Mukkabaaz – A solid Anurag Kashyap Punch!!!
Anurang Kashyap brings a punch true to its genre where right from performances to writing, one liners to motivational lyrics, music to background score, from fear factor to the moment of victory; Mukkabaaz roars. In victory lies failure; in failure lies victory.

A story inspired by true events and facts; keeps you intrigued to the plot unfolding events. Mukkabaaz brings lot of hakka-bakka moments. Jimmy Shergil is the super mogambo of the film who has Zero opportunity to say “Mogambo khush hua” with every defeat he becomes more and more mean. He comes as a great menace and you love watching him. Mukkabaaz is one of his best performances till date where without punches he leaves a great punch. High on ego, high on cruelty, zero forgiving character, playing Bhagwan he brings a super shaitaan on screen. You literally wait for him to appear on screen. The magic of Bad man is high. He is cruel giving tough to everybody but the Hero.

The Hero Vineet Kumar Singh comes from the school of Anurag Kashyap films and seems he graduated brilliant. This is a film that puts him right out there showcasing how content can open the wide spectrum to bring the performance on the platter and make you shine bright. He gets everything right, be it an attitude required by the character he plays, be it his physique as a boxer and of course the brawl he takes at the full throttle. He shapes out marvelous as Shravan, who back answers and gives his parents on their face; when passion becomes fashion, you laugh unapologetically. He knocks his boss down too, when he is rubbed wrong making him go wet in his pants and then recording the same, you laugh unapologetically. You love the Hero you see has emerged. This is where Anurag Kashyap leaves his signature. Mukkabaaz comes as a real hardcore Anurag Kashyap film that is fearless, rustic and has a soul of Indian Story.

Zoya Hussain’s screen presence is brilliant, she emotes and speaks through her eyes, her persona is strong and her character stands strong in spite of the plot where you will find Men ruling the game. Ravi Kishen is in the skin of his character; playing a coach to Shravan, he becomes a part of the scuffle he wouldn’t have. He impresses you with his diction, his screen presence.

Anurag Kashyap with Mukkabaaz just doesn’t take you inside the boxing ring; he gives you a true flavor of the dark truth. India is a nation where the film on boxing will make 40 crores plus business but when the actual tournament happens turning out 4000 people to watch also is a challenge. He succeeds to showcase, in spite of you having it all, you just don’t have to fight; the fight within the ring, the main fight lies outside the ring, only if you succeed outside, you land up inside the ring. The sociopolitical pressure that becomes the hindrance in not just your game but in personal life too. Vineet Kumar Singh puts a soul with his performance in the character of Shravan and you see the true story rolling on celluloid.

Mukkabaaz – Go take the real hard punch in cinemas near you.

Verdict: Gold ****
P.S. The film releases Jan 12th, 2018.

Manoj Bajpayee’s In the shadows (Gali Guliyaan) selected at MAMI film Festival 2017

It’s time for double celebration for the makers of Manoj Bajpayee’s first international project In The Shadows (Gali Guliyaan), as it makes way for yet another prestigious film festival. After the big announcement of the film having its first world premiere at the prestigious Busan Film Festival, the next big news has arrived with the film getting selected for Jio MAMI 19th Mumbai Film Festival in the India Gold Section category.

Helmed by Los Angeles-based filmmaker and winner of Director Guild of America Awards – Dipesh Jain, In the Shadows (Gali Guliyaan) is as story about a man who is trapped within the city walls and in his own mind. The film features some of the most talented actors of Bollywood like Manoj Bajpayee, Ranvir Shorey, Neeraj Kabi and Shahana Goswami along with debutant child actor Om Singh. Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) which is one of most awaited and significant Indian Film Festival has nominated this classic film in the India Gold Category along with some other prominent films. The seven day long festival is known for showcasing the latest cutting-edge, independent cinema and art house films alongside genre movies from Bollywood, Hollywood and also cult international movies.

Expressing his happiness, the fine actor Manoj Bajpayee said, “It is a great achievement for a film which is non- compromising and a brave storytelling. It is huge news for us that MAMI has selected our film in the India Gold Section as a competitor. It is going to be quite a fun journey for us to be part of such prestigious festivals, first Busan and now MAMI. Being selected for MAMI is a very special feeling as it is our own home festival which has always acknowledged some great cinema. We are quite excited to be part of the festival and looking forward to be part of such an amazing event”

Talking more about it, Director Dipesh Jain said, “I’m excited to bring the film to India and screen at this prestigious festival. I have seen the festival selection list and they are some of the best films from around the world. I’m very proud to showcase our film alongside them. In The Shadows is very different film in terms of its content and treatment and I’m sure the audience will love the experience.”

Haraamkhor – Take this Abuse.

Director Shlok Sharma who has assisted Anurag Kashyap on DevD & Gangs of Wasseypur gives a movie that adds a feather on the hats of many people. Already won at the New York Indian Film Festival the film indeed lives up to its title well. But if you think this one is gonna move any soul – it will not. Haraamkhor is a pure entertainer where characters shine in their roles and each one performs well giving you a good doze of entertainment.

It is a love story which undergoes various layers of emotions well depicted along with some great wit keeping a smile on your face throughout; making you go crazy at time making you laugh out loud with their sheer presentation. Yet they leave you craving for more at the end making you wander what happened leaving you disappointed towards the end.

Shewta Tripathi brilliantly acted for her maiden film, she is the girl who falls in love with her teacher knowing he is married, the relationship grows. The girl also has a secret admirer –Kamal her classmate of her age following her to showcase his love along with a friend Mintu enacted by Mohd Samad who is indeed a show stealer; a  a little Haraamkhor doing big haramkhori; adding splendid wit to your watch.

Not giving you much of the plot as this is something for you to witness for sheer performances of the characters who make Haraamkhor a recommended watch. The film is shot in just 16 days and it being made well. Shlok Sharma has brought a story which could be seen as taboo yet it exists. Soon it will exist in cinemas near you- Do take this abuse.

Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5*s