Bucket List Review - A Victim Of Its Own Legacy

There’s a scene in an otherwise overwrought Yaarana where Shikha (Madhuri Dixit) stabs JB. While in quintessential Bollywood style, it’s supposed to be dramatic, there is a quite nuance in Shikha’s eyes. In an otherwise overcrowded film, Shikha is that nuance. It’s been almost 23 years since that film. Yet, in Bucket List, Madhuri Dixit playing Madhura Sane is that nuance. Here, though, this film is overcrowded not with screeching people and avenging angels, but it is overloaded with happiness.

And that has worked before (case in point - 2017’s Tumhari Sulu, 2015’s Tanu Weds Manu). But those films also touched upon their darker sides. Here, director Tejas Vijay Deoskar never bothers with such ‘trivial things’. There is no second layer, just too much flashy happiness; and to the film’s credit, that works in the first half. There is quiet nuance in Madhura’s life and the people around her. Her romance with Mohan, her husband, played by a composed Sumeet Raghavan seems like a reworking of the Vidya Balan-Manav Kaul act in Tumhari Sulu. Here too, this couple is happy within urban constraints.

No doubt, Bucket List’s premise builds up interest. The story is of a middle-aged housewife who looks to sort of spiritually repay her heart donor by completing the donor’s bucket list. The film follows this basic structure. But even though the premise deserves applause, you can’t really credit co-writer Deoskar with the conflicts. You can however, credit Tumhari Sulu director Suresh Triveni. Here too, this is a film about a woman trapped by her own desires. Not to say that it doesn’t work.

In spurts, in fact, Bucket List will grab your attention. And that is in part due to the supporting cast - especially Shubha Khote as Panji - who is the anti grandmother-in-law stereotype (always putting down her bahu and saying rude things etc.). Panji is interesting and has heft. As soon as the film cuts to her, you’ll have a smile on your face and a warm heart. Also good is Sumedh Mudgalkar playing the heart donor’s disgruntled twin brother, who accuses Madhura of trying to steal his sister’s identity.

But in the same way, just as reminders keep getting thrown at Madhura that she is nothing but a housewife, these reminders are met with an ‘it’s all good’ attitude. The conflicts, borrowed not only from Sulu, but from Sridevi’s English Vinglish are worthless and are nothing but plot devices to help the story gain a little more heft after each scene. And this is quite frankly, an opportunity lost. Right after Madhura gets her transplant, she’s back in the kitchen. cooking meals to suit her family’s diverse interests. It’s a testament to hard working women everywhere and is a scathingly quiet scene, but Deoskar never uses it any further.

It’s a shame. And that’s all I can say about Bucket List too. The things on Sai’s bucket list are uninspired and look like they’ve been copied from ten different Hollywood flicks. But, Bucket List should’ve rested on the goddess that is Madhuru Dixit’s shoulders. Like Sridevi in English Vinglish and Vidya Balan in Tumhari Sulu, who carried what were interesting films even further. The thing is that Dixit’s composure (not a hair out of place, makeup always on) is the main reason you’re not immediately immersed in the narrative.

While the actress has maintained the fact that she has heft and some damn good acting talent, Madhura required a less perfect presence. Her clumsy nature is overshadowed by Dixit’s perfection. But that’s hardly Madhuri’s fault. Even here, she tries damn hard, and makes you care for Madhura. To steal a line from games designer Clement Mok, “Very often, people confuse simple with simplistic and nuance is often lost.” Other than ion spurts when Bucket List will make you laugh, it is a thoroughly uninspiring yet heartwarming film. I’m going with 2 stars for the film and another half star for Dixit. While her unassuming presence as Madhura is flawed, it is heart and promise of something more. I’m going with 2.5 stars out of 5 for Bucket List.