Director Dibakar Banarji’s latest outing in the box office, SHANGHAI is a very impressive movie which will make us think a lot about the pathetic social structure in which we are forced to live. The movie is not a Rang De Basanthi type one that inspires people to take the challenge and change the system. Shanghai is a movie that really teases its audience for being silent, stupid and selfish. It reminds us that, in front of the high level dirty political games the common man is a helpless instrument which is always used and squeezed.
The movie revolves around the political situations in Bharath Nagar. The ruling political party decides to start a new industrial park over there. IBP (International Business Park) was opposed by a group of people who were lead by an activist/professor Ahmedi. After his arrival at India he had to face opposition from ruling political party. After his first speech in a small hall, Ahmedi gets hit and run by a truck. Ahmedi’s student and co-activist Shalini along with Ahmedi’s wife decides to question this murder attempt. Government appoints a bureaucrat IAS officer Krishnen to head the commission of inquiry for Ahmedi’s murder attempt. As the story moves on Shalini gets assistance from a local camera man who claims to have evidence that will help to prove that Ahmedi’s accident was an attempted murder.
The movie is about Shalini’s attempt to prove the murder attempt along with Jogi in front of the commission head Krishnan who is constantly under dirty political pressure.
Though the story is revolving around the commission, Dibakar Banarjee successfully conveys the emotions and situations of people of almost all levels. From the truck driver to the state CM, every character has an agenda. The helplessness and frustration of each character is visible to the audience. The way the screenplay makes the protagonists desperate to react to the situation is really interesting.
Performance wise everyone gets an image makeover. Abhay as Krishnan was really cropped to perfection. An impressive outing by Imraan Hashmi as the camera guy Jogi. Kalki also delivers a thumbs up performance. The rest of the cast also never really disappoints. The direction of Dibaakar is damn good. He is definitely on the way to excellence. Unique blend of realistic and commercial blend with signature style. Screenplay is gentle. BGM and music is good. Nice slicing.
Overall, Shanghai is a really impressive movie that shows us our real situation or the situation from which we are all trying to hide. My rating is 4/5 for Dibaakar Bannerji’s Shanghai. If you consider cinema beyond entertainment, this one is a must watch.
Green: Recommended Content
Orange: The In-Between Ones
Red: Not Recommended
