Badlapur

I read positive reviews of this movie yesterday. Some help from twitter and I managed to come across 1 negative review. But Anupama Chopra's verdict sealed the deal and I watched it last night.

The movie stars Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vinay Pathak, Huma Querishi, Yami Guatam, Radhika Apte and Divya Dutta. It has been directed by Sriram Raghavan (of Ek Hasina Thi and Johnny Gaddar fame). I think Ek Hasina Thi is one of the best thrillers of Bollywood. I loved that movie.


*Spoilers ahead*
It's a revenge tale. Liak (Nawaz) and Hamran (Vinay) rob a bank and in trying to escape they get into Yami's car. Yami's son accidentally falls out of the car and dies and Liak shoots Yami. He hands the money and the gun to Harman who jumps out of the car on the way. 
Liak is caught by the cops but does not gives up Harman. He also claims he is innocent of killing Yami and her son and is sentenced to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Raghav's (Varun), who is Yami's hubby, world comes crashing down. He wants revenge but Liak is a very smart chap. I think he had expected acquittal in the court since cops don't really have solid proof against him. But his plan go awry and he goes to prison. Throughout, he does not give up Harman's whereabouts. 
Raghav moves cities, gives up his corporate life and becomes an alcoholic. Divya Dutt's entry gives him a new purpose. She helps rehabilitate prisoners and requests Raghav to forgive Liak so he can leave early from prison since he is dying from cancer. Initially, Raghav refuses but then realizes that once out , Liak will contact Harman and take his share of the money. Raghav manages to find Harman and gets his revenge.
And yet, what is the point? Does revenge bring back his wife and kid? Instead his life has been over since their death.

There is a twist in the tale every few minutes and nobody is what they seem- whether good or bad. Everyone has greys. This movie is as real as it gets. This is how criminals think and behave. Nawazuddin is so damn good. I mean, people were laughing at his scenes, clapping for him and if they were not in a multiplex in Gurgaon they would probably be whistling for him. Liak is a wily creature without remorse. And yet he redeems himself in the end. He does what you wouldn't think he is capable of doing. 

Varun Dhawan is good. I don't think he would be as good if he had more dialogues because he is still raw. But he has potential. I hope we see more of him in such roles and none in Govinda type roles. Sorry guys, please don't even try to imitate Govinda. It's impossible.

All the women are superb- Radhika, Huma, Yami, Divya. Their casting is so perfect. 
There are no songs in the movie. Atleast, not singing, dancing kinds. They play in the background.

This is a dark and twisted movie and it leaves you wondering what you would do in Raghav's situation. Would you seek revenge? How far would you go? Would you rape and kill for revenge? 
Would that be your only purpose in life? And what if you managed to avenge the death of your loved ones? What then? 
Or would you forgive the killer and move on?

What, really? Who knows? We never know how dark and twisted we are till we are put in a position like that. 
It also makes you wonder- why does a mother still love a son who commits crimes? How does a woman love and support a man who is a criminal? Why are there people working to rehabilitate criminals? Do people really change? Does a criminal feel remorse? 

One more shoutout to Nawzuddin for being so superb. He is easily the best thing in the movie. He is probably the ugliest actor in Bollywood right now but so talented I would spend money to watch him play the lead. Yes, the hero. Yes, even the romantic hero running around trees. It's a pleasure to have him in Bollywood. 

Loved this movie. Please go and spend money on this. It's so worth it.