Movie – Gunday
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Irfan Khan
Directed by: Ali Abbas Zafar
Produced by: Aditya Chopra
Cinematography: Aseem Mishra
Music: Sohail Sen
Background Score: Julius Packiam
Rating : 3/5
Review
Gunday is the story of two
friends Bikram ( Ranveer Singh)and Bala (Arjun Kapoor), both orphans, together
since childhood. The India- Pakistan War which lead to the creation of
Bangladesh also resulted in a lot of refugees, who had no clue which side of
the divide they belong to. Both, Bikram and Bala find themselves in a
Bangladeshi refugee camp because of this. The situation inside the camp is
desperate, with hunger being the main nemesis of everyone. A man approaches them and offers them food,
and in exchange asks them to help him smuggle guns out of the camp and sell it.
They agree to become gun couriers for food.
But, then something unpleasant happens and circumstances force them to
run away from Bangladesh and they reach Calcutta.
They try to lead a honest life
working in a small restaurant in Calcutta, but then again circumstances force
them to leave the honest life and turn to crime. They start stealing coal from
trains and selling them at half the price in the market. Time passes and Bikram and Bala start
smuggling everything from cola to steel and become the biggest crime lords of
Calcutta. They are happy in their existence, but then the system decides to
target them again, this time in the form of A.C.P. Satyajeet Sarkar (Irfan
Khan), who is summoned to Calcutta to capture them. He warns them off and tells
them that they will be finished the day he finds one shred of evidence against
them. Meanwhile, both our Gangsters fall in love with the same girl Nandita (
Priyanka Chopra) a cabaret dancer, and both agree that whosoever she ends up
loving will marry her. But, then life isn’t a bed of roses and not so
especially if you are Bikram and Bala. One thing leads to another and you soon
find them at loggerheads with each other.
As far as the cinematography
goes, the film is well shot. But, then the amount of Slow motion that has been
used in the movie is just too much. Almost every second scene is in slow
motion. I seriously believe that if you increase the speed of all the slow
motion scenes the film will get over an hour earlier. The Music is good and the
background score is also nice. The background score manages to lift the movie a
bit. Ranveer Singh seems to have jumped in from the neighbouring Raam-Leela set
and still in the same mood. But he does do justice to his part. Arjun Kapoor is
still in Ishaqzaade, a little more in the second half of the film when it gets
more serious. Irfan Khan is spectacular as the honest calculating cop. Priyanka
Chopra has managed to do her role with sincerity, though it was not that
challenging a role.
The film starts in a slow manner
and the first half does seem to drag, with not much happening. But, in the
second half the film does pick up pace and does manage to bring out the best of
all its actors. Loved the use of metaphors in the film, like a dove flying when
both Bikram and Bala are about to fight each other, signifying the end of
peace. The train passing in the background, when Bikram promises Nandini that
he will mend his ways, signifying a new beginning.
The reflection in the mirror when looking as
if Bala is pointing a gun at himself, signifying self destruction. Apart, from
this, the cabaret looked too advanced for the 70’s and the heroes seemed to be
inspired by the antics of Salman Khan while fighting, though he had not started
acting in the 70’s.
Overall, this movie is a mixed
bag. It has its highs and quite a few lows. It’s enjoyable in parts, the first
part isn’t that enjoyable, but the second half has some good moments including
the smart use of metaphors. Go watch it if you are a fan of Masala flicks, and
oh if you love to whistle, then the movie will give you ample opportunity to do
so.
