Reviewer's Summary - Above Average
Language: Hindi
Year: 2006
Actors: Emran Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Shiney Ahuja
Director: Anurag Basu
Producer: Mukesh Bhatt
Story: Mahesh Bhatt
Music: Pritam
Lyrics: Sayeed Quadri, Neelesh Misra, Mayur
Screenplay: Anurag Basu
Dialogs: Girish Dhamija
At a time when orangutans seem to be making most of the movies in Bollywood, Gangster counts among the few Hindi movies to be made by real humans.
My, My, what a refreshing change.
Gangster is not a feel-good movie - it's a dark tale of violence, love, betrayal and revenge. But it's a nice movie.
Besides an above average story, the highlight of Gangster is a solid performance by newcomer Kangana Raut.
Kangana shines as Simran, the ex-bargirl involved in a relationship with dreaded gangster Daya (Shiney Ahuja) as well as a singer Akash (Emran Hashmi).
A chance encounter brings Daya and Simran together. However, their life together is hardly placid and filled with constant violence.
They are forever on the run from the Indian police, who are always close on their heels. When the heat gets intense, Daya and Simran get false passports and decide to go overseas. They pick up an young orphan child Bittu so that they can pretend to be a family going together. However, their plans go awry and the child is killed as they are fleeing from the police.
Simran ends up in South Korea alone not knowing whether she'll ever see Daya again. Daya is somewhere else and talks to her infrequently over the phone. The stress of having to constantly run from one place to another and the death of the young child, to whom both Daya and Simran had grown attached, turns Simran into an alcoholic.
Alone and distressed, Simran succumbs to the show of affection by a fellow Indian Akash (Emran Hashmi), a singer in a local club. However, things get complicated when Daya comes to South Korea. Infuriated on seeing Akash with Simran, Daya beats up Akasah badly. Daya promises to turn a new leaf and begs Simran to give him another chance.
To make matters even more complicated, Simran then discovers she's pregnant by Akash. When Daya goes to Seoul to get fake passports so that they can return to his village in Kashmir, Simran meets Akash, who asks her to betray Daya to the police.
The movie now takes some unexpected turns.
The songs are quite pleasing. Our favorites were Bheegi Bheegi, Mujhe Mat Roko and Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai.
Kangana Raut's promising performance reminded us of Vidya Balan, another talented newcomer who cast a spell on us last year with her dazzling performance in Parineeta.
Adding to the allure of Gangster, Shiney Ahuja and Emran Hashmi have also turned in fine performances.
Subtlety is not a prized trait in Bollywood and Gangster is no exception. Must Simran constantly keep a bottle with her to rub in the point that she's a disturbed soul seeking solace in booze? But that's a minor cavil in an otherwise fine film.
The movie was shot partly in South Korea. - Copyright Rekha Inc.
|
