Udta Punjab

There was only one way to find out if the film, a topic of controversy since late May this year, was worthy of all the fuss: to watch it. And it was a genuinely poignant experience to watch Ishqiya-fame Abhishek Chaubey's crime drama unfold and speak volumes about a state in grave peril.

Tommy (Kapoor) is a London-bred Punjabi rock-star who goes by the name Gabru among his fans. Cocaine is a prime ingredient in his lavish lifestyle which soon becomes evident to the viewers who witness his and his crew's eccentricity and madness. One of his little-known fans is Bali (Prabhjyot) who regards Gabru as his idol and cocaine as his medicine. The person who has no idea about Bali's frequent bouts of psychedelic enjoyment is his brother Sartaj (Dosanjh), a cop and a minor yet ignorant player in the corrupted law-enforcement system of Punjab. Dr. Sahni (Khan) is the only major character in the story who doesn't do drugs, and is more of a crusader against them than a medical practitioner. Slightly deviated from all these personages is a Bihari migrant and hockey ace (Bhatt) who was promised a national-level tournament but was handed an insecticide spraying machine instead. Things take a virulent turn for all of them when, one by one, Tommy gets jailed, Bali gets hospitalized, Sartaj gets taunted by Dr. Sahni for his role in the drug problem, and the migrant getting entangled in a petty peddling issue.

It doesn't take much time for the writers to set the scene and let drugs take on the remaining part. And it is also evident what they really had in mind: to explicitly showcase the drug menace in the state and its horrendous consequences, some of which are worse than death. Perhaps the best scene of the film and a scene where the viewers will definitely get a jolt if they are paying attention is when Gabru finds himself locked up in a shared jail cell where also are sitting two of his hardcore teen fans who were arrested for hitting their own mother after she refused to give them money to buy drugs, a habit which they directly imbibed from their rock-star. Brilliant!

The score is absolutely stunning as it supports the sequences in unleashing their total effect. With some fabulous sampling of songs, the narration is pretty straightforward, if not crisp. It does go haywire a couple of times, but they are brief and were probably mandatory for easy flow of the script. Outstanding performances by Kapoor and Bhatt. It is isn't easy to portray such characters. Dosanjh is fine and so is his co-actor who seemed to go into Jab We Met mode at times. Supporting cast is good, especially Satish Kaushik.

With a fast-paced climax, the film is gritty, dark, gory, and tragic for all the stories that intertwine towards the end shut shop once the idea is successfully resonated. It doesn't establish nonsense.

BOTTOM LINE: Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab is an important film that only cares about exhibiting the current scenario of a state embroiled in a drug menace. It almost makes you believe in the story, which everyone knows is at least partially true. Go watch it in your nearest theater.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

#UDTAPUNJAB SALUTE TO MAKERS! EXCELLENT FILM! 9.5*! Diljit Dosanjh is very very good and so is Kareena Kapoor. On the other hand, Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are phenomenal! #UdtaPunjab #UdtaPunjab spreads awareness about a very important issue in a very entertaining manner! This film is hilarious in many parts! And still, its emotional content is too strong! Excellent work on direction,writing,screenplay,editing. Never bores you. #UdtaPunjab #UdtaPunjab is a must watch! This film, while dealing with an important issue, doesn't preach. It grips you with it's emotional... ...and funny content! I salute the makers for making such a bold film! #UdtaPunjab 9.5* from me! Alia's performance as a field worker is commendable. Her struggle to escape the harsh reality is met with horrific consequences but she is a fighter, who survives the storm. The impact is such that it will stay with you even when you leave the theater.

Movie portrays the drug problem that Punjab is facing these days, it shows the impact of this drug dealing on lives of four different people: a policeman ASI, a migrant worker from bihar, a doctor and a Punjabi Rock-star. What's Good: -Lead stars giving awesome performance, Diljit Dosanjh making the best bollywood debut of this year. -Powerful dialogues. -You'll able to relate the people, the situation, the dialogues if you have visited the present Punjab. -Gives out social messages by showing the reality of Stars like Tommy Singh and politicians.

What's Not:

-Too much Punjabi being a Bollywood movie. -Climax is not up to the mark. Disappointing. -Too much offensive at times.

