Badlapur

I've loved Sriram Raghavan's films. They're a bit different from the rest that Bolloywood turns out year on year. And he knows how to make a good thriller and keep his fans like me edge of their seats.

Badlapur is the story of Raghu (Varun Dhawan) who is simmering in revenge after his wife and son are killed in a bank robbery all gone wrong. Of the two robbers, Liak (Nawazuddin) is caught and arrested and sentenced for 20 years. He claims that he did not kill the women and child, it was his partner who did. Raghu waits for the next 20 years to get is revenge.

On the face, Badlapur is a revenge story. But see inside and its a tale of two lonely men trying to seek comfort and solace. And in the 15 years, they become desperate. One has time while the other hasn't.

As the movie progressed, it did manage to pop up a few questions - about the concept of revenge, redemption and right or wrong?

And these questions came thanks to the brilliant performance of Nawauddin. Nawaz is at the moment India's best actor and he just leaves his mark. U feel anger and pity while also laugh at his stupidity.

Varun is good and uses his eyes well but no where close to Nawaz. The rest of the cast is very good in their small roles especially Huma Qureshi, Prathima Qazmi and Radhika Apte.

The movie does have a few pits and you might question the roles played by the women.

However, this is a brilliant psychological thriller and a must watch for all thriller fans.

After a long time I watched a good Bollywood movie. The movie revolves around the concept of revenge. But as you would have seen so many movies regarding that, so why watch this? This is why, this movie is more practical than many of the other movies. Here the protagonist is not ethically correct every time and that is true for any common man. In the end, the movie has a message for people who thinks revenge is the best way.

Extremely well chosen actors, from Nawaz to Divya, all have acted well. Nawazuddin has done a extremely stunning performance and shows the mettle to outshine any protagonists in the movie. Varun Dhawan for a change has done a very good work unlike his usual style of chocolate boy. Must watch for people who can handle a bit of gore.

Other reviewers have appreciated the movie but has under-rated it, but I must say, it is an 8 all the way.

3.5/5 The last twenty minutes derail Badlapur and impede it from becoming one of the better thrillers of the "revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-cold" sub-genre. The first hundred minutes have many brutal, in your face moments. The first scene is in a master class of its own. It is immediately arresting and horrifying and dares you to turn your eyes from it. Shriram Raghavan's direction and his knack of storytelling were the primary drivers which kept me glued. He made me sympathize for even the worst of his characters. That says something about his Elmore Leonard like ability to create likable "bad" guys and repellent "good" guys. Varun Dhawan is a revelation. As the grieving husband and father, he pulls off the act with unexpected panache. His eyes glitter with hatred and the body language exudes barely suppressed menace. Nawazzudin Siddiqui's role is not that of a conventional villain. He does not froth or shout. With his white hair and frail physique, he demands sympathy. However, as usual he brings understated nuance to his character of an incarcerated bank robber. His anger barely broke the surface. But when it did, it left me chilled to the core. Radhika Apte steals the limelight. I did not know of her before viewing this. Amongst a cast which has, many other known female faces (Huma Quereshi, Yami Gautam and Divya Dutta), she clearly steals the cake with her portrayal of a wife who will go to any length for her husband. The build up to the climax and the denouement itself were anti- climactic, somewhat of a damp squib and took away a little something from what is likely to be remembered as one of the top movies of the year.

I was really impressed to see something this good from bollywood. The acting was phenomenal from nawaz, varun, huma and vinay. But the best part is the direction. There was sufficient character development. U feel sympathy even for the bad guys. Sriram raghavan is a brilliant director. The climax between varun and nawaz is another highlight of this film. Revenge can send people on a journey that will take em places far darker than they would have ever dared go before. This film is also about the madness a person is capable of. This film is dark, violent, explicit n at times disturbing. The scene wher nawaz keeps on trying to escape from the prison was funny.

I think it is Ugly, in the recent crop of Bollywood flicks, that matches the grimness of Badlapur. Whereas conventional Bollywood flicks are painted in colourful palette, Badlapur is done in shades of grey that is never afraid to go dark, but refuses to go white. Its darkness made me swoon on my seats. Its boldness enthralled me. This is the noir Bollywood has been waiting for. In Badlapur, the director has created two main characters that turn the very conventional ideas of protagonist and antagonist on its head and delivery a dark, comic, intense thriller that glued me to my seat in the first half, but falters in the second half where it tries to give intensity to the changing dynamics between the two main characters, but falters because the screenplay in the second half could not throw the same punch it did in the first half. The build up was definitely great and it showed itself in the stronger moments of second half, but as the story veered to its climax, it starts turning the whole revenge story upside down which is beautiful, but could not bring the same intensity and sharpness. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the star of the movie. He is a phenomenon. Varun Dhawan comes second best. His acting is fine and his acting shows the intensity his character requires, but his voice does not live up to it. Overall, a must watch. Not for those who love the usual Bollywood fare.