Shanghai

Take any of your favorite political thrillers. What you'd find is political insight and compelling suspense, seamlessly woven to demystify your flimsy notions and beliefs about that subject. While the protagonist peels the layers off falsehood, you experience the joy of veils dropping. You get more than just the solution of a mystery; a new interpretation of the event, a shocking perspective. Dibakar Banerjee's Shanghai is one such political thriller. This terrific film hits you like a hurricane and terrifies you to bits. It has an abiding effect that will haunt you even hours after you've left the theater. If you enjoy true cinema, go for SHANGHAI.. Else, better wait for SRK or FARAH KHAN's next POPCORN FLICK!! Go for SHANGHAI for Kalki Koechlin, for Emraam Hashmi,for Abhay Deol, for the Music & for everything you want from a masterpiece! And next time you end up comparing why do Bollywood standards do not reach Hollywood, stay quite! You don't deserve a word!

10/10

Dibakar Banerjee, Abhay Deol and Emraan Hashmi. There cannot be any better reason to watch this movie and well, it's worth the expectations. Shanghai, the Desi adaption of Z by Vassilis Vassilikos is a fine thriller.

First things first, you can feel the Dibakar Banerjee style in each and every frame of this around two hour movie. In first ten minutes itself, the culprits are revealed and there is no whodunit feeling in first half, but thanks to brilliantly panned screenplay (courtesy Urmi Juvekar and DB), the tension builds on in a continuum till the climax and climax pays it off.

The power of Shanghai lies in its characters and subplots. Director leaves much upon the imagination of viewers but, still it is amazing to witness such a powerful cinema with a short and simple story. Abhay, Emraan and Kalki play their milestone characters and they play with such an ease that it is impossible to picture any actors in their shoes. Prosenjit Chatterjee, though plays a cameo, makes his presence felt throughout the movie, which is incredible.

Shanghai could have been a loud political thriller with grungy background score and over the top acting, but DB chooses the path less traveled. Like his last three films he chooses his own subtle and proportionately dramatic storytelling that makes it a standalone from clichéd and crass political thrillers. In order to keep the intensity of such a mature subject, Dibakar has deliberately avoided soulful songs like Khudaya and Dua, and placed situational tracks like Bharat Mata Ki and Imported Kamariya, which is a courageous effort.

The negatives? First half takes a bit more of time to create the situations and subplots making the movie a bit drag occasionally. Apart from this, I can't find out any other loopholes in this movie.

Watch it or not? If you are a fan of "the real powerful cinema", do go for it.

Before I start, let me tell you that I haven't read Vassillis Vasilikov's Z and neither have I seen the Academy Award winning film by Costa-Gavras. Shanghai based on the same book, for me, comes as an original standalone in Hindi cinema by the double time National Award winner Dibakar Bannerjee.

Shanghai, is what this fictional town of Bharat Nagar will look like with the flourishing of "International Business Park (IBP)", as promised by the Chief Minister (Supriya Pathak). You can expect it to be any other political scam. Dr. Ahmedi (Prosenjit Chatterjee) who believes this project will degrade the living of the poor, lands here to set his march of opposition. Alongwith Ahmedi, comes a Katrina Kaif caricature Tina. While she is doing Imported Kamariya at the IBP (India Bana Pardes) show, Dr. Ahmedi is slayed to death by a truck. His student, Shalini Sahay (Kalki) is stubborn about the fact that it was not an accident but murder. IAS Officer T. A. Krishnan (Abhay Deol) leads the Enquiry Commission set by the CM. Meanwhile, Jogi Parmar (Emran Hashmi), a pornographer reaches an evidence material of the case.

Meeting of every two aforesaid characters is marked with playful scene like entering of a ball in the newly setup office of Krishnan between a heated discussion, or the English conversation of Jogi with Shalini.

Leisurely paced, the first half is cooked up with two songs where Bharat Mata Ki Jai is just abrupt, misled and serves no purpose to the story. That's what you wanted Mr. Producer, right? An item song and a peppy track? But what makes the direction extra-ordinary are the detailing with the arts and sound design in almost every scene. Note that sound of a crying baby in the background amidst the tensed situation when Dr. Ahmedi is admitted to the hospital. Whereas the background score in most of the parts is overdone with the same beats.

For its running time of 114 minutes, this thriller grips you leisurely with not many scenes that brings you to the edge of your seat but its raw treatment and toning , fine editing and engaging performances. Emran Hashmi stands out of the lot with his best performance of his career. You are never let to believe that you are actually watching the same Hashmi. The most experienced actor Faroque Sheikh draws every attention in his scene. Kalki plays the deepest character of the film with mild tone and louder-than-words silence. Abhay Deol is in the skin of the character of a generous officer with his Tam accent. Pitobash is almost similar as you have seen him in Shor In The City.

By the end, things resurface to the top, gets unfold, and many unanswered questions are left to you to think. Dibakar doesn't hammer you with the dark side of the political system but asks many questions. Prominently, Is India really shining? Judge yourself. But Indian Cinema is really shining with this movie at the theaters.

Though I don't account Shanghai as DB's best work (for me, it's still L.S.D.), but it is the best political thriller you could ever see.

