Expectations: If Amitabh Bachchan starrer film’Zanjeer’ could be termed as the inceptor of angry young cop drama, then films like’Zakhmi Aurat’, ’Tejaswani’ and few more too definitely deserve to lead the list of female cop drama based films. There was a time in 80s and 90s when in order to enhance their stardom, most of the superstar actresses ventured into this genre. Sadly, in the recent time, female cop based films or even television shows have been portraying them either in a comical manner or as an added attraction. Thus, the curiosity factor instantly started raising as soon as we got to see the first official trailer of Rani Mukerji starrer film’Mardaani’. So, let’s find out whether’Mardaani’ will manage to enhance the level of female cop based films in our country or will it be a just another forced effort to create the star hysteria.
Story: ’Mardaani’ is a story of Shivani Shivaji Roy(Rani Mukerji), a senior inspector in the crime branch department of Mumbai city. A daughter like teenage girl Pyari(Priyanka Sharma), is kidnapped by the child trafficking mafia, which is led by an unknown person(Tahir Bhasin). Shivani gets totally involved in this case and decides to track down the whole racket of female child trafficking and thus what happens next is what the entire film is all about.
Screenplay & Technicalities: The story is totally interesting as well as engaging. From the first scene of the film itself, the movie sets on its right track and never goes off track. There are no silly sidetracks or unwanted scenes as the writers have worked really hard and kept the film directly to the point without adding any nonsense to it. There are many brilliant scenes, especially the ones involving Rani Mukerji like Rani trashing a local politician, Rani’s telephonic conversation with Tahir Bhasin, the whole cat and mouse type of track between Rani and Tahir, Rani’s outburst over the system, Rani getting trapped, the fight scenes in the finale portions and few more, keeps you indulged in the film. Rani Mukerji adds the valor to the dialogues that are fiery and worth applauding. The only minor negative point that gets noticed in this movie is that at a few places it tends to get a bit over dramatic and unrealistic, especially in the finale portions which should have been more impactful. Also, the movie might remind you of the recently released hard-hitting, realistic film’Lakshmi’ as both are based on the atrocity of female child trafficking. The camera work is good and goes well with the flow of the film.
Music & Direction: The background music is haunting and usage of the Mardaani theme song in the film is outstanding. It totally connects with the scene and the flow of the film.
Director Pradeep Sarkar manages to give us a good, hard-hitting film, which will cater to both classes and masses. In the time where everyone is trying to ape Chulbul Pandey type of police officer, Pradeep Sarkar showcases his main protagonist on the lines of real life dare devil female cop - Kiran Bedi. Pradeep Sarkar could have made this movie a total, realistic or an out and out commercial film, but instead, he uses his cinematic expertise and ends up giving a great masterpiece.
Performances: Rani Mukerji is marvelous in her magnificent character of a dare devil cop. You can feel her anger and pain and thus totally connect with her in every scene. She looks fabulous in the cop uniform and does some great stunts in the film. Tahir Bhasin is brilliant in his character, which reminds you of Farhad’s track from the Akshay Kumar starrer film’Holiday’. Anil George lends good support. Jisshu Sengupta was wasted whereas Mona Ambegaonkar was fine on her part.
So bol meri "FILMI KHOPDI" iss film mein kitna hain Dum?
Dum? Well, this movie has all the dum required for a good hard-hitting entertainer. The movie is thrilling, haunting, engaging and entertaining without even being preachy.’Mardaani’ is a mandatory watch for every female, who should be brave and bold just like the character of Rani Mukherjee along with every pervert man, who will never dare to use his animal instincts after watching this film.’Mardaani’ is the celebration of woman power for every woman who feels inferior in front of the opposite sex, and of course, every man who respects them and treats them equally.