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ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAI - Movie Review : It offers nothing exceptional or new in the gangster films genre other than its performances. (Review by Bobby Sing)

30 Jul, 2010 | Movie Reviews / 2010 Releases

Bollywood’s fascination with Hollywood movies continues taking into account the long English title of this latest Milan Luthria film called “Once Upon A Time in Mumbai”. Milan’s selection of the name is highly inspired from two cult Western movies of ace director Sergio Leone, known as “Once Upon A Time In The West” and “Once Upon A Time in America”. And both these movies are considered among the Masterpieces of Cinema, made all over the world till date. (Interestingly, this also reminds me the tag line of Aamir Khan’s “Lagaan” which was again “Once Upon a Time in India”.)

Apart from its catchy title, the makers were also successfully able to create a certain kind of hype around their project, relating it to the names of Haji Mastaan and Dawood Ibrahim. And yes the film heavily takes references from the real life of both the famous names of the Mumbai underworld, which was then called Bambai. (In case you want to know more about their relation with the movie then just check out the Wikipedia pages devoted to them.)

Hence I was expecting a lot from OUATIM and its director Milan Luthria, who gave us two entertaining movies, “Taxi No. 9-2-11” and “Kachhe Dhaage” in the past. But all my excitement and expectations were only partly satisfied with few commendable performances in the movie and the rest was nothing great or exceptional as was being projected by the makers and the media. In reality, the movie has everything like seen before and has all easily predictable scenes incorporated in its old and overused storyline. In fact quite surprisingly I also found many sequences conceived and shot in a very childish way which was never expected in a project of this stature.

It right away starts with a very questionable smuggling sequence involving a rushing train and a truck crossing the railway lines. In order to hide the truck from the Police Checking, Ajay Devgan and his close associate decide to cross the railway track far away from the check post in a unique and funny style. They just remove two parallel panels of the railway lines taking off all its nut bolts with a simple tool, cross their truck and then easily put the big iron panels back in place for the train to move over them. I really didn’t know it was that easy to just rip off the railway lines with a simple tool and then put them back in few minutes. If it can really be done without a blast then its indeed a great and innovative tip from the writer-director for all the notorious people out there.

Till the intermission, the film moves at a very slow pace where an Inspector (Randeep Hooda), who has just recovered from a Suicide attempt is actually narrating the whole story of the relationship between the two smugglers. The only saving grace in the first half is Emraan Hashmi, who entertains with his well written one liners and expressive eyes. But again his sequences in the jewellery shop along with Prachi Desai are written very carelessly. Even when he is not related to the underworld at that moment, the Jewellery Shop Owner keeps ignoring or tolerating his unacceptable behaviour with the rich customers and also doesn’t take away Prachi’s job for having such kind of relationships with illegal elements. Emraan repeatedly keeps coming and romancing within the shop, even gives a stolen gold chain to Prachi, and the owner does nothing to him and remains silent. A sequence which at once made me search for the names of the writers.

Another important aspect of the movie which falls flat without any long lasting impression is the love angle between Ajay Devgan, a smuggler and Kangna Ranaut, a film actress. The on-location shooting scenes and references of Bollywood which could have been the highlight of the movie prove to be the weakest link in this gangster flick. Post Intermission the Bollywood angle takes a back seat and the story mainly moves into the revolt plot of Emraan Hashmi wherein you can easily predict every next scene and the climax without any extra efforts. There is no worth remembering sequence in the movie which makes you sit straight and the realistic saga simply ends without any strong build up or impact.

However, one great merit of the movie remains its Background Score which has the required punch and melody, suiting its gangster background like a “T”. In other technical departments the Art director tries to replicate the 70s-80s ambience on the screen and does a good job. Along with the Cinematographer, using only a few things such as the get-ups, cars and currency notes, he manages well to create the magic of that old Bombay. Pritam once again comes with a winning track in “Pee Loon” but his adaptation of two R.D. Burman tracks in a song isn’t that enjoyable.

Ajay Devgan, though excels as the Big Don but his performance is just a repeated polished act of what he had already done in COMPANY. Emraan Hashmi is the actual winner here with a brilliant performance presented in style, especially in the first half. Kangna Ranaut looks gorgeous and acts well but I felt like she had recently gone through some lips enhancement surgery, which was clearly visible in her close ups. Prachi Desai tries hard, but doesn’t get any author backed role to prove herself. So she remains there in the movie as an unused asset. Randeep Hooda is competent, but again he gets an unexplained kind of role of an Inspector who attempts suicide feeling guilty, after decades of his professional relationship with the gangster. Avtar Gill as the minister is fine but Gauhar Khan goes over the top with her whitish make up and wastes a good opportunity to catch some eye balls.