I really enjoyed watching this latest Political thrillers like the west since our cinema mostly aims at only entertainment as an escape from the real life. The acting is great, the storyline is well written with adequate character development to let you get emotionally invested. The film is based on Greek writer Vassilis Vassilikos' political novel "Z" on which director Costa-Gavras also made his project titled "Z" (French) in 1969, which means "He is Alive" in a symbolic form. But SHANGHAI actually scores much higher than all the earlier political thrillers made in the country mainly due to its subtle and calm treatment of an intense plot which keeps you engrossed especially in its second half.Emraan Hashmi has shown real talent that he is much more capable of apart from smooching leading lady. If you love true cinema, go for SHANGHAI.

Some five years ego when I first saw Kosta Gavra's classic political thriller "Z" I thought it has all the ingredients to be made into Indian scenario. Even though the film is five decades old the scenarios fits into contemporary India. It digs into the political machinery and their double standards as they talk about Industrial developments. With land acquisition, truth behind special economic zone (SEZs), red-tapism, bureaucratic machinery all molded in a thriller format had everything going for Indian audience. When Dibakar Banerjee announced Shanghai which is based on the Greek novel "Z' by Vassilis Vasilikos I was thrilled. Banerjee successfully adapted the novel and used it to portray a dark of political India.

Set in fictional BharatNagar "Shanghai" starts with Dr Ahmadi , a socialist worker being bumped off as he protest against the land acquisition and warns aam-janata to look into the real motives of the politicians and industrialists. Circumstances brought in Jogi Parmer, a rustic porn film maker who falls for the gori lady and how got himself caught in the web of deceit. It is through the investigation of Ahmedi's murder the journey of unmasking of those in the system begins as we came to know about the truth behind the game of industrialization. Symbolically it reflects the rotten Indian system in a realistic fashion which will shock audience and let them think. With India being claimed as potential future super power of the world the big shots inside the system is robbing her from within at every level leading towards a greater economic divide.

Dibakar Banerjee showed immense potential in earlier three films (khosla ka ghosla, oye lucky lucky oye, LSD) and each of them he used ample dose of dark humor to bring out some prevailing problem in the society. He does the same and succeeds in "Shanghai".He has compromised less interns of story telling and kept many scenes subtle enough for further interpretation. His detailing of sequences needs to applaud. Indeed he is one of the finest story teller of the country and together with Anurag Kashyap,Vishal Bhardwaj can elevate the Indian cinema whereby getting appreciation from world audience as something meaningful yet entertaining. Teaming up with Urmi Juvekar, the duo has done a splendid job in keeping the dialogs real, subtle yet catchy. Being a thriller the happenings keep you engaged to the screen. Like Kahaani this is another taut thriller which can compete with any world cinema. Nikos Andritsakis cinematography deserves standing ovation. His usages of occasional shakes, close-ups elevate the screenplay. The sepia tone set it perfect for the rustic India. Namratha Rao's editing is top notch and she proved that Kahaani was just not one flash in the pan. Vandana Kataria's production design is effective and creates the atmosphere for a dark, thrilling ride. Atul Mongia's unique ensemble casting needs recognition. Vishal-Shekhar's music works. "Bharat mata ki jaye" is true satirical song which is helped by some brilliant choreography.

Acting wise every single person involved has given a superlative performance. Emraan Hashmi as Jogi Parmer is revelation. He proved his detractors wrong and gave a new life to himself as he joined the league of meaningful cinema. Prior to this his mass films (though huge Hits) didn't get him accolades from all section of society but this film will make people realize his potential. Abhay Deol is a superb actor and as always he is at his subtle paced. He fits into a character like chameleon and together with the choice of films he makes he is there to make some change in Indian cinema. As IAS Krishnan he has given one of his career best roles. Just check the climax when he confronts with Farooq Sheik. The scene is a marvel and deserves standing ovation. Kalki Koechlin succeeds as the disturbed foreign return Indian Shalini. Her relationship with Dr Ahmedi as well as Jogi Parmer has been portrayed sensitively. Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee excels as socialist worker Dr Ahmedi. The movie surrounds his character and in a comparatively small role he leaves his marks. Pitobash as usual is exceptional. With Shor in the city, I am Kalaam and now Shanghai he will definitely land up in more meaty roles in near future. He is a power house of talent. Veterans Farooq Sheik and Supriya Pathak were always known for their acting potential and here also they lived up to their names. Tilottoma Shome as Mrs Ahemdi fits the bill as well.

Overall Shanghai is another powerful cinema which comes out from Bollywood. In a thriller mode it raises very pertinent questions on the way the Indian political system works. The film is dark, real yet entertaining that will keep the audience (though it might not appeal to many cine-goers who loves unreal commercial cinema) engaged till the end. It is another landmark film which is to be experienced, a masterpiece. Indeed it has all the stamps that are associated with a film which has been co-produced by NFDC.

P.S : I agree with the first reviewer in IMDb with the statement that one should watch this film "And next time you end up comparing why do Bollywood standards do not reach Hollywood, stay quite! You don't deserve a word!".. Indeed I think Kosta Govra would have been proud to see this adaptation