Sanchita
Starring Ranbir Kapoor in a double role, Shamshera is a spicy blend of Baahubali + KGF + Dhoom 2. You’re intrigued now, huh?
Read Full Shamshera Movie Review –
Director: Karan Malhotra
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt
Rating: 3.5/5
Runtime: 2h 39m
Storyline:
Set in the fictitious Kaza, Shamshera is the story of the Khameran tribe who has been ostracized from society as ‘lower caste’. After being tricked by Daroga Shuddhi Singh (Sanjay Dutt), the disowned tribe is enslaved into camps.
Their fierce leader Shamshera (Ranbir) struggles to emancipate them but an unfortunate incident gets him branded as a ‘traitor’ and killed. Years later, Shamshera’s son Balli (also RK) is fed up of being called ‘Bhagode ki aulaad’ and is even ready to lick the tyrannical camp ruler Shuddhi Singh’s boots to become a high-ranking officer instead.
Will Balli know the truth about his father, embrace his Khameran roots and carry forward Shamshera’s legacy – leading the slaves to freedom? Watch Shamshera to know –
Vaani Kapoor features as the graceful dancer Sona, Balli’s love interest. We have quite a few interesting characters – especially a Shudh Hindi-speaking GORA officer who’s ‘in love with Bharat, but not its bagawat’…. and then there’s the out-n-out crack-whipping, mustachioed villain Sanjay Dutt!
(Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor Shamshera Movie FEE: ‘XX’ CRORES!)
What Do We Think?
YRF’s recent track record of Samrat Prithviraj and Jayeshbhai Jordaar may make film-goers cautious. But Shamshera is hitting all the sweet spots personally – it has several massy action elements. What’s not to like? Double role. Check. Revenge drama. Check. Bandit loots. Check. Struggle for freedom? Check. An epic CROWN HEIST! (Cue Dhoom Machale Dhoom Machale) Check!
It’s inevitable that parallels to other recent curry westerns like KGF will be drawn, especially with that slavery angle. The father-son stuff will remind you of Baahubali. I see lots of comparisons being drawn to Thugs of Hindostan too. But Shamshera is hella entertaining. Let’s add ‘The Mask Of Zorro’ to this mix too. Love how Shamshera leaves his mark in red, Zorro-style every time. Badasss….
Shamshera is technically very sound and aesthetically pleasing. Some of the imagery makes you feel like you’re reading a comic book. While he is not as larger than life as Yash from KGF, nevertheless RK makes for a dashing rogue, especially when he’s being swarmed by an army of angry crows. Very ominous and beautiful shot. Ranbir has given a power-packed performance as both Shamshera and Balli.
Yes, it’s nothing ground-breakingly new and it’s been inspired by similar elements from multiple movies but the execution of this cocktail is stylishly neat. And some action set-pieces, especially one on the train stand out.
We have multiple massy face-off sequences between Balli-Gora officer, Shamshera- Daroga, and Balli-Daroga!
(Also Read: How Much Is Sanjay Dutt’s Fee For Shamshera Movie?)
Coming to Vaani’s track as Sona – it was kinda blah. Would have loved to see Vaani do some dance-inspired, graceful ninja-style fighting, instead of just being reduced to the chamm chamming love interest. Felt that she was underutilized. Another gripe – Her COSTUMES didn’t appear to fit in the era.
Balli-Sona’s love story also felt meh, but it had the potential to be a swashbuckling romance if it was more fleshed out. Bandit and his partner-in-crime Dancer girlfriend… she steals your mann, he steals your dhan!
Sanjay Dutt is almost cartoonishly evil but he seems to be having a lot of fun. (also there’s a creepy baby voice whispering some mantra every time he’s scheming villainously …which is freaking HILARIOUS but also SINISTER and me likey!) He’s yelling too much though. His performance as Adheera was more restrained in comparison.
Apart from the Shamshera Title Track (gives badass vibes) and Fitoor, the songs didn’t really register. I wish the bandit heists had been more epic in scale and the love story was given more depth, but overall Shamshera is a banging period drama!
Hit Or Miss:
It’s an engaging massy entertainer that’s visually quite stunning. Go catch in theatres if you are in the mood for some bandit drama!
(Also Read: Vaani Kapoor Shamshera Movie Fee – X CRORES!)
