They work mostly because we are blessed to have actors like Sheeba Chadha, Seema Pahwa, Nitesh Pandey and Loveleen Mishra, who manage to keep things buoyant even when there isn’t much novelty in the way the roles are written. Gulshan Devaiah comes in as a cameo appearance and rules every frame he is a part of. As for the lead, Bhumi Pednekar and Rajkummar Rao are solid performers and play their parts with the flair of consummate actors. Rao, in particular, with his vacant impassive expression makes you realise how stifled he feels in a police uniform, all the while yearning to own his truth openly. Bhumi’s aching grief as she looks for support from her father in a crucial scene is delicately and sensitively done. These are moments when Badhaai Do shines, when it tells the story for what it is and not “perform” it due to its eagerness to give a message and deliver a PSA.
Even the predictable climax that ensures a ceasefire between warring parties seems more out of fatigue than anything more. 14 Phere is the kind of film one can still watch but will find very hard to truly care about.
Now, while the narrative is consumed by an overarching theme of revenge with pulpy flamboyance it just seems like it starts taking itself too seriously and that’s when the messaging becomes convoluted and deeply problematic. Putting any kind of toxic relationship on a pedestal and calling it as the supreme example of love and sacrifice is completely unacceptable and one wishes that those highly disturbing scenes were handled with more sensitivity and care. While they may be in a make-believe universe where passions run high, the treatment feels like Haseen Dillruba endorses these twisted tricks which to be honest is quite off-putting. Having said that, one must acknowledge that Haseen Dillruba keeps us riveted for most parts at least. Taapsee and Vikrant are in top form ensuring we quite willingly get sucked into this pulpy universe.
The lead actors have their limitations and that gets exposed when Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav come on screen. Playing a good-natured, middle-aged couple, they are so fabulous that they make us forget all about the two runaway characters. One instead wishes to linger on and stay with them. And then just like that the film seems in a hurry to tie loose ends and the end appears like a hurriedly put together set up completely at odds with the unforced storytelling so far. Somewhere Pinky and Sandeep are unable to evoke the requisite emotional play-off necessary to keep us invested. Dibakar Banerjee conjures a world that sure is tantalising. However, the unhurried pace might prove to be too slow for comfort for many.
The trauma that Bulbbul undergoes leaves an indelible mark on her and poignant scenes reveal a telling tale. In one particular scene after a very violent episode, Binodini comes in to pacify Bulbbul but what she in turn does is regurgitate what probably she herself was told when faced with a similar dilemma. It’s a striking scene where we see the perpetrator as also a victim and realise there are no clear demarcations. But Dutt’s screenplay remains placid. We know what is to follow, there are hardly any surprises in store and the narrative remains devoid of exciting plot twists. But it’s the way the film is crafted that one finds it difficult to abandon it. Rahul Bose , Parambrata Chatterjee, Avinash Tiwary and Paoli Dam give their characters a credible potency.
Special Ops is uneven in its pace and falters in between but it’s also a proof of Neeraj Pandey’s skill that despite these flaws he has created a series that has enough drama to keep us hooked .
But If we make our peace with the creative liberties and some not-so-well hidden biases and prejudices, Tanhaji is actually visually stunning. Director Om Raut, who has also written it along with Prakash Kapadia, vociferously hold on to the narrative as we get ready for the epic battle of Sinhagad. The masterfully choreographed battle sequences against a stirring background score is hugely impactful. Keiko Nakahara’s camera luxuriates the lavish frames with resplendent colors and a grandness of vision that compliments this legendary tale of bravery. It also helps that both Ajay and Saif imbue their roles with the necessary vigour, so we can suspend our disbelief as they collide head on a number of times! Their compelling portrayal, despite coming across as slightly exaggerated, is arresting enough for us to sit through this extravaganza.
