Film Review: Shanghai Hindi (June 2012) | Dibakar Banerjee |

 

Shanghai is an upcoming Hindi political thriller film directed by Dibakar Banerjee, starring Emraan Hashmi, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Amin Raj and based on the novel Z by Vassilis Vassilikos. Wikipedia Initial release date: June 8, 2012 Director: Dibakar Banerjee Language: Hindi Genre: Political Thriller

Oh Yes I did watch Shaghai, first day second show, that makes it a 1 pm show the first one that day there was at 12 noon, which PB and I missed by a few minutes because hunger pangs were top priority then

Silences speak volumes in the movie, so does the subtle instrumental music, think it is the santoor at some places. Realistic. The violence. The party worker who does anything for the party, even kill… his blind patriotism for the party! That superior party worker (bald head) who threatens and the the way he threatens (look out for the scene where he comes up to Hashmi’s character) Imraan Hashmi’s fear! Kalki’s rage at the truck driver! and Deol – learnt his act of the South Indian well

Raw Emotions. The transitions of the characters, their mannerisms – detailing is too good. Hashmi’s tongue movements! That dance on the streets Deol’s submissiveness out of pressure! and Farooq Sheik’s upper hand play!

The film is in its details

• the room allotted for the inquiry commission – dirty,
• how it is cleaned
• the basket ball that bounced in
• the expression of the girl who jumps into the room from the window to catch it
• how the Kalki and Deol balance from not slipping and falling from on the wet floor

• When the party worker persuades the truck driver
• Just the two of them having a friendly, but serious (kind)of conversation
• Then the party worker enters a mob, snarls and launches himself into the attack
• Smears a shopkeeper open on a hartal day with black paint
• Smearing in slow motion, the movement of his hands, and the cheeks of the shopkeeper… ! Gory not in red, in black, the intensity achieved

• Krishna (Deol) gets a breakthrough evidence.
• Heads over to the Chief Secretary’s office/conference room
• Seats himself in on of the chairs near the door
• Opens the file and says Sir, I’ve got something
• Farooq Sheik (Chief Secretary) says, something about his future Stockholm promotion
• Krishnan closes the file.
• Chapter closed!

Expectation:

• I went in with zero expectation. Because I just couldn’t stand Love Sex Aur Dhokha for some reason, it was a hyped movie, and I totally hated what I saw on screen! One movie after which I looked at Ms. Chopra and Mr. Masand reviews critically with the market in mind!!
• The attraction was our dear Prosenjit Chatterjee after watching Dosar and Baishe Srabon He does have a charm and we, (the blackholes) call him the Mohanlal of Bengal
• Abhay Deol for some reason (No I’m not one who see all of Deol’s films because he is there)
• And after The Dirty Picture, a new found admiration for Emraan Hashmi. He has proved he can do good stuff. Watch out for the transition in him! Mannerisms! worthwhile.

Credits : Very well lined up, in red bold letters with the black background. Reminded me of Ram Gopal Varma‘s Sarkar and Sarkar Raj.

Lights, Sounds & Colours: It is not in that black and white, it is shot in colour, there is colour but with darker shades and tinted. There is enough of day light and pastel colours as well.

The plot tactics: The chief minister is omnipresent character. She is revealed bit by bit, as posters, cut outs, as memories, as phone calls, as reported speech, as an inspiration, as power personified. She is the all in all and the crux of the movie, but when she appears towards the last half an hour in person, the audience is ready to receive her.

Verdict:

• I would love (no I’m not in for the violence) out of curiosity see it a second time.
• It has layers of the powerful, it is not just one powerful man or woman on top, every level has its own hierarchy. Power rules! And history repeats! sad but true!
• The last scene is a classic!
• Very intense. The topic is of utmost importance.
• The plot has a focus, and is consistence
• Not saying anything more, go watch.
• At least watch it for Hashmi boy, who is trying to act and doing a good job

Related articles

• Movie Review – Shanghai (spmenon.wordpress.com)
• Shangai: The plot thickens (thehindu.com)
• Shanghai movie review: Overhyped and a let down (madaboutmoviez.com)
• Masand: ‘Shanghai’ is consistently watchable (ibnlive.in.com)