Shanghai (2012) - Reviewed

CINEMATIC ECSTASY

Kasam khoon ki khayee hai, sheher nahi Shanghai hai…

The movie starts off with Bhagu (Pitobash) wondering about the English word for ‘mutton’! Bhagu is one of those party workers who do the dirty work for the well-dressed bureaucrats and politicians. The story, adapted from Vassilis Vassilikos’ novel Z (also made into an Oscar winning film with the same name) is set in a fictitious town in India called Bharatpur. The Bureaucrats plan to set up a business park under the project called IBP. The voice over says that its stands for India Business Project while the hoardings and pictures in the movie suggest that its International Business Project (flaw :-P).

Dr. Ahmadi (Prosenjit Chatterjee) is seen in a cameo playing an activist who opposes IBP. Shalini Sahay (Kalki Koechlin) is an associate, student and lover to an already married Dr. Ahmedi. There is a scene between two where you might think that Dr. Ahmedi is killing Shalini but you soon realize they are kissing! Ahmedi is mowed down by a truck after giving a speech in Bharatpur. T. A. Krishnan (Abhay Deol) is a smart, stubborn madrasi bureaucrat who is given the task of investigating Ahmedi’s death. The inquiry being just a formality, Krishnan is expected to declare his death as an accident - instead Krishnan goes to the root of the case.

Joginder Parmar brilliantly played by Emraan Hasmi helps Krishnan with the evidences to prove that Ahmedi’s death was indeed a well-planned accident – a murder!

Joginder is a videographer, pornographer, pot bellied, spoiled toothed man in his thirties. Emraan Hashmi sheds his serial-kisser look to make way for Joginder who dance crazy on the streets; smiles proudly displaying the spoiled teeth (don’t miss the scene between him and Abhay Deol in the loo!).

Marathi enthusiasts can have a glimpse of Chinmay Mandlekar playing a police officer. Director Dibakar Banerjee’s road shows and street dances, slow motion face-blackening clubbed with strong performances by Farooq Sheikh (a senior to Krishnan), Emraan Hashmi and Prosenjit Chatterjee make Shanghai a must-watch!

Comments

Work From Home and The Boss

It would not be wrong to say that Work from home is the new buzzword in the town. Most of us in the IT sector are doing this and yes, it's quite comfortable. Especially for people who travel hours and hours in crowded public transport systems smelling fish and co-passengers' armpits. No, It's not hyperbole - its a fact. Ok! At least in Mumbai, IT IS A FACT. The local train travel in summer becomes pathetic. The workplace is all heavenly but the travel is hell. By the time you reach office, the shirt tucked in is out in the open. The nicely ironed trousers look no more like they used to, two hours ago. Nicely polished black leather shoes are full of dust. You look at them pathetically and rub behind your trousers. Messed up and not ready to work is the mental state when you swipe into the office. And all this trouble just to reach a place which you don't like. Haha! That's life buddy. But the same life fills your pockets on the last day of every month. Work

Realization (A Story)

The clock was ticking at 10 in the night. Cool breeze flowed in as the bus glided on the roads of Mumbai. There were many sounds happening- honking vehicles- murmuring commuters but Shishir was in his own world with his earphones on. The bus was about to reach Azaad Maidan where he had to get down. Boom! Shishir heard a loud sound and before he could interpret anything out of that sound, he found himself lying on the road. He could see a dozen people dead scattered around him. There was smoke all over the place. The bus he was travelling was reduced to scraps . It was a bomb blast- Shishir realized . People gathered near the blast spot and started carrying victims to a nearby hospital. A man came to Shishir to pick him up. Shishir told him that he was fine and the man should help other victims instead. The man didn’t listen to Shishir and started to lift him up. Shishir was stunned to see that the man lifted up his body but Shishir was still lying on the road. Shishir c

The Mumbai Local

The Mumbai Local Lacs of Mumbaikars travel by the local train everyday. Mumbai local is called the Lifeline of the city. The over-crowded trains witness many stories, quarrels, debates, discussions, games, songs and bhajans (a proper bhajan with dholak and cymbals!). They say, "Don't be a part of the crowd, lead the crowd." This does not apply in the Mumbai local. You have to be, infact you are a part of the crowd when you travel through the over-crowded trains. I got a chance to become a part of this crowd when I joined college. I found out some rules that came into being as the crowded trains went on becoming over-crowded. There are two three-seater benches facing each other between which generally three to four passengers stand. The first person from the window should be given the first priority to be seated if anyone gets up from those two benches. Fourth seat is allowed on the three-seater benches. Unless nobody is standing between the bench

Piccolo Posts

Search This Blog