Review: Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is a rassi bomb of a film

Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Randeep Hooda, Mahie Gill, Deepal Shaw
Rating: ****

The quest for finding lost respect is the wheel this Tigmanshu Dhulia film runs on.

The Saheb is in search of lost paisa. He has rutba (class) in abundance.

The Biwi is in search of izzat lost to the baharwali (courtesan). She has sex appeal in abundance.

The Gangster is in search of ‘class’ he never had. He has attitude in abundance.

It’s a deadly milieu. Set in the badlands of UP, where politics, relationships and anything to do with anyone is only dirty. The sanctity of nothing is preserved, not of the palace, the royal bloodline and even of the marriage of Saheb (Jimmy Shergill) and Choti Rani (Mahie Gill). Irreverence is the order of the day and all those involved unapologetically go about their life, their style.

Biwi loves the Saheb, Saheb loves the mistress. Enter Gangster who now loves the Biwi. Throw in a bit of politics and that’s roughly what SBAG is about.

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia etches out his characters with care. All well-fleshed out, none overshadowing the other, ever. There are some characters in the periphery too, Deepraj Rana as Kanhaiya, Shreya Narayan as mistress Mahua, Vipin Sharma as Genda Singh and Deepal Shaw as (I don’t remember her name). All make the most of the screen time they’re given to pack in good acting and dialogue delivery. Deepal Shaw can act and proves yet again she’s left her item girl past far behind.

What Jimmy does in SBAG make me desperate to see more of him on screen. Directors, please take note. He’s suave and rugged at the same time, a desirable yet undesirable royal.

Mahie’s character gives justification to all those betrayed men and their hatred for womankind. She is naturally bitchy and cunning while Randeep is one bad guy you want to love. They follow the director’s vision to the T, to take you through a ride you enjoy from the beginning to the end. A journey so charged with varied emotions, you can’t help but wonder ‘Dude, how could s/he he do this?’. But you always end adding ‘WOW’ to that sentence.

Tigmanshu’s script is most engaging, peppered with witty dialogue, wry humour, supported by an assortment of actors who take their roles very seriously.

In an interview I read, Tigmanshu said his film was “not a frivolous sex film”. No doubt passions run fast, the need of love and revenge run faster. He is of course allowed to take his liberties on how much sex he wants to show in his film and I can blame my discomfort on my conservative Catholic upbringing. It’s convenient that way.

Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is recommended viewing, explosive and appealing. Go have a rassi bomb of a time!

Delhi Belly review

Delhi Belly has the gift of the goo

Cast: Imran Khan, Shenaz Tresurywala, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapoor
Director: Abhinay Deo
Rating: A 4 full of shit

Man this Kunaal Roy Kapoor or Nitin of Delhi Belly is a sweet bum (no pun intended). He’s made my love for shit and all things shitty grow fonder, stronger, and unbreakable. And he even has the gift of the goo, oh sorry, gab.

[An inside story: At home at least 96% of all our conversations (esp. between my sis and me) involve hagovni (hug-ova-nee), hagvatoss (hug-way-toes), and all things goo a.k.a shit. And when a movie with shit as a protagonist shows up in a theatre near our house, my joy couldn’t give a shit]

I watched Delhi Belly first day first show (like most movies I don’t get to watch for free at press screenings). And it was right after a session of Yoga, no breakfast and half a dump. I know all these non-events don’t really matter and all you want to know about is what Delhi Belly is about.

So yeah, Tashi (Imran), Arup (Vir) and Nitin (Kunaal) live a dumpyard, yes that’s exactly what most bachelors’ “home” looks like. Water’s always running out, the ceiling threatening to call it quits, pet cockroaches ever grateful for half-eaten pizzas, and a devil of a landlord always ready to throw you out any instance.

Journalist Tashi deals with bimbettes as with murder mysteries, art director with “talentless Bong art director” for a boss and cute, cute Nitin deals with a Delhi Belly. Mind you that’s a lot of work. Running in and out of the loo, with a flush that’s waterless is a lot of work.

A turn of events involving Tashi’s fiancé Sonia (Shenaz), a Russian doll and a bottle full of gooey, watery excrement is what takes you on a fun ride that’s Delhi Belly.

None of the actors are ever over-the-top and yet manage to keep you hooked and happy throughout the interval-less 96 minutes of the film.

I’m confused who is the best of the cast. I think it’s a tie between villain Vijay Raaz and Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Vijay for his understated yet effective acting and Kunaal for his one-liners and bang on comic timing. Imran strips that boy-next-door image to show his funny side and impresses beyond expectations. Vir Das the Weirdass is logically in a comedy after splitting peoples’ guts with his stand up comedy. Shenaz reminds me of my school days. She used to be a VJ some years back, disappeared mysteriously thereafter and has appeared as mysteriously again. Never mind. She’s good enough in DB and that’s what matters. Oh how can I forget Poorna Jagannathan who plays Menaka, Tashi’s colleague, fresh and expressive face with loads of acting talent. Even Vijay Raaz’s sidekicks offer kicks enough to keep your interest live throughout.

DB’s story is simplistic but its treatment, music and talented cast make the difference. A chase sequence is just more enjoyable because of ‘Bhag DK Bose’, while Vir’s ‘Ja Chudail’ has made getting dumped attractive. Aamir Khan’s item number when end credits roll is the added award.

Upbeat, shameless, unapologetic and unrelenting. Abbey ch**ye bahut ho gaya. People have got the point.

Need I say more? Dear potty, I will stand by you forever. Someday we’ll make a shit of a film together. Just like DB.

PS: Weirdass for Vir Das is not original. His company’s called Weirdass Comedy.