Two best friends grow up together amidst a lot of turbulence. The kids run and they run really fast; we see them all grown up still running in the next shot. Recall the 1970s era of masala action entertainers – most starring Big B with some other A-listed actor those days. This week’s big release, ‘Gunday’ is a tribute to that genre of cinema wherein the heroes were larger than life and not just because they could bash up a horde of bad guys. They had a troubled past and grew up to be either rebels or revenge seekers, something the audience immensely enjoyed watching back then. Yash Raj Films’ movie of the week is as 
commercial as it should be; the trailers promised it too.
We begin with the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Two kids find themselves in the midst of chaos and violence and as luck would have it, they escape to Calcutta as refugees. Hunger makes them take the wrong path and what begins as petty coal smuggling gets much bigger with time. The two friends, Bikram (Ranveer Singh) and Bala (Arjun Kapoor) grow up to be Calcutta’s biggest gunday. A cop (Irrfan Khan) is transferred to the city to take charge of the case; he decides to face them upfront and end it all by ending their friendship. Meanwhile, both the gunday have fallen head over heels in love with a cabaret dancer (Priyanka Chopra).
Director Ali Abbas Zafar (‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’) tries to pack in all the punch in those two hours and thirty minutes but the result is surprisingly tepid, especially when the trailers looked so good. The problem lies with the story-telling (never mind if there isn’t really a good story but you can still tell them well); much of it goes in vain because we never really find the historical 1971 war and events relevant for a movie intended to be a commercial potboiler. Shot well in Calcutta but then again, the director resorts to stereotyping Bengalis and the city. So, we have references to fish, football and the Howrah Bridge seems to be the only highlight of the city if we go by Ali’s camera. For sure, there 
have been Hindi movies shot in a much better way in Calcutta but this one happens to be probably the silliest one filmed in the city. The plot is so idiotic that you might as well have a good laugh at it. Two best friends fighting over a girl – you must have seen it innumerable times but here, it is so ridiculously presented that the dialogues seem daft post-intermission. Action is very average. Music by Sohail Sen is good. ‘Tune Maari Entriyaa’ is my pick (foot-tapping), followed by ‘Jashn-e-Ishqa’.
Right after a 100 cr plus solo hit, Ranveer Singh sparkles in his fifth movie too and has what it takes to be a huge superstar. He does the action well too. Arjun Kapoor repeats what he did in ‘Ishaqzaade’; plays the hot-tempered and more negative gunda well and in fact better than Ranveer. But it is also clear that he needs to work really hard on his expressions so that he can do a variety of roles in the upcoming movies. The two of them share a crackling on-screen chemistry, easily among the best male bonding you have seen 
recently. Priyanka Chopra is mostly wasted in big commercial movies where she has no challenge in her role. This is an exception. She looks lovely and makes a mark. Irrfan Khan is okay here though he holds his own in a role not meaty enough. An actor of his caliber deserves much more than just a significant supporting role.
Watch it or not: Yes; if you are not expecting much.
At the Box-Office: I’m expecting it to be the second 100 cr plus flick this year. Reviews will range from poor to average but that shouldn’t affect the business. The music and trailer did have an impact and so did the cast; the audience will be entertained.
My Verdict: The ‘Gunday’ are silly, confused and lovesick but nevertheless, they make a good combo. Strictly average!
My Verdict
My Rating
The ‘Gunday’ are silly, confused and lovesick but nevertheless, they make a good combo. Strictly average!