As a conclusion, Yash Chopra’s DEEWAR still remains the most impressive film inspired from the happening life of Haaji Mastaan. Incidentally, “Deewar” also finds a mention in OUATIM itself when Kangna shares an idea with Ajay and says “Let’s make a movie on your life with a new actor who is making waves called Amit.” It seems like director Milan Luthria sincerely wanted to pay his tribute to the great legend and his DEEWAR with these few lines.

Summing up, you can watch ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAI only for its good performances and great background score. But as far as its overall movie experience is concerned, it has nothing exceptional or fresh to offer in the gangster movie genre.

Ratings : 2.5 / 5

Tags : Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Movie Review by Bobby Sing, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Film REview by Bobby Sing, Movie Review Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, OUATIM Movie Review, OUATIM Film Review, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Review, New Bollywood Movies Reviews at bobbytalkscinema.com, Bobby Sing Bollywood Reviews, New Bollywood Movies Reviews, New Bollywood Movies Released, New Hindi Films Reviews, New Hindi Movies Reviews, New Hindi Movies Released, New Bollywood Reviews, Bobby Talks Cinema Review, R

30 Jul 2010 / Comments ( 6 )

Darshit Joshi

submitted on 30 July 2010

Bhaiji, Ekdum solid Critics diya hain aapne.. with very micro details and very sharp dimensions.. thnx

Bobby Sing

submitted on 30 Jul,2010

Thanks Darshit,

The press and media is giving it too high ratings but I simply have written what I felt as a true moviegoer.

Can never think of taking out the railway lines by only removing its nuts.................It was really hillarious in my opinion.

Rest everyone is free to have his own opinion and I respect that but for me it was nothing as path-breaking or new which we have never seen before in a Gangster movie made in Bollywood itself.

Keep Visiting and Writing in ....Cheers!

Sanchit Goyal

submitted on 02 August 2010

Hello,

1st of all I would like to start with a blooper! In your last paragraph you have mistakenly written "America" instead of "Mumbaai" so please take care of that :) Though it also makes me wonder why didnt anyone till now highlight that?

Anyways coming back to the review I agree with you on many points. The movie was average in my opinion. Though the plot was good the direction was such that the viewer felt its more of narration of events rather than engrossing cinema!

When I saw the trailers I had decided that I would watch it on 1st day itself. But mysteriously when it was released I didnt wish to see it and even on sunday I went but now with much excitement. Maybe it was my subconscious mind telling me how the movie would turn out to be!

On the music side I infact liked the retro song and didnt like "Pee loon" song which is getting quite famous! And I was surprised when I read in your post that it was Gauhar khan in that song. She along with her make up man made a mess of herself!

On a side note havent there been cases in the past where fish plates have been removed from tracks by some people. I dont think its much complicated (though maybe not as simple as it is shown in movie.) but I dont know for sure!

Again a well written review and shall I saw another disappointment from Bollywood.

Regards

Bobby Sing

submitted on 02 Aug,2010

Hi Sanchit,

First of all thanks for pointing out the blooper. It has been rectified now but I suppose the moment one reads 'ONCE UPON A........." then he automatically assumes to be "In MUMBAI" in his mind. But your pointing out the mistake really shows that you read it with complete interest and attention.

So, Thanks once again for your valuable time and comment.

Coming to your points, actually Gauhar Khan was there in the remixed version song taking excerpts of two RD Burman tracks starting from "Duniya Mein Logon Ko". And yes she was a great mess with all that over the top make-up.!

Further the scene with the fish plates may have been there in some movies in the past (which I cannot recall), but I still cannot believe it can be done with one or may be two men alone with such an ease. Moreover if it was so easy to take off two complete parallel panels of railway lines then till now there would have been countless cases of theft of them in India as they do carry a huge scrap value.! LOL!

Anyway the highly praising reviews of the movie in the media, right away confirmed the fact that the reviews do matter and they can also easily be given the desired direction by the influential producers. Was really sad to see that but all these false reviews of OUATIM and the revolting comments from friends at the site once again assured me that I was on the right path and should keep writing what I really feel in my reviews

So, Thanks once again and Keep writing in. Cheers!

Dinuth87

submitted on 03 September 2010

Good review. It\'s a average movie with nothing exceptional.

But also it doesn\'t have big faults. It has tight narrative, good performance and most importantly good style. The style of the movie takes u through the movie without concerning the same old story of SATHYA, COMPANY, D.

The gem of the movie is randeep hooda. I don\'t know why people understand his talent. Although his character is not polished but he has done a great job. He is under-acting the character superbly. He can act within himself and lot of superstars like sharukh can\'t do that.

Also in starting credits they thanked Bobby singh , first I thought it was u , but after reading ur review i knew i was wrong. (HA HA)

Bobby Sing

submitted on 03 Sep,2010

Yeah Dinuth87,

After reading my review one can logically guess that it wasnt me, but may one day it might be.

So lets keep hoping....Cheers~!

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAI - Movie Review : It offers nothing exceptional or new in the gangster films genre other than its performances. (Review by Bobby Sing)

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