There is a
lot that honesty can do to a script. Also, there is a lot that Anurag Kashyap
can do to a script.
In
what has now become almost typical of Anurag, the opening sequence in Mukkabaaz
too, dipped graciously in black humour and coated with silent social
commentary, blows the mind away to say the least.
I was
instantly reminded of the opening sequence in GOW about people watching Kyoki
Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi when the TV set gets fired at.
The
original script by Vineet Singh, also the lead in Mukkabaaz, with modifications
added on by Anurag, paints a picture with numerous layers, character conflicts
and still keeps space for certain, and by now obvious, Kashyap antics.
Set
up in Bariely and Benaras, Mukkabaaz is not the typical and by now, run of the
mill sports film. It is a love story caught amidst the loop of social divide,
casteism and political ridicule, accentuated by excellent dialogues and music
arrangement.
It is a
film which strives hard to align with reality and hence does not give the feel-good
vibe as it draws to a close. Also, this might be the mildest Kashyap film by
any stretch of imagination and hence even the most accessible one.
There is a
thing about women characters and their portrayal in Kashyap's cinema space.
Right from Gulaal to Dev D to GOW and even Ugly to an extent, there is visible
evidence of a strong headed, focused, witty and almost conniving female
characters, sometimes so strong that they become the driving force for the
entire screenplay. The men though, usually, in contrast are a little
dim-witted.
Mukkabaaz
is no exception. Zoya Hussain, playing Sunaina Mishra makes a wow debut.
Everything about her character, right from what was plotted on paper to what
transpires on screen, oozes with perfection. there are wonderful little moments
where she wins a scene just by her reactions. Sample some where she tries to
convince her mother about the guy she loves, or where she reacts when Shravan
apologizes to her. Absolute marvel.
And those
eyes are to die for. Mark my words.
It
will be an understatement to say that Vineet Singh owns the film. He is the
film, he is Shravan and Shravan, Mukkabaaz. I will be insulting his genius if I
say that his "act" was par excellence. This is the closest I have
seen someone living the character and in the process, becoming one.
There are
just so many instances that can be listed here to sing praises about Vineet but
I will urge you to watch it on screen and appreciate.
Jimmy
Shregil finally gets a meaty role and he too puts out his A game. And there is
Ravi Kishan, who despite the limited screen time, delivers a knockout
performance.
Then
there is the master, the one with a cult following, the maverick Kashyap
himself who makes Mukkabaaz as much his own as it is Vineet's. There are the
usual cocky styled sequences where there is humour erupting out from tensed
situations, the usual brilliant use of background score and music to drive the
narrative at the desired pace and the sharp editing and yet Anurag manages to
carve out something so unusual that makes Mukkabaaz one of the purer films that
I have seen lately.
The
dialogues are absolute gems. If you happen to be from North India, you'd find
them all the more amazing. There are so many layers of social commentary and
political satire but all of that is cajoled into the script so smartly that at
the cost of viewing it passively, one might just even miss out on them.
Rachita
Arora deserves a special mention for putting together a wonderful music album. The
tracks complement the story in a way that at times you feel it is almost
impossible for Mukkabaaz to switch on to the next scene without a song.
In
closing, Mukkabaaz is a rare film, made by someone who has made a name for
himself by making such rare films, acted by actors who lived the characters and
more importantly much like real life, Mukkabaaz does not necessarily try to
please anyone. it stays true to what the characters and the story demanded and
that is where it scores a home run.
P.S--There
is so much that goes in Mukkabaaz at any given instance that it definitely
warrants a repeat viewing.
BAHUT
HUA SAMMAN.. BHARAT MATA KI JAY!!
**4
STARS**
