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Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster by Bollywoodchaska.com
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Director:Tigmanshu Dhulia
Producer:Tigmanshu Dhulia, Rahul MittraStarring:Jimmy Sheirgill, Mahie Gill, Randeep Hooda
Release Date:30-09-2011
Direction: ****
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, known for his political thrillers ( Haasil, Shagird ) attempts to revisit the classic love story of Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam (Meena Kumari - Guru Dutt) in contemporary times and a North Indian countryside setting. While deriving the essence from the original, his interpretation of the tale has an attitude and identity of its own, thereby averting any categorical comparisons.
Tigmanshu Dhulia gets the grammar of his milieu absolutely accurate. One can see royalty fading away through the paint peeling off the walls of Saheb's ancestral mansion. The mannerisms of the noblemen are as aptly captured as the polish in their language. Dialogues, undoubtedly, are a major highlight of the film with a powerful punch or a caustic remark in every second line. They don't write it like this anymore!
The director, at no point, lets the romance track overpower the original conniving essence of the film. Babloo falls for Biwi pretty early in the plot without the traditional trappings of a love story and yet their chemistry is credibly convincing. To achieve that the film employs explicit physical intimacy between the two, which despite being audacious, is never tawdry.
Acting:****
All the three title leads come up with brilliant performances and each character is so strongly written that no one overshadows the other. Jimmy Sheirgill has impressive screen presence and is authoritative in his commanding characterization of Saheb. Mahie Gill has the sensuality and maturity to pull off the role of Biwi with perfect poise. Her eccentricity, intimacy and deception add assorted shades and depth to her character.
Randeep Hooda plays the best character of his career so far and gets immense scope to show his performance prowess. The passion, obsession, emotions and expressions he brings to his character is simply outstanding. Deepraj Rana as the Saheb's loyal aide is a man of few words but strong screen presence. Shreya Narayan as the mistress exudes rustic sex-appeal. Vipin Sharma makes for a good negative lead. Deepal Shaw is decent as long as she lasts in her short-lived character.
Script:*****
Aditya Pratap Singh is Saheb (Jimmy Sheirgill) in his story, coming from a royal lineage, though royalty seems to be evading him with changing times. He struggles to maintain his regal lifestyle through his own political nexus. Biwi (Mahie Gill) is his third wife who yearns for Saheb's attention but he is too busy with his mistress. A smalltime gangster Babloo (Randeep Hooda) is appointed as the new driver of Saheb's wife. Soon enough, the lovelorn wife falls for Babloo, resulting into a lethal illicit affair. But there's more than what meets the eye.
Saheb Biwi aur Gangster has to its merit a taut and crisp script that never gives you a moment to blink and keeps you riveted through its runtime. All three protagonists have shades of grey but are so strongly developed that there is no single character that you are rooting for all through the film. And since you are almost equally inclined towards each of them, the narrative turns more unpredictable and interesting for you. Even the supporting characters - be it Saheb's loyal aide Kanhaiya, his mistress Mahua or his step-mom are integral to the narrative, adding density to the drama.
Verdict:
