Gumrah

Gumrah review:

After Chandni and Chaalbaaz (1989), Gumrah is the third Sridevi performance I truly love. She played a singer who gets trapped in Hong kong jail after her friend (Rahul Roy) plants drugs in her vanity case. This is one of Sridevi's finest act notably her hapless state in prison is so realistically scary to watch.

Sanjay Dutt was initially signed for a cameo which was extended to a lead role after Khalnayak (1993). On the other hand, Rahul Roy's role was chopped out at the editing table including a song picturised on him and Sridevi. This soured his relations with his mentor Mahesh Bhatt who was the film's director. In reality, Bhatt Saahab was the busiest director in those days and most of Gumrah was handled by his assistants.

Loosely adapted from Bangkok Hilton series (1989), Gumrah had an gripping first half but lost its mojo towards the end which made it only an average grosser at the box office.

The lead pair Sridevi and Sanju Baba didn't see eye to eye throughout the movie shoot as Baba had misbehaved with her during the filming of the shelved Zameen (1987). The sexy Kunika and Bob Christo played villainous cops and their sex scene inside Hongkong jail drew ceetis from the audience at Gaiety Galaxy Bandra where I saw the movie in its first weekend.

Gumrah is still watchable for Madame Sridevi!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

This Bhatt movie is like most Bhatt movies a remake of an foreign film. In this case a remake of the Australian Nicole Kidman mini series BANKOK HILTON with Sridevi in Nicole Kidman's role. The story is about a girl (Sridevi) who wants to go to another country to fins her father (Anupam Kher). when she leaves her boyfriend (Rahul Roy) puts drugs in her baggage and she gets caught and sent to jail. A local goon then tries to save her (Sanjay Dutt) along with her father who at first denied having a daughter. When the movie was planned Rahul Roy was to star in a negative role (he was a hero at the time) much publicity was given to that and Sanjay Dutt was to appear in a 15 minute special appearance. When the movie finally releases Rahul Roy had no career, his mentor Mahesh Bhatt who launched him in Aashiqui had edited his role to a 15 minute role and Sanjay Dutt (who had become very hot) his role was stretched to the main role as was done with Amitabh Bachchan in Insaaniyat (but that is another story).

Mahesh Bhatt made 'Gumrah' by shamelessly ripping-off the mini-series 'Bangkok Hilton'. It pretty much is a scene by scene copy with some sequences from the series left out while others being indianized. The typically indianized sequences were very cheesy (with the exceptions of those between Sridevi and Reema Lagoo). Yes, there are songs and they're mostly dreadful, especially the ones primarily visualized on Sanjay Dutt. The whole love angle between Dutt and Sridevi is very Bollywoodish. Yet, I must say that the suspense is mostly well maintained (as I had watched 'Gumrah' before 'Bangkok Hilton') and the prison atmosphere looks very realistic (even though it's almost a complete imprint of the set in 'Bangkok Hilton'). The final chase sequence was also quite fun to watch.

While Sanjay Dutt storyline does appear forced and exaggerated, the actor provides fine comic relief and has great chemistry with his female lead. Anupam Kher and Reema Lagoo are very good. Soni Razdan is superb in a small role. Rahul Roy brings wooden acting to a whole new level.

What makes 'Gumrah' worth the watch is Sridevi's tour de force performance. Not only does she look authentic but playing Roshni from the shy, talented and vulnerable young lady to a tough prisoner, Sridevi makes it look so easy to do. She gives the Roshni an identity of her own which makes her very different from Nicole Kidman's Katrina Stanton. She easily dominates the movie.

'Gumrah' is Sridevi's film.

Ok , Mahesh bhatt , in , order to get Sridevi's brilliance , you can cast her into any film !!! Excpet Sridevi nothing was even ok. 9 for Sridevi only.

Gumrah is one of those films that start off slow, but soon gain a rapid pace. The best way to describe would be the word 'unpredictable', as what starts as a normal drama, ends up being a crime thriller.

Now, coming to the performances, Sridevi is the light of the show! The character she plays, does total justice to this talented expressive actress, specially when we witness her transformation from this jolly naive girl to the combative chick!

Supporting her, are a group of very talented cast including Anupam Kher and Sanjay Duty, who lend great support. however it is Rahul Roy, who will surprise you in a brief yet effective role.

Speaking of the music, most songs are fabulously executed and are honey to the ears.

Overall, the film is a great joy ride, though sometimes dragging, it nevertheless entertains to you unbiasedly.

My rating would be 9 out of 10.