Way back in 2003, Timangshu Dhulia, made an impact with Haasil, his look at the phenomenon of student leaders getting drawn into goondaism, and the influence of goons in campus politics, set in small town Uttar Pradesh.
Aided by some power house performances by Irfaan Khan, Ashutosh Rana, Jimmy Shergill, the movie was a realistic look at the gangsterism that had begun to dominate the politics in Uttar Pradesh. The movie though not much of a commercial success, slowly picked up by word of mouth, and it became a cult favorite, especially in it’s portrayal of the UP underworld and the lingo used. In a way it kick started the trend of movie set against the backdrop of UP-Bihar gangsters, Gangajal, Apharan, Omkara, Ishqiya, all taking a look at this issue. Dhulia’s second movie Charas, a look at the drug trade in Himachal Pradesh, was not much impressive though.
After a long time, Dhulia makes a comeback, with Shagird, I believe this movie had some problems in being released earlier, not much aware of it. And this time the setting is Delhi, and it’s underworld. Looks like in recent times, Delhi has become the favorite choice of subject for Bollywood movie makers, be it charming middle class stories like Khosla Ka Ghosla, Do Dooni Chaar or candy floss stuff like Aisha or serious dramas like Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6 or the gritty crime tales like Yeh Saali Zindagi. Having lived in Delhi for a good 2 years, I can surely say the city has much more to it than the usual touristy sights or the Govt offices, it is a city that has a stunning diversity, be it the rich enclaves of South Delhi or the more busting middle class enclaves of Karol Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, Janakpuri to the crowded gallis of Chandni Chowk, Older Delhi, it is a city with so many different layers and personalities.
Hanumant Singh( Nana Patekar) is the central character of Shagird, an encounter cop who is as shady and crooked as they come, with a love for old Hindi movie songs. He carries out random encounters, and takes the cut from the other parties, and distributes the loot among his team of cops, all as shady and crooked as him. He is on the payroll of Rajmani Singh( Zakir Hussain), a leading politician, equally crooked and shady, for whom he does all the dirty work. The movie kicks off with Bunty Bhaiyya( Anurag Kashyap), a notorious gangster being arrested by the cops. The opening scene is shot superbly, in rain, and the scenes, where Bunty walks into the prison like a hero, the cops doing the salaam to him, other prisoners hero worshiping him are all well shot, setting the tone. Bunty used to be the hit man for Rajmani Singh, and he believes his master will bail him out soon. Rajmani however has other plans, as Bunty could turn out to be an embarassment for his aspiring political career, and wants him to be bumped off.
Into this shady and corrupt world, enters Mohit Sharma( Mohit Ahlawat), as a member of Hanumant Singh’s team. Mohit is fresh, young and idealistic, he looks up to Hanumant as as role model. However he is shocked by the corruption he sees in the force, and the way Hanumant and his associates openly indulge in it. Hanumant tells him that honesty and idealism has no place in the force, and one has to survive. Things take a turn, when Mohit’s girl friend Rimi Sen, a TV reporter is kidnapped by some terrorists, who demand the release of their Lashkar E Haq comrades in prison. And this sets the stage for a number of twists and turns in the movie, where nothing is what it seems. Things go topsy turvy, people double cross each other, no one is what they seem to be they are.
The first half of Shagird is good in parts, the encounter killings are well picturized, as also the scenes between the encounter cops, and the parts where they share the loot amongst themselves. Also the scenes between Nana and Zakir Hussain are first rate. The camera beautifully captures Saddi Dilli, be it the spacious India Gate lawns, the crowded gallis and mohallas, the Chandni Chowk area, the ruins of Delhi, the city is well captured. However what drags down the movie in the first half is the entire Mohit Ahlawat-Rimi Sen track, the romance is half baked, and the media is shown in an exaggerated manner. The biggest letdown however is the entire Rimi Sen kidnapping drama, done in such an amateurish and slip shod manner, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. The entire drama is so stupid and silly, just makes you wonder what was the point in it.
The movie picks up pace however in the 2nd half, and the twists and turns in the story, keep you hooked till the end, the scripting is really good, here, as we see the characters play games, double cross each other, and nothing seems to be what it is. This is the major strength of the movie. Some of the action scenes, however seem straight out of the 90’s, especially in the climax, and don’t really fit in to the movie. Also excessive use of slow motion and a loud background score, at times, is pretty jarring.
Nana Patekar is first rate as Hanumant Singh, playing a more shady version of his Ab Tak 56 role, also his love for old Hindi movie songs, makes his character much more endearing. Zakir Hussain, another brilliant actor, effortlessly slips into the role of Rajmani Singh, playing the shady politician to perfection with that typical UP lingo of his. Anurag Kashyap as the gangster Bunty Bhaiyya, does a decent job. Mohit Ahlawat however is a big let down, he just can’t act at all, too stiff. Of the supporting cast, the actors who play Nana’s colleagues do well, as also the actor who plays the role of Punditji, Rajmani Singh’s close confidant and adviser.
In spite of a rather weak first half, with some rather silly scenes, I would still recommend this movie for it’s unpredictable and exciting second half, which keeps you hooked. And above all there is Nana Patekar, a good enough reason to watch it.