A Tragedy gone sour. Review on Maqbool

To be or not To be

And by opposing, end it!

This was Shakepeare at its best. But I can't say the same about Vishal Bharadwaj's Maqbool. The premise of this movie is Shakespeare's classic tragedy Macbeth with all its paraphernelia of witches, the dark illusions, the sullen humour, bewitching irony and the fevicol like guilt. All is fine in the world of King Duncan or Abbaji as we ought to say. Great performances, fabulous music, short duration. Everything. Except the fact that it leaves me as a viewer baffled and scared.

Abbaji is the all-proclaimed Don of Mumbai with a battery of Left Hands and Right Hands. One such strong hand is that of Maqbool. Miya Maqbool. A faithful lieutenant who can do anything for Abbaji and his family. But he too is human for he falls for the dangerously saucy charms of Abbaji's mistress Nimmi. Those of you who haven't read Macbeth, I would like to point out that Maqbool is the eponymous Macbeth. And Nimmi is the over ambitious Lady Macbeth who provokes and cajoles him into

carrying out the ultimate sin of murdering Abbaji.

Nimmi was insecure as Abbaji was planning to get another mistress and it would have surely undermined her position in the Haveli. The death of Abbaji leads to a mad rush of power and blood. The role of the witches is played by two policemen. Modern day baffoons who disclose their funny-but-true premonitions now and then. The end result is nothing but death. Silence. And a hollow feeling that is left in me the viewer.

Now, for the sake of appreciating Art, I can state that the performances of Pankaj Kapoor as Abbaji gets into your skin. Irrfan Khan as Maqbool and Tabu as Nimmi are brilliant. Naseerudding Shah and Om Puri as the corrupt policemen are creditable. Music is good, especially Jhin Min Jhini and Tu mere rubaru. Direction by Vishal is taut, crisp and phenomenal. He has a bright future and I shall surely look forward to his next. But in spite of so many good points, I wouldn't recommend this movie to those who value entertainment very highly.

I personally would love to see Munnabhai MBBS a second time. But I would dare not purchase the ticket for Maqbool once again. In spite of all my artistic abilities in the field of poetry and music, I realise I buy a movie ticket to get entertained. To come out refreshed from the cinema hall. I don't think Govinda is the answer to that. But maybe, Munnabhai MBBS is. And certainly Maqbool is an antithesis.

I hope readers will agree with my personal viewpoint. After all a review is meant to give our personal opinion and not an opinion that is being given by all and sundry. And an opinion that is more with the times. I once again say that you should watch Maqbool if you really are too much into 'experimental' or 'realistic' cinema. Hope Vishal makes something like Makdee the next time around. A light entertainer with a natural charm.

Maqbool, A tragedy gone sour.