Gunday Review

What is it all about?

Flamboyantly canvassed featuring B-town fine talents like Priyanka, Ranveer, Arjun and Irrfan  in its lead casting writer director Ali Abbas Zafar  (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan previous) `Gunday' produced and released by India's premiere production house Yash Raj Films does fascinates with its remarkable productions essaying the bruising fact of the systems that draws kids into a life of crime as the only avenue open to them.

Touches it astonishingly but once the glory of the guns and goons in the story of India Bangladesh partition story gets established and takes shape as the kids grew up the movie however prefers to be obsessed with its love for chum chums (read popular masala fares) in this Calcutta fair misses to give any cinematic `sandesh' (message, point) to draw serious attentions anyhow the bromance between Ranveer and Arjun plus the charm of Priyanka Chopra in this predictable gang cum drama affair seduces fans and audience in general. Gunday may not fly at the B.O. but will certainly not cry either.

The Story

Ali Abbas Zafar this times goes to Calcutta its circa 1971 Bangladesh is formed and two 12 year old orphan boys Bikram (Ranveer) and Bala (Arjun) escape to Calcutta for survival with the tag of a `refugee' attached to them with no fault of theirs.

Struggling to make their ends meet the awesome twosome Bikram and Bala develop a undying bond of love, friendship and brotherhood turning gun delivery boys to petty coal smugglers unbeatable and unstoppable Bikram and Bala rise up as the Robinhood of Calcutta.

Enters ACP Satyajeet Sarkar (Irrfan) a no compromise police officer who vows to take them under the cuffs of law meanwhile Nandita (Priyanka) a beautiful cabaret dancer walks in with her gorgeous curves to light the fire in the hearts of Bikram and Bala..

How the life's of Bikram, Bala, Nandita and ACP Sarkar cross over love, friendship, duty and responsibility is the crux of the whole story.

What to look out for

The production values are brilliant. The art directors and production designers Rajat Poddar, Parijat Poddar and Kailash Sahu creation of 1971 is impeccable. The astonishing visuals during the initial reels and Ali Abbas Zafar's tight crisp and engaging narration gives an impression that a deftly handled action drama with layers is on cards.. Shanoo Sharma's casting is bang on. Subarna Ray Chaudhuri's costume designing is colorful. Aseem Mishra's cinematography paints the concern of the writer director wonderfully.. the image of Bikram and Bala lying with  other refugees having a dog in their company while we see the Howrah Bridge is an unforgettable moment and an example of simple brilliance.

Ali Abbas Zafar and his writing associate Sanjay Masoom are successful in establishing the bromance  between Ranveer and Arjun giving simple and direct lines in sync with their attitudes and characters. The bromance takes you back to the earlier era when Big B, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Pancholi shared rapport in movies like Hera Pheri, Mukaddar Ka Sikander, Naseeb, Aatish, Saathi , Dostana etc. the fascination to our cinema of yore is evident.

Performance wise it's a treat. Starting with Ranveer Singh who gives a fabulous performance. Arjun Kapoor grows and glows as an actor. This role had shades of grey and he excels. Priyanka Chopra looks gorgeous and performs beautifully. Irrfan is fantastic whenever he comes. Saurab Shukla is fine.

But the real surprise is Darshan Gurjar and Jayesh V. Kardak as young Bikram and Bala. Amazing talents. So spontaneous, vigorous and innocent at the same time. This two little wonders give a solid platform for Ranveer and Arjun to step in as the audience are already hooked by their attitude and in the mood.

Julius Packiam background follows the narration and Sohail Sen music does comes out with a winner in `Tune Mari Ghanti'.

What Not

Ali Abbas Zafar had a deadly combo of subject and budget in his hand. Two orphans, India Bangladesh partition, love, crime, duty, responsibility, system, so many things could have being said but alas the writer helmer who starts so wonderfully gets coined by predictable routine masala fare and seems to be satisfied with this typical jhal muri in the end instead of a `sandesh' for this desh and Bangladesh.

The bromance is perfect but the romace doesn,t rings the required bell.  Irrfan deserved more scope. The confrontation between Irrfan, Ranveer and Arjun was missing. The second half becomes so predictable.

Conclusion: `Gunday' is a winningly acted dazzling production that celebrates bromance which is dazzlingly brotherly delicious for fans and audience in general which may enjoy this mishit dohi of brotherly passion which ignored the potential cinematic `Sandesh' in the premise of Apna Desh and Bangladesh.

Rating ***