Review: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai

Milan Luthria’s “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai” relives Mumbai underworld’s lost era, the Bombay (as it was called then) where the nexus between the gangster, the police, the politician and the Bollywood fraternity made it difficult to discern between the good, the bad and the ugly.

Inspired by Haji Mastan’s life, the film is set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld’s early days, a period before gang wars had unsettled the maximum city. A time when there was still honour among thieves, where the protagonist who’s a criminal also has a heart of gold. His dishonest and sometimes criminal methods to earn money were justified by his benevolence to the needy. While he smuggled at night, during the day he emerged as the messiah of the poor.

Ajay Devgn runs the business of organized crime successfully with as less bloodshed and murk as possible. While his effective territorial division manages to curtail rivalry among the underworld mafia, he misjudges his trusted lieutenant. The lust for power, greed and betrayal cause the eventual rift.

Ajay Devgn as Sultan Mirza is back in his elements as the anti-hero;  cold-blooded and menacing one moment and romantic and compassionate the next. Devgn’s is a subtle and understated performance. His character has various shades of grey and he commands respect and inspires awe among peers and enemies alike.

Most of the cast deliver – Kangana Ranaut acts well and looks lovely with her big eyelashes and fancy hairdos. Prachi Desai appears vulnerable as the conflicted girlfriend. A special mention for Randeep Hooda, who as ACP Agnel Wilson, does a commendable job. He exudes a raw intensity as the honest police officer who means business. The only weak link is Emraan Hashmi, whose performance lacks both the intensity and aggression that the character demands. At times, it looks like he is trying hard to do a Sanjay Dutt of ‘Vaastav’.

Complete with a cabaret, long-collared nylon shirts and 1970’s mise-en-scene, the film manages to recreate a lost era. The film plays with shades, the blacks, the whites and especially the greys. While the plot builds up well, the narrative steadily loses steam. It’s definitely watchable but a tighter script would have done wonders. What could have been a thrilling tale is nothing different from what we have seen before.