Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Movie Review
By Martin D'Souza, Glamsham Editorial
It's a game of chess played between two shrewd opponents. Each move is countered by either a pawn or check-mated with a Bishop. The King makes his calculated move while the Queen can go kaboom. Right from the first scene, you know you are settling in for something special from Tigmanshu Dhulia. And the director doesn't disappoint.The tone, tenor, background score and plot. Yes plot, moves smoothly. Like a game of chess, it engages the viewer, making you think or rather keeps you guessing of what to expect next. There's no genius in this work of art. It's simply a genius displaying his craft. You often hear people saying, keep it simple. But in reality, it's not that simple to keep it simple. Simply said, it can be kept simple only if you know the terrain you are venturing into and Tigmanshu Dhulia began as a casting director.He casts his keen eye detailing every actor assigned to the role. No overacting. Just simple following of orders from the director who knows exactly or how much he wants from the character. Each frame is a joy and he never indulges in falling in love with his work. The length is perfect, editing crisp, dialogues razor sharp and interspersing of scenes between dialogues to give you a complete picture, a revelation.There's crime, love, deceit, power and evil machinations. No one is innocent and you don't know which character to root for. This is the film's USP apart from the kick-ass acting from the entire cast.Saheb (Jimmy Shergill) has his Biwi (Mahie Gill) tucked in his ancestral home while he indulges in crime to keep his coffers full. He's also eyeing a political seat in Lucknow. Biwi has gone insane. There's a past, and there's a future which will unravel beautifully. Gangster, Bablu, (Randeep Hooda) is a small time ruffian who lands in big trouble. He was in love with a girl who refused his advances. Enraged, he sends the newly wedded groom to the hospital. He seeks the help of Gainda Singh (Vipin Sharma) Saheb's adversary, who plants him in Saheb's house as his man. There's also Kanhaiya (Deepraj Rana), Saheb's right hand, his daughter played by Deepal Shaw who works in the ancestral home and Mauhaa (Shreya Narayan), Saheb's 'sardard ki dawaa' as biwi aptly puts it. Plot established, motives sorted, Tigmanshu then goes frame by frame to unravel his wizardry in story-telling.So who will win the war? Is it Saheb? Biwi? Or Gangster? The odds are heavily stacked against the gangster. Will he succeed in executing Gainda Singh's plan? Or will Saheb, as always be one length ahead of his enemies? I won't spoil the suspense for you. Go watch it. Jimmy Shergill is dynamite. As a Nawab who has to depend on his step-mother and his contract on killings to live his extravagant lifestyle he is perfect to the 'T'. A fine actor who has yet to get his due. Another fine performance comes in from Randeep Hooda as the ruffian who falls in love with his Saheb's Biwi. Mahie Gill is only going from strength to strength. She packs a mean punch delivering the role of a neglected wife and enraged lover with aplomb. Shreya Narayan as the mistress is quite a revelation while Deepal Shaw, Deepraj Rana and Vipin Sharma all throw in their bit with weighty performances. No one out-acts the other. Every act balances that of the other. No one hogs the limelight; every actor is given his due credit. No act shines, every performance is applause worthy.This film can't be missed.
