description: Michelle loses her sight and hearing after recovering from an illness at the age of two, growing into a violent and uncontrollable child. Her parents, Paul and Catherine, struggle to manage her until Debraj, an elderly alcoholic teacher, steps in. Debraj takes on the challenge of teaching Michelle to express and communicate. Initially, his harsh methods are met with disapproval from Michelle’s father, who demands he leave. However, while her father is away on a business trip, Debraj stays and teaches Michelle a few words and better manners. When her father returns, Debraj prepares to leave but becomes frustrated when Michelle reverts to her old behavior. In a moment of anger, he throws her into a fountain, which becomes a turning point. Michelle finally understands the concept of water, begins to recognize her parents, and vocalizes her first syllables, convincing her parents to let Debraj stay.
Years later, Michelle grows into an expressive woman, capable of dancing and signing fluently. With Debraj’s help, she gains admission to pursue a bachelor’s degree, moving away from home to live with him and a maid. Over the next two years, she faces repeated academic failures but remains determined. Her struggles are compounded by her reliance on Debraj for interpretations of study material, though the principal assists by providing the first-year course in braille. Meanwhile, Debraj begins to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, at one point forgetting Michelle during a celebration and leaving her stranded. Realizing his declining health, he decides to leave her life.
Cast director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast actor: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Ayesha Kapoor, Shernaz Patel, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Nandana Sen, Sillo Mahava, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal
Original name: Black