Shanghai Movie Review (BD)

Bollywood Movie Review: Shanghai

Four revolutionary films. What's the next, DB?

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Movie Information: IMDB, WikiCast: Emraan Hashmi, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Pitobash Tripathy
Direction: Dibakar Banerjee
Genre: Thriller

Movie Overview:

Dibakar Banerjee, Abhay Deol and Emraan Hashmi. There cannot be any better reason to watch this movie and well, it’s worth the expectations. Shanghai, the desi adaption of  Z by Vassilis Vassilikos is a fine thriller.

First things first, you can feel the Dibakar Banerjee style in each and every frame of this around two hour movie. In first ten minutes itself, the culprits are revealed and there is no whodunit feeling in first half, but thanks to brilliantly panned screenplay (courtesy Urmi Juvekar and DB), the tension builds on in a continuum till the climax and climax pays it off.

The power of Shanghai lies in its characters and subplots. Director leaves much upon the imagination of viewers but, still it is amazing to witness such a powerful cinema with a short and complex story.

Abhay, Emraan and Kalki play their milestone characters and they play with such an ease that it is impossible to picture any actors in their shoes. Prosenjit Chatterjee, though plays a cameo, makes his presence felt throughout the movie, which is incredible.

Shanghai could have been a loud political thriller with grungy background score and over the top acting, but DB chooses the path less travelled. Like his last three films he chooses his own subtle and proportionately dramatic storytelling that makes it a standalone from clichéd and crass political thrillers. In order to keep the intensity of such a mature subject, Dibakar has deliberately avoided soulful songs like Khudaya and Dua, and placed situational tracks like Bharat Mata Ki and Imported Kamariya, which is a courageous effort.

The negatives? First half takes a bit more of time to create the situations and subplots making the movie a bit drag occasionally. Apart from this, I can’t find out any other loopholes in this movie.

Watch it or not? If you are a fan of “the real powerful cinema”, do go for it.

Teaser:




Quick Review:

Cast:
Emraan, Abhay and Kalki excels; Prosenjit, Farooq Sheikh (after a long time) and Pitobash shines. Every single actor in the movie is brilliant.

Script Analysis:
Story is very simple and there is simply no scope for elements like suspense and thrills; but really outstanding screenplay builds a solid and hard hitting cinema. Dialogues never sound too heroic or melodramatic, its just what is needed here.

Editing And Cinematography:
Editing is loose in first half, but the damage control is done in second half. Cinematography by Nikos Andritsakis (LSD fame) is unconventional. Bharat Nagar itself is a character in movie and all credit goes to DOP.

Music And Background Score:
Music by Vishal Shekhar is good, there wasn't much scope for them here. Background score is minimal but edgy.

Direction:
Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Love Sex aur Dhokha and Shanghai. What's next?

Final Verdict:
Kasam Yeh Khai Hai, Shehar Shanghai Hai! Bharat Mata Ki Jay!

Box Office collection report:
Rowdy Rathore won't allow Shanghai to earn much profits, but like his all films, this film too, will be a Semi - Hit and I don't think makers would be expecting much from Shanghai on commercial basis.

Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