Jun 21, 2012 12:41 AM
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A lot has been talked about in the media about Anurag returning to his roots & presenting a story from the interiors of the country. He has, indeed, done justice to the film & how! “GOW” is a tale which is a fictionalised version of true incidences that have taken place in the area. It is not the conventional gangster movie where the protagonist kills the antagonist & emerges a survivor. This is a story where you see a constant struggle with both the sides losing a lot with no decisive result. The fact that the movie was screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival & received standing ovations wherever it was showcased is proof of the brilliance of the film.
The story starts from the pre-independence era when the entire country was under the British rule & a handful of people who possessed power manipulated the minds & lives of the poor. The film has incorporated various events & facets of the country which have never seen the light of day. “GOW” is a story based on the life of the family of Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) & how his family clashes with that of Ramadheer Singh (Tigmanshu Dhulia) for times to come. Shahid’s son Sardar, played by Manoj Bajpayee, carries the legacy forward when he gets to know that his father was killed by Ramadheer Singh. The film is packaged with folk songs, dehaati gaaliyaan & rustic dialogues. It also consists of some explicit scenes like the one in the jail where the prisoners are seen enjoying themselves by reciting folk songs & dancing to it when Sardar Khan executes his plan of eloping from the jail or the ‘Suhaar Raat’ scene of Danish, Sardar Khan’s son, or the scene by the pond where Faisal (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) tries to impress Huma Qureshi or the poetic justice for Yadavji in Varanasi. These are just a few out of the many more. However, as the movie ends you know that it is not actually the end but a better & even more violent sequel is on its way.
The performance rendered by the entire cast is exceptional. Jaideep Ahlawat looks convincing as the ferocious dacoit from Wasseypur. Manoj Bajpayee carries the role of Sardar Khan on his shoulders with ease. He looks apt for the role of a man who is an outlaw who is also a womaniser who goes around sleeping with prostitutes & has two wives. However, the surprise package in the film is the director who marks his debut as an actor in the film as Ramadheer Singh, Tigmanshu Dhulia. He steals the show whenever he is in the frame. Also, Richa Chadda & Reemma Sen have played the role of Sardar’s wife with great conviction. The supporting cast, too, has done a fantastic job. Piyush Mishra must be commended for his portrayal of Sardar Khan’s guardian. He is also the one who takes the story forward with his narrations. Sardar Khan’s sidekick will also be an instant hit with the masses. Also, Sneha Khanwalkar should be credited for the music which is already a hit with the audience. It is so earthy yet very hip at the same time. The background score is good & so is the cinematography.
Overall, the film is a movie-goers fantasy. It has violence, punchy dialogues, catchy scenes & performances par excellence. The film is about 2 hours 40 minutes long but the pace & grip is such that one wouldn’t mind sitting for another three hours & getting done with the second part too. It wouldn’t be wrong if one stated that “GOW” is India’s answer to “The Godfather”. The promos stated “Iss Saawan… Teri Keh Loonga…” And we have to hand it over Anurag because “Anurag Ne Vaaqai, Sab Ki Le Lee…” Watch out Bollywood, Anurag is back with a BLAST!!!
