Aug 23, 2014 01:39 PM
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Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions have constantly tried in venturing into new territories and have backed unconventional or hard-hitting subjects. Yet, they are still dubbed as production companies that specialize in candy floss romances. Hopefully, this perception will change with Mardaani, Yash Raj Films’ latest venture that is unlike the reputed banner has attempted ever. To begin with, it’s their first flick that has got an adults-only certificate from the Censors. It’s brutal, disturbing, shot in real locations and at the same time, it’s highly entertaining, crisp and even has those typical so-called ‘herogiri’ elements. Only difference is that here it’s Rani Mukerji who gets to mouth some clapworthy dialogues and teach a lesson to the baddies. Undoubtedly, here’s one of the finest films of the year and even of Bollywood, in recent times!
The story of the movie: Shivani Shivaji Roy(Rani Mukerji) is a senior inspector in Mumbai Police Crime Banch. Work comes first for her and she is bloody good(and even feisty and brutal as per the requirements) at her job. Trouble arises when she finds out that a teenage girl Pyari(Priyanka Sharma), with whom she has a great bond, disappears. Shivani realizes soon that Pyari has been kidnapped and smuggled and that she is the victim of a child sex trafficking. How Shivani attempts to track down Pyari and capture the supposed mastermind behind this racket(Tahir Raj Bhasin) forms the crux of the film.
Mardaani is just 113 minutes long. There’s just one song in the film(which is beautifully incorporated) and the narrative is crisp. There are no ‘timepass moments’ and everything that happens in the film has a purpose to the principle narrative(including the opening sequence). The trafficking scenes are quite shocking and create the right impact. However, the best portions of the film are when Shivani using all the grey cells in her brain to track down the culprits and not to forget, her phone conversations with the antagonist. The film gets even better when the action shifts to New Delhi. At the same time, the pace slows down in the second half. Also, few sequences towards the film seemed a bit filmy and unreal, which is a departure from the realistic feel to the film. However, the final 10 minutes are powerful and give a hard-hitting and justified culmination to the film.
At the same time, what’s praiseworthy is that the makers have genuinely tried their best in researching about child trafficking, police interrogation methods etc. The sequences where Shivani finds important leads in the case are written and projected in a realistic and convincing manner. Hence, in the investigation scenes at least, the goings-on don’t appear frivolous or filmy at all. Hats off to the writers and also a great work by Black Friday writer S Hussain Zaidi, who gave creative inputs to the film!
Mardaani belongs to Rani Mukerji and vice versa! The actress is in her top form and delivers one of the most outstanding performances of her career! Unknowingly, she led the base of this character in No One Killed Jessica where she was loved as feisty journalist Meera Gaity. But in Mardaani, her character goes a step forward in terms of the rawness and brazenness. Shivani has no qualms abusing, staying long hours on duty and beating baddies black and blue. At the same time, she has a soft side that is reserved for her family and loved ones. Rani brings all these aspects of her character alive flawlessly. Great work and I hope she continues to surprise viewers with such acts in future!
Tahir Raj Bhasin is a big surprise. He looks incredibly dashing and plays the villainous role effortlessly. His dialogue delivery is a big strength as well and he plays on it very well. An actor to watch out for! Priyanka Sharma brings out the pain felt by her character with elan and leaves a very strong mark. Anil George(Vakil Saab), last seen in Miss Lovely, underplays his part and delivers a staunch performance. Anant Sharma(Sunny Katiyal) makes an impact from his entry scene itself. He is excellent in scenes where he gets interrogated by Shivani. Mona Ambegaonkar(Minoo Rastogi) has a very tiny role but steals the thunder. Watch out! Jishhu Sengupta(Dr Bickram Roy) and Avneet Kaur(Meera) do well in their supporting roles. Sanjay Taneja(minister Taneja) makes his presence felt in the cameo. Mikhail Yawalkar(inspector Balwinder Singh Sodhi) and Digvijay Rohidas(Jafar) are fine as Shivani’s colleagues. Sahanand Verma(Kapil; the guy with a latest mobile phone) and Aman Uppal(Mattoo) add the necessary quirks in their respective characters. Others do a good job as well.
There’s only track in the film(Mardaani Anthem) that’s well composed and laced with powerful https://lyrics. It is placed at the correct point in the film and gives an adrenaline rush! Julius Packiam’s background score is terrific and has an international feel. Artur Zurawski’s cinematography is fair. The locales of Delhi especially are well captured. Manohar Verma’s action is real but exciting.
Gopi Puthran’s story is hard-hitting, smart and much-needed in today’s times when crimes against women have got much prominence. The writer makes a nice comment towards the finale which might evoke mixed reactions but seems justified, considering the times we live in. Dialogues are superb and add to the fun, especially in Shivani’s conversations with the antagonist. Pradeep Sarkar’s direction is brilliant and he gets back to his Parineeta form that he had kind of lost while making Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Lafangey Parindey. Sarkar had a great script in hand and he ensured he did total justice to it.
Some of the best scenes:
Shivani nabs Mushtaq
Shivani interrogating Kapil in the traffic
The antagonist’s entry
All scenes of Shivani’s telephonic conversations with the antagonist
All scenes of Katyal
The intermission point
Shivani lays a trap for Vakil saab
Shivani hangs on to a bus and escapes(clapworthy!)
The last 20 minutes
On the whole, Mardaani is shocking, hard-hitting but a brilliant and thrilling piece of cinema that should not be missed. The 113-minute long film adopts a no-nonsense approach to the plot and the issue of child sex trafficking and Shivani’s investigation and interrogation bits is all presented in a non-frivolous and realistic manner. There’s enough happening in the film that keeps viewers glued to their seats. Rani Mukerji is outstanding and so is the antagonist Tahir Raj Bhasin. It gets a bit filmy towards the end but it still makes the right impact. Go for it in cinemas and hope it makes lot of money. It deserves it!
My rating-4.5/5!
