Rating: ****

MY BROTHER NIKHIL 
 
 
 
			****
Director - Onir
Producers ? Sanjay Suri, Vicky Tejwani, Onir, Raj Kaushal
Music: Viveck Philip
Lyrics: Amitabh Varma
Cast: Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri, Victor Banerjee, Lillete Dubey, Purab Kohli, Gautam 
Kapoor, Dipannita Sharma, Shweta Kawaatra.

Reviewed by: Sangita Iyer	

New age directors in Bollywood are coming out with more realistic and identifiable 
stories and characters. First film by Director Onir, My brother Nikhil is one such film set 
in Goa between the 1970s and 1980?s about Nikhil (Sanjay Suri), a state swimming 
champion, who is the pride and joy of his go- getter father Navin (Victor Banerjee). His 
mother Anita (Lillete Dubey) and sister Anamika (Juhi Chawla) love him immensely. He 
has great friends and is popular and well liked by his peers; the closest of all is Nigel 
(Purab Kohli). Nikhil?s perfectly happy life comes crashing down one day when he is 
arrested because he is tested HIV positive. The film is about relationships in the time of 
crisis, about a father and mother who are unable to face the embarrassment and turn their 
backs on their son, about a sister who defies her parents and stands by her brother, about 
a friend who supports him no matter what and about a son?s longing for his parents love. 
His sister Anamika and friends Nigel and Sam, his only supporters, fight for Nikhil to get 
his dignity back.

The whole film is in the form of a narrative & there are moments in the film that a lot of 
sensitive viewers will remember for a long time. The biggest accomplishment is probably 
the completely in sync star cast of the film. Victor Banerjee and Lillete Dubey are both 
very fine actors and they do an excellent job as Nikhil?s parents. Juhi Chawla is a perfect 
choice for Nikhil?s charming & supportive sister. She demonstrates warmth and strength 
of character in her performance. Purab Kohli who plays the character of Nigel is 
impressive as Nikhil?s companion. He has done a superb job in a difficult role. Very 
rarely do we see the subject of homosexuality dealt with such maturity and sensitivity in 
a Hindi movie. Sanjay Suri in the role of Nikhil is outstanding. He remarkably enacts the 
transformation from an energetic sportsman to a dishonored HIV patient.

Revathy?s ?Phir Milenge ? tackled the subject of Aids & won critical acclaim for the 
film. My brother Nikhil has also brought the harsh social reality of aids to the forefront. 
There are shades of Philadelphia in the film but it?s moving and genuine, it defies the 
stereotype and tells us a story of human bonds that touches everyone. The film is set in 
picturesque Goa. Music by Viveck Philip is soothing and melodious. Lyrics of  ?Le 
Chalein? are very touching and Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan and KK have beautifully sung it. 

I would give it ****

Here?s how I rate them:

*	- A bummer, skip this one
**	- A popcorn movie, viewable but flawed
***	- A good movie, gives you your money?s worth
****	- A near perfection, highly recommendable movie
*****	- A rarity! Knock your socks off kind of a movie