BLACK Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, UK Release 21 January 2005

Michelle McNally (Rani Mukerji) born to an Anglo-Indian family, deaf-blind after an illness at the age of eighteen months, is a bright, intelligent girl who lives in a world of black silence with no way of reaching out. This frustrates the young girl’s mind, which is yearning to communicate. This frustration leads her to be destructive, violent and given to rages. But destiny has other plans for her, as two soul mates are about to meet.

48-year-old Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan) is an eccentric man, an alcoholic, who is consumed by his profession of being a teacher to the deaf-blind. The school at which he teaches asks him to leave because of his drinking and failing eyesight. The principal of the school, an old friend, believes in his ability and sends him to the McNally house to teach eight-year-old Michelle McNally.

Debraj’s arrival at the McNally home is far from auspicious, as he arrives - drunk, angry and rude. On encountering Michelle, Debraj realises that the only way to tackle her is to shock her, be aggressive with her and at the same time tender. Michelle is not an ordinary student, thus ordinary methods do not apply to her.

His unorthodox approach is met with opposition from the father and Michelle, who with her fiery nature gives back as good as she gets. In spite of all this Debraj succeeds and miraculously she makes the connection with name and meaning and learns her first word. But this is not the end; there is still a long way in this extraordinary journey and several battles to fight.

Debraj’s dream for Michelle is for her to lead a normal life, which includes going to a normal college with normal students. But obstacles are in her way as Alzheimer’s attacks Debraj and he slowly forgets everything, all words, and all meanings.

The roles have reversed now. Will Michelle be able to perform the miracle of making Debraj remember even one word through his Alzheimer’s and most importantly will Michelle be able to fulfil Debraj’s dream of graduating, wearing a black robe?