Unable to see, hear, or speak after a childhood illness, a young woman grows up prone to violent outbursts until an eccentric tutor changes her life.
Ratings
Curator score: 8.3/10
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
TMDB: 7.7/10
Director
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Production
Applause Bhansali Productions, Applause Entertainment, Bhansali Productions, Yash Raj Films
Cast
Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Ayesha Kapoor, Shernaz Patel, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Nandana Sen, Sillo Mahava, Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, Chippy Gangjee, Salomi Roy Kapoor, Kenneth Desai, Arif Shah, Bomie E. Dotiwala, Jeroo Shroff, Bomi Kapadia, Kamal Adib, Zul Vellani, Shehnaz Anand, Polly Shroff, Marriane D'Cruz
Where to watch
Netflix
Curator Review
Verdict
A striking, emotionally forceful drama with exceptional performances and a strong visual style. It can feel heightened and melodramatic, but the central teacher-student relationship and the film’s commitment to its subject make it memorable.
Best for
viewers who like prestige melodrama
fans of disability-centered character dramas
people drawn to intense teacher-student stories
audiences who appreciate expressive cinematography and production design
Skip if
you prefer restrained realism
you are sensitive to sentimental or theatrical storytelling
you want a light or easygoing watch
you dislike films that lean heavily on emotional uplift
Overview
Black is a sweeping, highly stylized drama that turns a familiar inspirational framework into something more operatic and emotionally charged. Its greatest strength is the pairing of two powerhouse performances, with the tutor-student bond carrying the film through its most heightened passages.
Worth noting
The film’s visual language is unusually rich for a story this intimate: shadow, light, texture, and space all become part of the emotional experience. That grandeur can occasionally overwhelm the material, but it also gives the film a distinct identity and keeps it from feeling like a standard inspirational biopic or classroom drama.
Bottom line
What lingers most is the film’s insistence on dignity, patience, and the slow work of connection. It is sentimental, yes, but in a way that feels earned by the performances and the craft. For viewers open to big emotions and formal flourish, it is a deeply affecting watch.
Top Letterboxd reviews
dhaval (4.5★) · 79 likes
life is an icecream... enjoy it before it melts...
Michael James (3.5★) · 74 likes
A well crafted drama that takes you on an incredibly moving journey filled with plethora of emotions. It’s powered by the spellbinding pitch perfect performances of Amitabh Bachchan, Ayesha Kapur and Rani Mukerji. Ironically, for a movie portraying the darkness in the life of a young woman, one of the most striking feature is its extraordinary lighting and cinematography. The storytelling isn’t flawless, but it triumphs in making you be more grateful and appreciate life better.
Shady (4★) · 73 likes
Why are people even saying the kiss was weird? With all due respect, did you even watch the fucking film? But again, most of the lower scored reviews on her are from Americans. That figures.
The woman(Rani Mukherji) has been deaf, blind and mentally challenged ever since her birth. Now, she attends her younger sister's marriage at the age of 30-something and she is told that her sister gets to kiss the husband as part of the oath. It was… more Why are people even saying the kiss was weird? With all due respect, did you even watch the fucking film? But again, most of the lower scored reviews on her are from Americans. That figures.
The woman(Rani Mukherji) has been deaf, blind and mentally challenged ever since her birth. Now, she attends her younger sister's marriage at the age of 30-something and she is told that her sister gets to kiss the husband as part of the oath. It was… more
Tashvin Singh Anand (4★) · 49 likes
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black" is not just a film; it's an experience. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's direction is masterful, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film.
"Black" is a powerful and moving film that explores the depths of human strength and the importance of connection.
rutansh (4.5★) · 49 likes
college interviewer: how many oceans are there in the world?
mitchell: for me, every drop of water is an ocean
easilyy the best film of sanjay leela bhansali 🛐he is a goated filmmaker for sure, but should focus on human emotions as well like this one, rather than only making huge sets and showing grandeur like the recent ones 😭👀
obv the dialogues and cinematography are always top notch in a slb film 🤌✨
there's a reason why amitabh… more