Our Ratings: Story: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10 Music: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10 Direction, editing and screenplay: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10 Star Performances: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10 Overall: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10

Final Verdict: It's a must watch in theater not only because movie is damn good but also to ensure that movies like this release in future, for this it's important that Udta Punjab do well at the box office.

Controversies surrounding "Udta Punjab" finally comes to end as the dark-thriller drama releases today with high expectation thanks to the unwanted publicity it received. As the film was on the verge of getting released, I was wondering what led CBFC (Center Board Of Film Certification) to 89 cuts. We have seen films more violent and more brutal than this. Isn't the subject of "Udta Punjab" required to show the true facts and figures. I must say it was a bold and raw film which should be applauded for its genuine attempt.

"Udta Punjab" is story of 4 people whose lives have been influenced by the drug menace very much evident in the North Indian state of Punjab where it becomes easy money for peddlers selling heroin and opium through the safe hands of politicians.

Director Abhishek Chaubey, previously helmed the well-liked Ishqiya and not-so good Dedh Ishqiya, took a step forward and created a niche subject never been attempted on Indian cinema before. Hats off to him and definitely to the producer Anurag Kashyap for taking his stand through out the controversies surrounding the film. Now coming to the film, the opening scene caters to the subject of drugs easily being exported from neighboring county (an athlete throws a packet of heroin like a "discus throw") and falling into our motherland as if some UFO has landed from space. Subsequent scenes introduces the four main protagonist and each character has been defined appropriately. Till the 1st half, you will be completely kept engrossed thanks to the tight screenplay (ofcourse you will wondering why the film was censored). Second half starts with some promise but goes down the deep rabbit hole and never ever recovers from there. Too much of melodrama and unwanted editing loses the steam built by the engaging first half. The easy access to the drug factory by Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor and sneaking out with less effort with out even getting noticed by anyone is indigestible, the human connection between Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is far stretched and the climax fight scenes are pretty abrupt which dilutes the impact of second half.

Nevertheless, the film is a brave attempt and nail-biting moments like Alia Bhatt fighting back from getting injected with drugs, her frustration venting out when she meets Shahid Kapoor after the concert and the chemistry between Diljit Dosanjh and Kareena Kapoor are some of the highlights of the film. The art direction is splendid along with creative cinematography. Background score is good. Music by Amit Trivedi is mindblowing as it further sets the mood of the film. The title track "Udta Punjab" and "Da Da Dasse" is pick of a lot. "Udta Punjab" is definitely a performance oriented film and that is the key element to watch the film. Among the four main protagonist, Alia Bhatt steals the show. The gifted actor is simply superb as Biharan who lands herself as a migrant ( though she is state-level hockey player). Watch out for her when she kills the guy responsible for her messy state by continuously venting out her frustration. Shahid Kapoor was just about okay in the role that required more intense which was clearly missing. Kareena Kapoor was subtle as Preet. I like her when she plays more simpler characters. Diljit Dosanjh was a good surprise. The Punjabi superstar manages to make an impression inspite of his first Bollywood film.

Overall, "Udta Punjab" is definitely a gritty and dark film which should be appreciated for its solid facts and phenomenal performances.

The movie is not just any kinda movie with fun and laughter. Its the truth that someone had to bring out eventually. I am glad that Supreme Court intervened and minimized the cuts otherwise a piece of art would have been sacrificed. After seeing the movie you will realize that how sad it is that a state that once had a martyr born in every house has now being replaced by a druggie in every house. Its an old saying that if you want to destroy a country targeting its youth is one of the many initial steps one takes. And it takes only minutes of watch to see who supplies the drugs. That is just one aspect and not just that, the movie then focuses its attention to the basic route and mode of operation of this cartel.This is a must watch movie and one must not just watch it for fun rather one must feel pity for the sorry state of the state that once bubbled with life and energy. As the story revolves around four characters independently at first they are later interwoven though not the best but in an appreciable manner. Shahid and Alia steal the show. There characters are flawless and there screenplay is superb. Diljit the apple of eye of all Punjabi added his best bits and his work is worth commending. I did feel that after the interval the movie was bit too long. The flaw is in editing section and it could have been a lot better. It could have been chipped in some places and it could have saved a few minutes that gave a lethargic feeling. But anyways, overall the movie was worth a watch and a to be recommended one as well. Its not everyday when you see a marvel being created and presented unaltered or unscathed. I am glad Anurag and his team fought till the end to save this piece of art.