Gangs of Wasseypur invents a new idiom of cinema. It is meaningful yet entertaining, dark but still saddled with several lighter moments. The references to several Hindi films like Qasam Paida Karne Waale Ki (The Mithun look-alike is a riot), Trishul, Deewar (Main aaj bhi pheke hue paise nahin uthaata) and a few more hit 80s numbers have been incorporated innovatively. One also gets to see the influence that the commercial escapist cinema has on the minds of the youngsters especially in the small towns. A case in point is the romantic argument between Nawazuddin and his filmi would-be girlfriend. "Permission li kya aapne, " she asks.
Rajiv Ravi’s camerawork is classy. There are many picture perfect moments where the framing is breathtaking. The rawness of a small town with the nakedness of emotions germinating in a butcher’s backyard has been captured superbly. The performances are mindblowing. Jaideep Ahlawat as Shahid Khan is extraordinary. His raw power mixed with vulneraibility is a treat.
Manoj Bajpai’s Sardar Khan is brimming with revenge rage for Ramadheen (Tigmanshu Dhulia, very competent) and at the same time his heightened libido results in several comic situations. Manoj digs into a meaty role with hunger. The result is special. Richa Chadda as the feisty wife of Sardar Khan is a delight (but why doesn’t she look any different even though twenty years have lapsed?). Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays Bajpai’s son and has a realively smaller role. I guess he’ll be the mainstay of the second part of the movie. Siddiqui makes every scene count. Watch him do the Amitabh Bachchan gun trick. His silence speaks volumes and so do his eyes. There are many small time actors who have delivered extraordinary performances.
There is a liberal usage of cuss words. The violence is crude and dots almost the entire film. It will be a deterrent for the audience that relies on staple entertainment. Sneha Khanwalkar’s music is esoteric. It appeals in parts but at other occasions it seems to be aimed at self-proclaimed-know-it-all critics. G V Prakash’s background score is hard hitting and effective.
Director Anurag Kashyap is at his uncompromising best. He had compromised on the climax of Dev D but here he arrogantly pushes his point of view forward the way he deems it right. To his credit, he succeeds in presenting an unusual story in a refreshingly unique manner bereft of sentimentality and still having all the ingredients of masala entertainment.
Gangs of Wasseypur is brilliant cinema. Nothing can stop it from being a cult film.