Film Review - Gulaab Gang

                                   

Not In The Pink Of Spirits

Film: Gulaab Gang

Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Tannishtha Chatterjee

Directed by: Soumik Sen
Duration: 2 hrs 15 mins
Rating: * *

Even though they claim that it is not, the film is obviously inspired by Sampat Pal and her real life vigilante group called the Gulabi gang from North India. Now with a story like that and a cast that comprises of two highly loved and respected actresses you would expect fireworks. But alas, this venture by Soumik Sen is a damp squib. If you want to know anything about Pal or the Gulabi gang, check out Nishtha Jain’s documentary that released recently.

The screenplay is so dull here that if you replace the two main ladies with men, you will get a film that you have seen a million times before, I can even envisage Prakash Raj as the villain in it. Madhuri Dixit plays Rajjo, who has a stronghold in the village. She even has her own gang of women who can wield the stick, axe and the sickle. Her confidantes include a woman deserted by her husband (Tannishtha Chatterjee) and a feisty fearless woman (Divya Jagdale). And needless to add, they all wear pink sarees.

When she is not busy settling scores with thugs, she runs a school to teach children. Enter the villain of the piece, a cunning and shrewd politician Sumitra (Chawla) and hell hath no fury like Sumitra being called by her first name. Not only should she be addressed as ‘madam’ everyone is also expected to bow down in front of her.

The two women are at loggerheads, they even contest an election and it is all really the been-there-seen-that variety.

Madhuri Dixit and the other ladies get to kick ass but when you see her running like Krissh in slow motion you know the dramatization is too overt. And if that is not enough, all the singing and dancing is bound to put you off. Surprisingly, even the acting from the seasoned actor is not consistent, which is the least you would expect.

Published in The Navhind Times on 9th Mar 2014

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Film Review - Dedh Ishqiya

Sight For Sore Eyes

Film: Dedh Ishqiya (with English Subtitles)
Cast: Nasseruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, Huma Qureshi
Directed by: Abhishek Chaubey
Duration: 2 hrs 32 mins
Rating: *  *  *  *

Once in a blue moon you get a film that is delightful, has a good story, excellent dialogues, is very well acted and also very witty - in other words, it has the X factor. During times when, forget the sequel, even the first part of most films is unbearable, Director Abhishek Chaubey who delighted us with Ishqiya (2010) doesn’t disappoint. The surprise element may be missing but be that as it may, Dedh Ishqiya is more than just one and half times better than most of the weekly stuff dished out every Friday.

The devil as they say, lies in the detail and since a lot of attention is paid to it here, it is this element that will enamor you. It has been a while since we saw some chaste Urdu (or Hindustani as it is known in cinema) on the big screen. Darab Farooqui, Vishal Bhardwaj and Abhishek Chaubey have done a marvelous job as far the writing is concerned - the dialogues are seamless, not a single line looks out of place.

Last time around, the lingo was Bhopali but this time, we are in Uttar Pradesh, where Khalujaan (Nasseruddin Shah) and Babban (Arshad Warsi) are back to their antics. After stealing a necklace they part ways only to meet again in Mahmoodabad in Awadh at one of those crumbling mansions where poetry sessions are still the in thing. The host is Begum Paro (Madhuri Dixit) a widow who is looking for a suitor. Her woman Friday is Muniya (Huma Qureshi) who is also in the thick of things and Vijay Raaz plays a politician who is first in the queue to become the Nawab of Mahmoodabad. In one of the many hilarious scenes, he kidnaps a poet curiously called Noor Mohammed Italvi, whose mummy is Italian and father is an Indian.

Love, heartbreak, deception, double crossing – its all there to make up for the second half which includes a shoot out filmed at a fairly deserted railway station, with Begum Akhtar’s Wo jo hum mein tum mein karaar tha playing the background. 

And who would have thought that someday we would hear Begum Akhtar (Hamriatariya pe aao is also brilliantly used) and Yo Yo Honey Singh in the same film!  

There are some hilarious scenes like the all night stand off between the two warring sides and some funny lines like the one where a U.P. don (Salman Shahid) says “Batman ka naam suna hain? Agar Joker mar gaya to saala Batman kya karega? Ghar baith ke aataa goondega?”  There are evocative scenes as well where the Begum calls Khalu by his name (Ifthekar) and he replies by saying that his first name never sounded so good.

The writers have also pushed the envelope as far as portraying the relationship between the two prime characters is concerned.  

For those interested in poetry, there is a lot to appreciate here, especially the many verses of Dr. Basheer Badr (Yahaan libaas ki keemat hai aadmi ki nahi / mujhe gilass bada de sharaab kam de)

Nasseruddin Shah in the costume and the character, reminds you of another role that he essayed, Mirza Ghalib. Needless to say, his performance is solid. After last weeks disastrous Mr.Joe B.Carvalho, it is such a relief to see Arshad Warsi do a role where he can truly showcase his talent. Vijay Raaz as the desperate lover is perfect for a few laughs. Like their counterparts, the ladies also have delivered what is expected. Madhuri Dixit’s as the dignified widow is apt and a feisty Huma Qureshi shows that she is a powerhouse when it comes to talent.

Dedh Ishqiya is sight for sore eyes. Go for it.

Published in The Navhind Times on 12th Jan 2014

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