There are some directors whose films you just cant miss…whether anyone recommends it or not! Mani Ratnam, Shekhar Kapur, Ram Gopal Varma…now here are directors who dare to make films differently. Their heroes don’t all look like beauty queens and kings ! Their filmi families don’t live in gigantic -to the point of being vulgar- castles-situated in foreign locales-meant to-pass off-as Delhi or Bombay! Their actors drive ordinary maruti cars, or bajaj scooters…not a plethora of sports cars ! And hey enjoy a film any less cos the hero’s mom n dad wear simple cotton saris and kurtas at the breakfast table rather than 3 piece suits and embroidered silk saris ???
Company is a narrative..of what life is like in the world of crime. It doesn’t offer explanations as to why criminals chose to become so. Its characters were not pulled into the vortex of crime by a combination of unemployment and frustration at the depths to which corruption has penetrated the society. Rather they opted for it just as the ordinary young man would go in for , say a career as a salesman ! They take pride in the fact they are what they are..and that they are brilliant at their job !!
Ajay Devgan plays Malik Bhai the self crowned king of the underworld. Vivek Oberoi is the fiery, young Chandu . Both are extremely dynamic, powerful and determined men…something which prompts the cop on their trail to wonder rather wryly what heights they would have reached if only they hadn’t opted for crime! Together the two set up the Company and spread their tentacles over business of all sorts ! Real Estate, the travel market, films……they establish a very strong and legal presence in almost all money making ventures in Bombay.
Relationships in their world are based on trust and an underlined rule that no one shall cross the Don , the King. Something which Chandu , who has an iota of sensitivity somewhere beneath the tough look cannot always abide by. He dares to question the King’s ruthlessness once too often and finally finding himself out of favour …. flees and sets up base else where.
The voice over in the film then takes us through how both the protagonists, control India’s most powerful city, Bombay , from miles away. Fascinating , because it shows how the whole network operates. The underworld has its own law. Its own code of loyalty and authority. And every member shall honour that.
When you think of how these men, have a dedicated and loyal unto death gang, who efficiently execute the orders from above …there’s no shying away from work here, no strikes, no demand for higher pay…. you realize , what they say about India is all so true. A country that has consistently failed to perform to potential !
Mohanlal, the superstar from Kerala plays , Srinivasan, the cultured and quietly efficient Mumbai Police Commissioner, who is on the herculean mission of flushing the underworld outta Mumbai. His task is made no easier by the fact that the police force itself is not above corruption .
The film takes us through the trials and tribulations of the Company. Its rise and eventually its death.
Doesn’t sound like much of a story? Well, that’s cos there isn’t really one.(Not that I’m complaining.) Its more of a roller coaster ride through the world of crime. Ram Gopal Varma has done such a brilliant job of making the movie realistic that I’m curious to know the extent to which he would have taken his pre film research ! Honestly ! ( And I wonder if anyone would dare release a movie on Dawood without it getting the green signal from him! Which of course makes one wonder if that’s influenced the characterization?)
The film has fabulous performances by every single character. If “satya” gave us Manoj Bajpai, then “company “ has done even better, cos in Vivek Oberoi. , we have someone who can teach a lesson or to the so called actors of Bollywood , what real acting is all about. His “chandu”is easily the strongest presence in the film. And one comes away in total awe of the potential in him.
Ajay Devgan proved yet again, what a brilliant actor he can be if he’s given the opportunity. His subdued performance gave the role the intensity it required in a very elegant manner. Because I think a loud , flashy performance would have reduced the role to a poor caricature! Between his performance, and Ram Gopal Varma’s direction , a character based on one of Indias’ most wanted men, almost comes off as a righteous and noble man !!! . One who plays by the rules ( yeah so what if theyre his rules!) and one whom you almost admire for his strength of character !
I don’t know if that’s a good thing… but I do understand now, why critics keep harping that Ram Gopal Varma glorifies crime. The criminals in the film are portrayed as efficient young employees, serving their company .They go about their jobs efficiently and smartly and seem to love their jobs. Just as if they were selling watches or something equally inane !
Mohan Lal plays the role of a cop with deliberately understated power. He isn’t the denim clad, gun wielding-jumping outta moving jeeps-cowboy type of cop ! ( thankfully !)Rather he plays an overweight, college professorial looking policeman…
( I must say, I missed one of the many witty one liners of his, cos I turned around to blast the guy behind me..who was “loudly” expressing his disgust at Mohanlal’s “Madrasi” accent!!! As I reminded him, everything south of Mumbai wasn’t Madras and what was a mallu supposed to sound like…..a bihari??)
The ladies in the film, may not have huge roles, but they definitely don’t go unnoticed. Seema Biswas ( of Bandit Queen fame) as Chandu’s mother and Antara Mali as his wife have roles that indicate the talent they posses. And then there’s Manisha , as “saroja”, Malik Bhai’s girl. She didn’t have much by way of dialogue in the film, but I thought she did a brilliant job. I loved the way, she would just flop down in a chair , with a totally disinterested expression, blowing smoke rings or sipping her drink as the men around her drew up master plans for murder or extortion or the like ! There are no long drawn tear jerking scenes involving the lady shedding tears by the bucket, as she pleaded with her man to give up crime ! All three women are totally aware of what the men in their lives are and they are at peace with it !
“Company” is just that kind of film. One which raises so many questions. One which makes you actually sit and think. I’m not exactly sure of the message , Ram Gopal Varma was trying to send with this film.The film may have a few gaffes, and im also not sure I entirely agree with the clean and happy ending ! I mean for a pretty realistic film the ending does seem a little too idealistic !
But this doesnt take anything away from the film ! All in all , this is a must see film! And I don’t think you should miss this one !!!!