Amongst the offbeat filmmakers, only Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Bhardwaj are worth being called so. They both are also Tarantino fanboys who seem to be using the influence of his work to create good cinema. Kashyap makes two kinds of movies: the political ones and the twisted ones. The twisted ones are No Smoking (2007) and Dev D (2009). The political ones are Black Friday (2007) and Gulaal (2009). This time Kashyap fuses the two like a science experiment which explodes in the laboratory. Except that it isn't an experiment gone wrong but one that was intentionally meant to combust. This amalgamation has led to a third kind of movie in Kashyap's oeuvre: the entertaining one.
Gangs of Wasseypur is an Indian gangster epic which should have been made by now, if not for the constraints that are involved in making films in our country. Nonetheless, it is better late than never. The first part of Gangs of Wasseypur begins with a clip of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi where the wonder-bahu Tulsi, introduces the characters of the TV show. That was one of the many instances when I smiled and wanted to hug Anurag Kashyap and tell him what a cheeky b*****d he is (while he gets creeped out by my excitement). Moving on. We are told from the beginning that we are going to be introduced to many characters. Only the guns interrupt and inform us that this introduction would be a teensy-weensy bit different from that of a television soap. It's confusing only if you aren't paying attention. Okay fine, it's confusing even if you are. Although while we are being bombarded with characters, they are so fascinating that there's hardly any time to complain. Trust me, you have 2 hours and 40 minutes to do so and I know you will. It's just that I feel without watching the second part, I may not jump to a conclusion that a character was wasted or the film needed chopping.
As soon as the cool opening credits started rolling with a voice-over narration and ultra awesome music, I knew I was in for a treat. Although this claim does stumble in between, it manages to stand right back up. The plot of the film centers around Sardar Khan. A brief history of his father and how he became a gangster is also given. It's as if The Godfather Part 2 was made first. Surely, the second part will center around his son, Faizal. Even when you can see all these influences, the film never feels unoriginal. This is because of the characters. Sardar Khan is not your usual gangster solely obsessed with power or revenge. He is also a man-whore, albeit with his own rationalized set of morals. Manoj Bajpayee becomes Sardar Khan by just smiling wickedly. The rest of the things he does is just gratuity. His guns not working properly, his insatiable sexual urges, his confrontations with Ramadhir Singh (Tigmanshu Dhulia) are all what contribute to an electrifying film.
We must not forget there is a sequel coming. How many of us absolutely fell in love with Kill Bill without watching the second? Or Before Sunrise without watching Before Sunset? The truth is that some two-part movie series only make sense when looked at as a whole. Even the existence of the second film elevates the status of the first. Although, I do confess there were moments which made me cringe or didn't make sense. There were moments which were dull. There were moments where the music wasn't used well (Hunter - who the hell was that weirdo?). Moments where I felt Kashyap is better than this.
But they are outnumbered by the moments which made me go "Woah!". Or the ones where I was laughing hysterically. For example, The scene in which Huma Qureshi wants Nawazuddin Siddiqui to ask for permeessun to hold her hand. The film soars when it's is entertaining. The moments where the music is used beautifully. For example, O Womaniya, Keh Ke Lunga and the wonderful Salaam-E-Ishq sequence. But most notably the ending. Jiya Tu plays on the soundtrack and a scene involving a spoiler plays out on screen. To put it bluntly and a little Sardar Khan-like, THIS is cinematic sex. The climax just leaves you wanting for more.
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