Coming from one of the modern masters of the art
of movie making, Gangs of Wasseypur (GoW) begs for another kind of art – that
of movie watching! Thanks to the likes of Anurag Kashyap, Bollywood appears
more evolved and is not shying away from dishing up bold and honest fare. And
the not-so-brave and pseudo custodians of Bollywood who have been dealing in
mediocrity behind the cloak of ‘an audience that is not evolved’ have realized
that times have been changing. GoW, to my mind, comes with that kind of an
intention. It comes to a more aware audience. That’s not to confuse with a more
intelligent audience or an audience that loves only non-mainstream cinema. But simply,
a breed that knows what to expect out of a particular movie/banner and what not
to expect.
A strong script and its methodical cinematic rendition
is something that sets AK apart and GoW is no different. Besides being
methodical, it is done with an honesty that bears a signature brutality. His movies
are also lavishly sprinkled with lots of elements – I am using this word for
the want of a better one. It could be anything, from an idiosyncrasy of a character
or a character itself. In comparison to Dev D and Gulaal, GoW has less ‘cinematic
elements’, but the sheer number of characters that GoW has is mind boggling. That
also turns out to be a weak link of the movie. But before that, a brief
synopsis of the plot.
GoW is the story of enmity between two
gangs/families in Wasseypur which is located in the coal rich region of
Dhanbad. While it does start with coal mining and the spoils that go with it,
coal becomes only incidental as the story evolves. Starting out before the independence
of India, It spans a period of over 50 year as it traces the hostility across generations.
The cast of the movie is its unmistakable
strength. Performance from a bunch of talented actors led by Manoj Bajpai is
clinical and honest. One expression that Manoj Bajpai wears as he is lecherously
eyeing a woman is a killer. There would be very few moments in the history of
Bollywood that would match this one in terms of an actor’s skill! The music is
quirky, fresh and earthy. The background score is riveting, complements the
pace of the movie and has a hint of Tarantino to it.
But with its long drawn out plot, the movie does
wear you down. There would be moments when you would be asking yourself what is
happening and why? With infinite gore and brazenness suffused all over, the
handling of the plot appears one-dimensional and sometimes forced.
Blemishes notwithstanding, GoW is in a league of
its own and an experience worth having. GoW is not just about honest and brave
film making, it is also about honest and evolved art of experiencing cinema.
Rating: 3.5/5
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