Movie review: Nawaz shines as gangster in Babumoshai Bandookbaaz

Mumbai: It was a gangster film that catapulted him from the ranks of 'also-rans' to the big league of Bollywood. Five years after making his mark in the film industry with 'Gangs of Wasseypur part 2' with the role of Faizal, who avenged the death of his father Sardar Singh (Manoj Bajpayee ), Nawazuddin Siddiqui is back on home turf with 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz ', a film that tells the story of revenge by a gangster for the wrongs done to him.It may have been five years since 'Gangs of Wasseypur part 2' but in Babumoshai Bandookbaaz ', Nawazuddin shows the same spunk and street smartness that he displayed as Faizal in that film.

Directed by Kushan Nandy, 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz ' is the story of sharpshooter Babu Bihari(Nawazuddin Siddiqui).Babu Bihari is usually hired by two rival politicians, Dubey (Anil George) and Sarita jiji (Divya Dutta) to eliminate their rival opponents.While executing one of his contracts, he meets and falls in love with Phulwa (Bidita Bag).In fulfilling a contract for Phulwa, he kills two men that turns Saritaji against him.

During another contract for Dubey where he has to kill three men of Sarita, he has to compete with a younger assassin Bhanke (Jatin Goswami), who looks upto him like a disciple.Over the killings, they develop a bond and become friends.However, Babu is unaware that Bhanke has a contract to kill a fourth man, and that happens to be Babu himself.In the ensuing shootout, Babu doesn’t die.

Instead he returns from coma after eight years swearing revenge against people who destroyed his life.A revenge drama on the lines of gangster films like Gangs of Wasseypur (part I and 2) , 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz ' has all the elements to keep the audience engaged - an engaging screenplay, punchy dialogues and raw action and love making scenes.Though it is not a patch on 'Gangs of Wasseypur ' series and Tarantino films , 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz is sure to appeal to the lovers of gangster flicks.The first half moves at a fast pace.

However, the film tends to lag a bit in the second half.Director Kushan Nandy, however, manages to keep the audience hooked all through the length of the film with its various twists and turns.Also the film is full of abuses and love making scenes that had been ordered to be removed by the Censor Board before the film appellate tribunal allowed them.Watching the film makes one realise that it is these scenes that lend an element of rawness required in a gangster flick.The film also boasts of a excellent background score.The music of the film is, however, ordinary.

As the sharpshooter Baby out to take revenge against those who wrecked his life, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is outstanding.He shows the same spunk and street smartness that he brought to screen as Faizal in 'Gangs of Wasseypur part 2'.While in that film, he was part of an ensemble cast, in 'Babumoshai', he is the main protagonist and does a good job in carrying the film on his shoulders.Bidita Bag is brilliant as Phulwa and lends the required boldness to her character.
Jatin Goswami has done a good job as Bhanke.

The rest of the cast, including Divya Dutta, Shraddha Das, Anil George, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Murli Sharma and Bhagwan Tiwari also managed to impress.Rating: 3.5/5: one for the engaging screenplay, one for excellent performances, one for direction and 0.5 for the background score.(UNI)