Gangster: Movie Review

It is easy to review a movie, which I liked or hated. (It’ll be tough if I liked it too much). The real tough thing is when I don’t feel either way! Don’t get me wrong. Gangster is a nice movie. I’ll recommend it only for the sake of Shiney Ahuja and some great music. Of course you must have heard a lot about Gangster from the fabulous reviews it is getting.

Aakash (Emraan) loves the georgeous booze-addict Simraan (Kangana). Behind her emotional wreckage is the story of a gangster Daya (Shiney). The Don whom the whole Indian Police is hunting. He meets the bar-dancer Simraan and falls hopelessly in love. The tough criminal starts to love life, an unwanted complication for a gangster. As is the fate, he is always fleeing from the encounter specialists of India. While he is ‘taking care of’ someone in Dubai Simraan is kept safe in Korea where she meets Aakash. The caring Aakash slowly gets into her lonely heart. Thus begins the deception……

It has the Bhatt formula alright – crime, love, deception…….Lust is suspiciously absent, unless you count the song Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai…… Though it’s a love making situation, it is soft and romantic….Open space…..picture perfect landscapes…..maple leaves falling all around the couple….You get the drift.

One reason that Gangster didn’t move me much is the dialogues. Most of them are from Emraan. Then some from Ahuja. Dialogues like I’ll die without you doesn’t hold much appeal to me, though there may not be any better words to describe the feelings. But, for Ahuja’s character, words betray the deep emotions. He could have stayed sans any dialogues and have, may be, a stronger impact on us.

Anurag Basu’s direction is fine. Story and screenplay from the Bhatt-duo is all right. Gangster has a rather soft look than the slick and polished effect I expect from underworld-movies. But this is a love story after all.

Emraan Hashmi’s acting is strictly average. Wearing spectacles doesn’t make him look any less stupid (should have asked me!). Kangana Ranaut is gorgeous, graceful and non-plasticy (what a fresh change!). She has got promising acting skills and played the part of Simraan with élan. But I feel that her character was badly etched. We are supposed feel sorry for her, right?

Now, this space is inadequate to praise Shiney Ahuja. He doesn’t have any dialogues. But he says it all with his eyes and body. I’ve always thought that good actors are those who can cry without being awkward. But, when Ahuja cries it’s awkward and out of character. Yet by that exact awkwardness it is soul-wrenching. One man – Mr. Ahuja. One word – Fantabulous!

The other delicious part of this movie – songs.

Yaa Aaliii…Raham aali……You haven’t heard this song yet? Where the hell are you living yaar? When I first heard this song, I thought it had that Emraan Hashmi style. (Don’t know how to describe it). But once I’ve been through it in the theatre, there is no stopping Shiney Ahuja's intense look coming to my mind whenever I hear it. This man has got some real charisma!


Then there is the ultimate song of my choice, which starts Bheegi Bheegi………

Is it the words or the tune! Or is it the emotionally charged singing from the Bangladeshi singer James! Or is it just the Ahuja effect!

'Na jaane koi…… kaisi hai ye zindagaani……
Hamari adhoori kahani……’

If you have ever loved, at some point of time you have felt like this. A love that was never meant to be….

Categories: Gangster, Bollywood, Movie, Review, Kangana, Shiney Ahuja, Movie Review