In the wake of all the terrorist attacks, many channels are showing movies which are related to terrorists and terrorism. I was reminded of this movie especially because somehow I didn’t like it as much as others appreciated it.
After our very own Raavan, another messiah for poor; menace for the police has stepped onto the celluloid. And this time, he brings with him a mlange of the Dongiri from Company and Gangster, the Raavangiri from Raavan, some parallels from real-life characters and a powerful flashback of the 70s era. This is what the Milan Lutharia directed and Ekta Kapoor produced, Once upon a time in Mumbaai is all about (Yeah, Mumbai is with an extra a; Ekta Kapoors K has lost all its magical powers and is replaced with an a).
The movie which is speculated to be based on the lives of Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim, the famous Gangsters, does run on similar lines, although it has a few moments of its own.
The movie is a narrative biography of the two gangsters who ruled Mumbai during the 70s, from a police officer’s point of view. The movie starts off with a police officer, ACP Agnel Wilson (Randeep Hooda), attempting suicide during the 93 blasts in Mumbai. The ACP is probed by his senior into telling him the reason for his drastic step and thus begins the three-hour long story-telling session. A young lad, who comes to Mumbai in search of work, starts working in some mine and slowly turns into a smuggler. This young lad is none other than Sultan Mirza (Ajay Devgn). He rises from rags to riches and believes in equality between the rich and the poor which is seen when he gives hoards of money to some beggar woman and asks for her best wishes in return. He is respected by the poor and feared by the politicians. He is a smuggler with principles (one of a kind), who smuggles only those things that are banned by the government (like gold, transistors, electronic goods) and not those that are banned by his ethics (drugs). This gangster with a big heart and smuggling-principles falls madly in love with a film actress- Rehana (Kangana Ranaut) and charms her by his chivalry. While his business is flourishing and his love blossoming, there comes another to-be gangster in the picture. A police inspector’s son, Shoaib Khan (Emraan Hasmi) is an obnoxious, egoistic kid who dreams to make it big in life. And the path for his dreams to come true is laid ahead for him, when his idol, Sultan, adopts him as his protg. This young gangster also has a lady love Mumtaz (Prachi Desai), who surprisingly is against stealing but doesnt mind her dear love working for a gangster. She is also apparently this shy, Muslim girl of the 70s, who is in a live-in relationship with Shoaib (Wah! There was live-in even in the 70s, then why such a hullabaloo nowI just dont understand!) Anyway, coming back to the story, although Sultan is Shoaibs icon, he doesnt share the thoughts of righteous gundagiri like Sultan. And this clash is the basis of their split and fight (not really, a slap from Sultan was the actual reason! What a reason!). Shoaib, hungry for more power, does everything that Sultan wouldnt do; he even shakes hands with their enemy. It shows us the circle of power- the one who is on the top, falls down one day or the other, and the one who is at the bottom, rises to glory (or crime). And in this entire power struggle is stuck our ACP Agnel.
The story has many loose ends. Rehanas sudden chronic heart condition, the existence of Shoaibs father, Shoaibs girl Mumtaz and most importantly the exact reason for the ACPs suicide are left unclear. In fact, the connection between the 93 blasts, Shoaib, and the ACP is lost somewhere in the entire melodrama. It looks like the movie will start at the point where it is shown as having ended.
Ajay Devgn has played his character very well although he slightly reminds of his character in Company. The Sultan- Shoaib relation is also like that in Company and such other gangster movies. Emraan Hasmi also has done a wonderful job but again, he also reminds us of all his previous gangster movies. Kangana Ranauts screen presence is absolutely stunning and glamorous but she fails in acting, and dialogue delivery (in her case its non-delivery). Prachi Desai is the only refreshing change in the movie and has given an impeccable performance. Her chemistry with Emraan Hasmi, although a little out-of-character for her, has worked wonders on-screen. Randeep Hooda has also played the role of an inspector on-chase (of two gangsters forever) very well. Overall, the acting side of the movie is really good and so is the music; especially the background score. It creates an excellent atmosphere complementing the theme. The movie is over-crowded with dialogues and all of them are very poetic and full of Shayari (which at times gets a bit confusing).
Overall, the movie is, what do I say....
Five bowls action, ten bowls drama, Twenty cups emotion, with amazing soundtracks sprinkled here and there and two table-spoons of acting....in short, an Ekta Kapoor serial made into a three hour movie is what Once upon a time in Mumbaai; or as my friend would like to say Konce upon a time in Mumba'a'i is.
