Maqbool, le parrain de Bombay

I saw this movie a long time ago and I saw it again recently, cant get enough of how amazing this movie is. A Hindi movie worthy of being screened at every internatinoal film festival, in fact it was screened at various festivals and was appreciated.

The list of the talented starcast is huge, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Tabu & last but certainly not the least, Irrfan Khan(playing the title role of Maqbool).

Story is about an underworld side kick who starts to have an inner conflict and where he has to make a decision and choose between loyalty and deceit, all because of a woman who is the mistress of the underworld gang leader Abbaji (played to perfection by Pankaj Kapur).

Performances, lines, screenplay, background score and editing, cinematography are 1st rate.

Give Vishal Bharadwaj a solid pat on the back, and sit back waiting for his next movie. This man seethes brilliance in his film-making. His dialogues, his script, his music, and his direction - all are top-notch, and as I said, this movie proves that Makdi was no fluke.

The movie is based on Macbeth; and oh does it stay faithful to the story. For setting, Vishal trades the Lord & Lady for 'Bhai' (Gangster) and Mistress in today's Mumbai underworld complete with corrupt cops, loads of handguns and conniving politicians.

The story follows Maqbool (Macbeth: Irfan Khan), the right-hand man of Abbaji (King Duncan: Pankaj Kapoor) - the most powerful and influential ganglord in Mumbai. Abbaji's mistress Nimmi (Lady Macbeth: Tabu) falls in love with Maqbool & inspires him to kill Abbaji and take-over his empire. What they did not expect was the surfacing of guilt, and loyals to Abbaji.

Vishal projects the story from inside the crime-family, playing with the loyalties of the viewer. Every character is built deep; you can't find yourself rooting for or against anyone, so justified is each in his/her actions. Add to that the wonderful dialogues & screenplay hiding a mock to reality, society and movies. Watching this movie alone at home, I applauded on a regular basis - so fulfilling was the experience.

The best 'character translation' of the play for me was morphing the three witches that haunt Macbeth into the two corrupt cops, as played by the brilliant-to-a-fault Naseeruddin Shah & Om Puri. The two actors signed up for the smaller roles just to have a chance to work with each other after a long time, and oh are there sparks on screen. If this was Hollywood, we would see a spin-off on their characters. Most of the hum-our-draped satire comes from these two, and it is the kind of hum-our you shake your head at, not roll laughing at. Although I like Naseer more, Om gets and does the better part here.

Irfan Khan IS the successor of these two actors. He again portrays a character as if he was born to play it. From his matter-of-fact way of delivering lines to the screamingly clear eyes, he is a treat to watch. Tabu plays Lady Macbeth as her usual self. Nothing beyond competent, but nothing below either.

And Pankaj Kapoor: He again proves how under-rated he is. From the tormented scientist in Ek Doctor ki Maut to the hilarious possessive father in Chameli ki Shaadi, this guy has done all of the variety and is as good as the best, but never got the recognition that Naseer & Om got. Indeed, Kapoor redefines the Indian gang lord, and surpasses all previous attempts at such a role. His Abbaji is the most captivating character in the movie, yet the most firmly rooted in reality. It defines: If Mumbai has a Godfather, this is he or how he should be.

Each of the actors that have portrayed their respective characters, I can't think of even one major character being replaced by any other in bollywood.

I rate this film 4.5 of 5

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Trivia: - The first scene of the movie shows a minion with Naseer & Om Puri. This thin faced bald actor is the co-screen-writer Abbas Tyrewala putting in a cameo. - Naseerudding Shah conducted a workshop for all actors in the movie for a few days before start of filming, to get everyone in character and for natural interactions. - Shekhar Kapoor saw this movie at a European (I forget which) Film Festival, and offered Vishal a movie then & there. They discussed plans till dawn. - Macbeth is Vishal's favourite play. He wanted to make a movie for mature audiences after his debut with the children's movie Makdee (Shabana Azmi played the witch for free in that one!)

I just watched this film and I must say I was stunned. A modern day adaptation of Macbeth, director Vishal Bharadwaj takes full advantage of his hugely talented cast, and full kudos to his direction. He is one to look out for! Performance-wise, Om Puri and Nasseruddin Shah are good, Tabu is great, and Irfan Khan is mind-blowing. But it is Pankaj Kapur who steals the show. He's such an amazing performer. Overall, Maqbool is a class act. Watch it right now!

Here is a movie that makes you sit up and take notice of a brilliant director, who entered the film stream as music director. Vishal's progress as a director is astounding!

The film is adapted from Shakeaspere's "Macbeth", using Mumbai underworld as the backdrop. Charecterizations are brillaint, with the witches in Macbeth, being metamorphosed into two corrupt cops.

The screenplay, cinematography, sound design are dialogues are brilliant. The performances from all the 5 key players, Irrfan, Tabu, Pankaj Kapur, and the two cops, Naseer and Om Puri are out of the world. Music is imaginative with captive visualizations.

Credit for the entire movie should go to Vishal, for his outstanding conceptualization and execution. A special word, for cinematographer Hemant Chaturvedi. His final shot of Irrfan falling on the ground in the hospital, with a slow motion of a pigeon, followed by a changing color from normal light to serene green, followed by the fall with a tilted camera is worth going miles for! Bravo!

This film is, in short, a masterpiece. A unique interpretation on Shakespeare's "Macbeth", "Maqbool" features Irrfan in one of the most brilliantly executed roles of modern cinema. He remarkably inhabits the skin of a character who is muddled, murderous, and maniacal. Pankaj Kapoor, as the invincible Abbaji, is astonishing in his portrayal of the Muslim Mob Boss. Truly an incomparable performance. As for Tabu, she is PERFECTION. This is not Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth- she is equally fierce, but given a softer and more shadowy countenance. Tabu is officially a text book of acting (take note, screen queens Rani, Preity, Aish, Madhuri, and the rest- this is what a REAL actress can do). Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri give expert portrayals. Kudos to Bhardwaj for creating a film which is not only unconventional, but eerily radiant. Ram Gopal Verma and Mani Ratnam now have company as India's most innovative filmmakers.