~~~GUNDAY-REVIEWS AND BOXOFFICE ~~~~~ - Page 8

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapor and Priyanka Chopra

Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Rating: Three stars

Ali Abbas Zafar's directorial debut Mere Brother Ki Dulhan was about two brothers falling in love with the same girl. His second film Gunday has a fresh plot where two friends (who are like brothers) fall in love with the same girl - the kind of originality that almost choked me! But it doesn't mean it's a bad film.

The film starts in 1971 with two young refugee boys Bikram (Ranveer-still-sporting-Ramleela-look-Singh) and Bala (Arjun-ample-cleavage-on-display-Kapoor). They land in India against the poster of Amitabh Bachchan's Zanjeer (a 1973 release) that magically appears two years earlier in Gunday for that period film' effect! Or was Aamir Khan marketing Zanjeer back then?

Bikram is logical, Bala is short-tempered and circumstances change them into criminals who finally become the most powerful daredevil duo in Calcutta. It was such a delight to see kids turning into adults as the camera pans from their feet to their faces, an Eighties clich rarely seen these days.

Fifteen years later, the police wake up to catch the coal bandits. Enter Satyajit Sarkar (Irfan-the-best-actor-ever-Khan) with his wicked plan. Then there is a love angle too. Nandita Das (Priyanka-I-am-so-eggzaaatic-Chopra) who is a cabaret dancer and has both the friends floored. She keeps them guessing about her love interest that leads to a murder, runaway sequences, misunderstandings and the climax brilliantly shot in a coal mine.

Gunday is something that you have not seen before. It's like the dustier version of Dhoom. But it's done well. Directed well. Shot well. Usually Hindi films have inconsequential sequences - Gunday steers clear. Every, correction, most of the scenes have a purpose and a context.

The dialogues (by Ali Abbas Zafar) help too - Pistol ki goli aur ladki ki boli, dono se jaan khatre mein hoti hain. It's this ladki factor of the famous zar zoroo zameen (money, woman and land) that causes friction between friends and furthers the plot. Though the film suffers from some banalities as well, dosti aur pyaar ke beech mein kisko chunoge or the classic ek taraf mera farz hai, toh doosri taraf mera pyar!! Big YAWN! The film tries to pack in a surprise towards the end, alas way too easily predictable!

Irshad Kamil is the only lyricist (after Gulzar sahib) who fleetingly and aptly mentions Ghalib in his songs. His fun play of words in Tune maari entriyaan dil mein baji ghantiyaan, brilliantly composed by Sohail Sen stands out!

Arjun Kapoor puts a lot of effort in his performance and it shows. Ranveer Singh is a tad more comfortable and confident. He even gets his gh' and kh' right, from the epiglottis! Rizwan Khan from My Name is Khan will be very impressed. Priyanka Chopra might not be the best actress but she looks GORGEOUS! She shows promise and lots of bare back to the point that it seemed one of the characters in the film - Hi, I am Nandita (turns around) and this, IS MY BACK!

My final words:
Gunday presents a familiar story interestingly.
Priyanka Chopra is HOT!
It brings the city of Kolkatta to life.
Priyanka Chopra is HOT!
Irfan Khan's eyes deserve a special Oscar.
Priyanka Chopra is HOT!

If you can read between the lines (LITERALLY!) you would have at least one reason to go and watch the film.

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