MAQBOOL........... . Review on Maqbool

Maqbool(Irfan Khan) is the right hand man of Jaahangir Khan, a.k.a Abbaji(Punkaj Kapoor). Pundit and Purohit(Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, respectively) are corrupt cops, of which Pundit is an astrologer with a kali zubaan everything he predicts come true. He predicts that Maqbool will the successor of Abbaji. This prediction gradually injects a lust for power within Maqbool.

However, Maqbool harbors lust–and love–for Nimmi(Tabu). Nimmi is Abbaji’s mistress, who also loves Maqbool. She wants to be released from the stigma of being a mistress, and believes that only Maqbool can grant her the social respect that comes with marriage. She repeatedly hints the death of Abbaji to Maqbool, and also warns Maqbool of the relationship between Sameera(Masumi Makhija), Abbaji’s daughter, and Guddu(Ajay Gehi) who is the son of Maqbool’s best friend, Kaka(Piyush Mishra),

Upon Maqbool’s takeover, the underworld begins to fall apart. Everyone involved with the gang suspects Nimmi and Maqbool to be responsible of Abbaji’s murder; Kaka even dissociates himself from the gang. Furthermore, Maqbool becomes buried in debt.

Despite his demise half-way through the film, Punkaj Kapoor manages to run away with the best performance. Kapoor redefines the Indian gang lord, and surpasses all previous attempts at such a role. As the short, pot-bellied Abbaji, the actor within Punkaj Kapoor comes alive. His facial expressions make you love and hate him appropriately. His voice modulations, walk, mannerisms–everything about him makes you feel that you are watching Abbaji, and not Punkaj Kapoor. Bravo