Bombay Velvet is one of the most awaited and hyped movie this year and one of Anurag Kashyap’s celluloid magnifique, in a retro canvas of an emerging Bombay in the early 60s of ambitions and ruthless struggle for power. It is a story of a pariah Johnny Balraj (Ranbir Kapoor) and his journey from rags to riches, his rise and fall, aided and abetted by a sly, pitiless Khambatta (Karan Johar) and a tender love story, writ in throbbing love. Will Johnny survive the murky world and go on to live a blissful life with Rosie(Anushka) or will his greed and brash arrogance ruin him? Watch the movie to see the inimitable drama unfold.
It seems the massive effort to recreate the Bombay of the
70s is perfect to a fault. The characters, with a distinctly painful background
come to the city in search of hope amidst chaos, a living amid the pulsating
masses. Johnny from Pakistan, with a
woman, not close to his stepmom and learns the ways of the underbelly to make
his living while Rosie, escapes a sexually abused youth and flees to Bombay.
Both are lost souls, lonely souls, longing souls. Johnny falls for the lure of
the devious, cold Khambatta (Karan) to become a ‘Big Shot’, while Rosie becomes
a mule of Jimmy and steps in ‘Bombay Velvet’, a dance , jazz club as a singer
as an Informer that could ruin Khambatta’s own ambition of ruling Bombay. In
the process, both gets trapped, lost in the muddy world, only to find solace in
each other’s arms.
Finally, when Johnny becomes too hot to handle, he becomes the
target of the police, the land owners, Khambatta and the Mayor and his time of
reckoning arrives. The movie is enthralling and the grey areas of the
characters are vividly portrayed. The fight sessions of Johnnie, the Jazz music
in the background and the rapid pace of the movie would keep you glued. The USP
is the crescendo of Jazz beats with vivid, loud drumbeats in the action
sequences, which heightens the effect even more.
Ranbir is dead on as a misguided kid Johnny and a lost soul
in love. The grin, the crazy eyes and the piercing looks just makes him an eye
candy to savour. One of his best performances to date for sure. Anushka looks
intense and gritty and you do empathise with her. Karan as the deadly icy
Khambatta is a treat to watch. Didn’t set the screen on fire but surely, is
interesting and scheming. The music by Amit Trivedi is his usual mix of techno
beats and various mixes and songs are nice, though you would love a few when
you download them.
Lastly, let’s give it up for Anurag Kashyap, an immensely
honest film, made with heart, style and chutzpah. Though the emotional plot
between the star struck loves didn’t really flourish, yet , there’s so much perseverance
and passion, we are not complaining.
A 4 STAR****
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