Warning: I would urge you to have patience when you watch Gangs of Wasseypur. Also it is important that you pay attention and acquaint yourself well with the vast array of characters thrown at you. Failure to do so will result in much confusion and rob you of the pleasure of enjoying this crazy movie.
Gangs of Wasseypur traces the life of Sardar Khan who grows up wanting to avenge his fathers death by treachery by his employer who has now become a rich politician. Along the way, his mission gets fogged by his enjoyment of absolute power and his passion for his women. The story also starts including his children in the second half paving the way for Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 2.
The first half of the movie was very confusing and time and again I had to say Yeh kya ho raha hai? I guess it takes time to settle into the atmosphere of the film, get under the skin of the language and the place and start to enjoy the experience. There are too many battles and killings as Sultan establishes himself slowly in Wasseypur and Dhanbad and becomes the king. The first half is taken up in establishing the characters and if you pay attention here, the second half will rock you.
What worked the most for me were the romances, the women and the music. The women are gutsy and Manoj Bajpai is a persuasive lover. Later, even his sons romance makes you smile at its heartbreaking innocence. The music by Sneha Khanwalkar who had also done Love sex and Dhoka and Oye Lucky, Lucky oye adds magnificently to the texture and flavour of the movie. She uses folk tunes, mixes up other stuff with it and produces a flavour so earthy that you swoon and sway in its rhythm. Check out her show on MTV called Sound Trippin in which she travels to across India, collecting local ambient sounds and recording everyday singers and local musicians, and creating a final piece of music that resonates the feel and the sounds from that location and you will sense her expertise.
Manoj Bajpai is a superb actor anyway and here as Sardar Khan he excels himself. Richa Chadda as Najma, his first wife and Reemma Sen as Durga the second wife are both feisty and wonderful. Look out for Nawazzudin Siddiqui as the son Faizal . He was the guy who played the CBI guy Khan in Kahaani. The rest of the cast does a great job but the person who stands out is JAideep Ahlawat as Shahid Khan, Sardar Khans father. HE evokes your sympathy and respect in a tiny role. No mean feat.
Definitely watch this movie. It is set to become a cult film with its mind-blowing atmosphere, crackling dialogues, minute attention to detail, a very complex story and the music. But, have patience. Gangs such as these take time to form and overpower you.
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