The 'After Hrs' review: ' Gangs of Wasseypur'

Film: Gangs of Wasseypur
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Tigmanshu Dhulia, Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Piyush Mishra, Richa Chadda
Rating: ***

Blood, gore, violence, revenge and lust mark Anurag Kashyap’s foray into the commercial space of cinema. Based in a small town Wasseypur near Dhanbad, the story spans over 60 years starting from the pre-independence era to the millenium.

It opens with Smriti Irani welcoming us to her huge haveli with the title track of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi playing in the background. But before you settle down to watch the saas bahu saga, bullets are fired and people killed. The goons, thinking everyone in the house is dead are on their way back when disaster strikes again.

The film takes us back in history to the 1940s when British goods trains were looted by the dacoit Sultana. Soon we realise that it’s actually Shahid Khan robbing the trains in the name of the brigand Sultana. A furious Sultana has him ousted from the village and seeds of a revenge saga are sown. Later, Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) urged by his pregnant wife to give up his criminal ways starts working in a coal mine.

However, he loses his wife during childbirth. Eventually, he himself gets killed by the owner of the coal mines Ramadhir Singh who has made him his pehalwan. Shahid’s brother Nassir (Piyush Mishra) manages to escape with Shahid’s son Sardar, who shaves his head and vows that he will never grow his hair till he avenges his father’s death.

Sardar (Manoj Bajpayee), who grows up to be a terror has two wives, one a Muslim and the other a Hindu. Though completely immoral and leery, Manoj makes his character likeable. The women, however, have nothing to do in this male-dominated film, which is completely chauvinistic. However, Richa Chadda as Nagma, Sardar’s fiesty wife has moments when she sparkles. The humour element exists by virtue of the situation, at times crass and also clever repartee. Scenes where Sardar Khan is trying to woo Durga (Reema) and the one between Faisal and Mohsina (Huma Querishi) are hilarious.

Manoj is brilliant and so is Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Faizal, though he comes only towards the end. Filmmaker Tigmanshu as the inscrupulous coal mine owner makes a strong presence and so does Jaideep as Shahid. The songs, which are folksy, especially Keh ke loonga stand out in this violent film. Even the background score is apt. As far as the story telling is concerned, there are times when the innumerable characters are lost on you and the narrative gives you a documentary feel, specially in the beginning.

The film has loads of action, some catchy numbers and brilliant acting but it is strictly for those who can stomach the gory violence and expletives.