Movie Review: Udta Punjab

Director of black comedies ‘Ishqiya’ and ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, Abhishek Chaubey sticks to the genre in ‘Udta Punjab’ while filming a serious issue- the drug situation in Punjab.

A crazy rockstar on drugs, a Bihari migrant who gets messed up with drug dealers, a cop whose brother’s addiction leads him to take an initiative and a doctor who helps the cop to expose the connection between a politician and the drug trade. The characters sum up the plot of this movie which has been in news for quite some time now.

Had there not been humour, ‘Udta Punjab’ would have been a dull fare but Chaubey keeps you engaged even if serious cinema isn’t your idea of entertainment. Some scenes hit you hard and some make you laugh your guts out, mostly the ones with Tommy ‘Gabru’ Singh (Shahid Kapoor). Not really a very smart script, ‘Udta Punjab’ also feels a little long at two hours and thirty minutes.

Shahid Kapoor looks hideous and is quite funny. Well, that must have been the idea. Kareena Kapoor Khan gives an effortless and natural performance. Punjabi actor Diljit Dosanjh who makes his Bollywood debut brings a certain authenticity to the movie. However, it is Alia Bhatt who steals the show. Not only is she moving ahead of her contemporaries through her choice of films and performances, she is some serious competition for other actresses too. Watch out! She is excellent here as the helpless Bihari migrant trapped.

‘Udta Punjab’ doesn’t really fly but it’s a decent watch.

• About the Author

About Abhirup Dhar

I don't watch movies... I live them! Let me introduce myself. Abhirup Dhar was born in Kolkata and is still being brought up in India. A banker by profession, he is filmy to the core and is passionate about reviewing movies and writing. He likes to live on his own… he likes to be blunt, sarcastic, famous, infamous, confident, over-confident, moody at times… he likes to be himself. He is imperfect because perfection is boring. His love for movies dates back to his childhood days when he studied in a boarding school. A three-month Winter Vacation every year… and he made sure he watched as many movies then. Parents thought it was a phase... he knew it was Passion and he knew it back then itself. The craziness to watch movies on the Big Screen began during the last two years of school when he literally bunked to town so that he could catch up with the new Hindi Movie releases. Some thought he was plain crazy. He confirmed it was Passion... yet again. The hard fact is that not always can you walk a path you are passionate about. You have expectations to fulfill and Life to be made. But Life gives you chances and you have to grab them. So... here is he... your friendly critic who will be giving you his Verdict every week so that you can decide which release is worth your moolah and which is not! See you at the Movies! Stay connected at Facebook and Twitter!