Cast: John Abraham, Tusshar Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Anil Kapoor, Sonu Sood and Manoj Bajpai
Direction: Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta relies on style and noise to bail him
out of a plot that’s replete with loopholes and a script that reeks of
shoddy writing. ‘Shooutout At Wadala’ is not lacking in visual sheen, if
only a toned canvass, low angle shots and tight close-ups could
substitute the need for a rational narrative.
It is a typical Bollywood gangster saga; reminiscent of the
storytelling style in ‘Vaastav’ and this film’s prequel ‘Shootout At
Lokhandwala’, the story unfolds in flashback as our protagonist (John
Abraham) reveals how Manohar Arjun Surve became Manya Surve. The sketchy
characterization however evokes neither compassion nor repulsion.
Whether it was Raghu (Sanjay Dutt) in ‘Vaastav’ or Maya (Vivek Oberoi)
in ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’, their performances were a layered
rendition distinctively angst ridden and restless. Abraham grapples with
the portrayal, trying hard to replicate Dutt’s restive vulnerability,
complete with a vermillion smeared forehead but failing miserably.
There is no method in the madness; there’s so much senseless
bloodshed that you stop caring after a while; everyone shoots at
point-blank range, bullets slice through skulls, hands are chopped off
in broad daylight and blood trickles down in slow motion. Desi abuses
are in abundance and clichéd dialogues like, “Ek sachcha Musalman, apne
dost ke liye jaan de bhi sakta hai aur jaan le bhi sakta hai’ are
supposed to tickle minority sentiments.
Rahul Bose had once said in an interview that item songs weren’t
disrespectful to women but to the filmmaker because it is a deeper
self-admission that he has failed. As if to exemplify that point, Sanjay
Gupta shoves in not one but three unsavory item songs. Semi-clad women
(Sunny Leone, Priyanka Chopra and Sophie Chaudhary) gyrating to not even
remotely peppy numbers is supposed to add to the entertainment
quotient. Gupta then peppers his narrative with two sex scenes that is
neither aesthetic nor weave into the story but I guess, we can’t justify
Kangna’s presence in the film unless we can get her to show some skin.
To give the film its due, the casting it have immense potential but
alas it was a squandered opportunity. ‘Shootout At Lokhandwala’ with
well-etched out characters and a edgy climax definitely made for a much
better watch than this one. If you dig violence and that’s all you care
about, this film will definitely satiate your appetite for blood and
gore. ‘Shootout At Wadala’ remains just a stylized spectacle bereft of a
real story or a soul.
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