" 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 ! "
