Mind you, such expectations are mounted on a film which has mostly new comers only because the film’s director was the writer of epic ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ which is seen as a game changer of contemporary Hindi cinema. But ‘Meeruthiya Gangster’ falters at so many levels that its quirky lines, and overall good performances by the actors get overshadowed.
It’s a story of six Meeut college graduates, who spent most of their time plotting plans to earn quick money. While the petty crimes of car highjacking is purely done to earn money which can be used to bribe prospective employers- later, after one successful kidnapping, it becomes a habit of sorts for these lawless vagabonds. Their immature yet surprisingly successful pursuits of getting rich goes well till a cop(a scruffy Mukul Dev) from Noida police gets on their case and makes it his business to get them behind bars.
One of the first scenes in the film has the six main protagonists sitting around a table in a college canteen. All conversing and the camera revolve around capturing everyone’s expressions. After a point, the camera movement increases and your head starts spinning mildly seeing the frame; much like the that first scene, the entire plot keeps going in circles- without really much conclusion. The story takes up too many things, forgets in the middle the core plot, and then comes back to it at the fag end. And that perhaps is the biggest flaw of the film.
Quadri should be credited to get his casting right. From Jaideep Ahlawat to the ever dependable Aakash Dahiya to Shadab Kamal, the young actors get the lingo and mannerism of Meruthiya boys just perfect. You can almost picture them at the local mall sitting next to you at the food court. There is also Pankaj Mishra in a small cameo of sorts whose talent does not match up to the role he is given. Mukul Dev, in his scruffy, crass Noida cop avatar also manages to deliver.
Quadri’s mentor Anurag Kashyap is one of the presenters of the film and has also edited the film. Some of his typical style is reflected in Quadri’s direction as well. There is a bit of sly humour all along, even in the most crucial of scenes, there are scenes where chaos and irrelevant banter builds up tension- something that is always there in Kashyap’s films.
Despite all this, the film falters primarily because of a very wobbly narrative which keeps introducing too many characters, too many sub plots till the end. The film’s climax has zero build up and you almost know how it is all going to end (and it does end like that only).
For a new director it appears to be a genuine effort. Also, Quadri should be given credit for steering away from making a film similar to the lines of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ and trying to break from the mould and narrate a new story. At least ‘Meeruthiya Gangster’ does not lurk in the shadows of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’. But that alone perhaps doesn’t make any film work. The film lacks the sharpness that is required for such a script.
Rating: 2.5/5
About the AuthorShomini Sen Shomini has written on lifestyle and entertainment for most part of her career. Having watched innumerable masala potboilers of the 1990s during her g...Read Morefirst published:September 19, 2015, 13:45 ISTlast updated:September 19, 2015, 13:45 IST
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At the onset, Zeishan Quadri’s ‘Meeruthiya Gangster’ is your regular thriller film about some lawless vagabonds set in the heartland of the country. You expect some formidable performances, some local humour, a dark story about crime and the grim situation of the society- all wrapped in a very sharp, enjoyable, enetratining film.
Mind you, such expectations are mounted on a film which has mostly new comers only because the film’s director was the writer of epic ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ which is seen as a game changer of contemporary Hindi cinema. But ‘Meeruthiya Gangster’ falters at so many levels that its quirky lines, and overall good performances by the actors get overshadowed.
It’s a story of six Meeut college graduates, who spent most of their time plotting plans to earn quick money. While the petty crimes of car highjacking is purely done to earn money which can be used to bribe prospective employers- later, after one successful kidnapping, it becomes a habit of sorts for these lawless vagabonds. Their immature yet surprisingly successful pursuits of getting rich goes well till a cop(a scruffy Mukul Dev) from Noida police gets on their case and makes it his business to get them behind bars.
One of the first scenes in the film has the six main protagonists sitting around a table in a college canteen. All conversing and the camera revolve around capturing everyone’s expressions. After a point, the camera movement increases and your head starts spinning mildly seeing the frame; much like the that first scene, the entire plot keeps going in circles- without really much conclusion. The story takes up too many things, forgets in the middle the core plot, and then comes back to it at the fag end. And that perhaps is the biggest flaw of the film.
Quadri should be credited to get his casting right. From Jaideep Ahlawat to the ever dependable Aakash Dahiya to Shadab Kamal, the young actors get the lingo and mannerism of Meruthiya boys just perfect. You can almost picture them at the local mall sitting next to you at the food court. There is also Pankaj Mishra in a small cameo of sorts whose talent does not match up to the role he is given. Mukul Dev, in his scruffy, crass Noida cop avatar also manages to deliver.
Quadri’s mentor Anurag Kashyap is one of the presenters of the film and has also edited the film. Some of his typical style is reflected in Quadri’s direction as well. There is a bit of sly humour all along, even in the most crucial of scenes, there are scenes where chaos and irrelevant banter builds up tension- something that is always there in Kashyap’s films.
Despite all this, the film falters primarily because of a very wobbly narrative which keeps introducing too many characters, too many sub plots till the end. The film’s climax has zero build up and you almost know how it is all going to end (and it does end like that only).
For a new director it appears to be a genuine effort. Also, Quadri should be given credit for steering away from making a film similar to the lines of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ and trying to break from the mould and narrate a new story. At least ‘Meeruthiya Gangster’ does not lurk in the shadows of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’. But that alone perhaps doesn’t make any film work. The film lacks the sharpness that is required for such a script.
Rating: 2.5/5
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