Bullett Raja

BR begins on a very uninspiring note unlike director's previous films and when one gets to see an item song within the first 10 minutes only all of a sudden, it becomes pretty clear that this has not been made as per the exact vision of the person behind films like HAASIL, CHARAS, SHAGIRD and PAAN SINGH TOMAR. Yes, BULLETT RAJA too has got a part of that raw, unforgiving and realistic Tigmanshu feel in its initial moments using the local dialect and settings. But an all predictable screenplay & sloppy editing actually plays the main spoilt sport here wherein things keep happening too easily for the main lead and therefore their journey of becoming 'Political Commandos" from the common man largely remains less impressive and unconvincing. Still the film does have some irregular engaging moments arising out of its well written enjoyable dialogues in the first half, along with few poor songs.

But once many of its notable characters vanish altogether as per the story progression, it all becomes quite dull and the film falls drastically post intermission having nothing new to serve other than the usual revenge drama. To save it from sinking further, the writers bring in a fresh character of Vidyut Jammwal in the last 40 minutes of the film playing the tough inspector with some new twists and turns. But the move fails to provide any major lift and it all ends with an open climax as we have already seen several times before in the recent times.

In few words, the director who is known for coming up with some fresh films following his own unique way of execution surprisingly chooses a very poor story idea for his first mainstream project made with a big name. Plus throughout the film his famous touch is visible only in some characters in the beginning or in few scenes later on with some notable dialogues well rendered by the supporting cast. Further a few insertions are incorporated in a quite unintelligent way (unlike a Dhulia film), like the use of Skype in a confidential meeting straight connecting to the jail, the extreme facilities enjoyed by the power broker within the jail premises and particularly the dialogue mentioning Rani Laxmi Bai in the hotel room (What was it really??).

Moreover the intense emotional feel, visible in the director's previous films is completely missing in this and the viewers never feel connected to the ongoing affair between the lead pair not even once. Now whether this was a result of the director's sincere attempt to enter the commercial zone for the first time or the outcome of some external interference in his directorial vision cannot be said. But whatever the reason might be, the truth remains that this happens to be the weakest film of Tigmanshu Dhulia till date unarguably. Apart from its feeble story plot, the other major disappointment of BULLETT RAJA is its poor soundtrack and over use of songs unnecessarily. The background score too sounds both good and average at different places following an uneven path and cinematography could have made a stronger impact with a better editing. Promoted as an action film, the fight sequences do have a realistic feel but the action actually could really have been the key player here with Vidyut coming in earlier since he is the best one to display the art specifically.

Regarding its performances, the film is solely made for Saif alone and he tries hard to fit into the character doing all the home work. Yet, I found a lot missing in his honest portrayal of Raja Misra in terms of energy and that rustic feel, so couldn't relate to his on screen character frankly. On the other side, Jimmy Sheirgill once again displays his best in a Tigmanshu Dhulia project and holds the film strongly till he is there on the screen forming a fine team with Saif. Here I must add that the actor is a completely different person (arrogant and with a lot of attitude) when it comes to Punjabi films in particular. And Jimmy really needs to see into this difference of attitude at the earliest.

Playing the female lead, I wonder how on earth Sonakshi manages to act and enjoy the same kind of performance in almost every film of hers in a repetitive mode (except LOOTERA). Perhaps she is more interested in only quantity and not quality. Gulshan Grover & Raj Babbar are fine as usual but both Vipin Sharma and Shart Saxena leave a solid impact in their short roles. Chunky Pandey and Mahile Gill are there for only few scenes in the beginning. However to say the truth, BULLET RAJA would have been an entirely different film altogether with Vidyut Jammwal and Ravi Kissen having more lengthy roles in the script. Particularly Ravi Kissen whose highly interesting character of a cross-dressing man, remains wasted without given much to do.

Ending on a sour note, BULLETT RAJA doesn't have that thrill, excitement, freshness and honesty associated with the films made by one of the most promising director of our times, Tigmanshu Dhulia. Perhaps this is the cost a visionary director has to pay while working with big production houses and STARS following their specific instructions. So assuming that the makers would learn from their mistake made, I hope Tigmanshu returns back to his own school of film-making soon following his inner urge and gives us another gem in the future, taking BULLETT RAJA out of his system at the earliest.

Some films don't work in spite of a good director and good star cast. Bullet Raja is a perfect case of the above.

Dhulia has directed some fine movies like Haasil, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster and Paan Singh Tomar but here he gets it all wrong. Dhulia as a writer fails here miserably. The story has nothing new to offer. Its starts with an unemployed youth who is forced to enter the world of crime and politics and ends up as a revenge drama.

The story set in the UP heartland could've been easily set in Mumbai or Delhi. Dhulia tries to desperately play the cast card with the protangonist being a Brahmin by caste and showcasing the state of Brahmins in UP but that also doesn't work after one point. Worse, he bumps off one of the main characters in the film in the middle to make it into a revenge drama. And from here the story comes crashing down.

Wht Dhulia fails to see that the Saif's character Raja and Shergill's Character have gr8 chemistry and this could have gr8 film if he would have focused on both the male leads.

Saif is a fine actor and he's the only reason I watched this film till the end. He gets into the character and spots some gr8 lines in the 1st half. Check out the scene in the plane while take off. Some other actor and I would have changed the channel. However, he needs good scripts.

Dhulia's regular Shergill is wasted. He shares some gr8 chemistry with Saif. So is Jamwal, Grover and Ravi Kishen. And I've no words to describe Sonakshi's character. She plays an aspiring actress who starts to live the two gangsters.

Overall a very disappointing affair !!

Tigmanshu Dhulia started it with 'Haasil' on the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh dirty politics. "Haasil" explored the rural India, leaving the chiffon cinema aside; it showed that that there is real and earthy world beyond the picturesque imageries. He has been consistently trying to give us a taste of unsophisticated and practical realm.

Tigmanshu's first masala film 'Bullett Raja' have same flavor but the effort is mediocre here, mainly due to abrupt editing, loose screenplay and forced songs sequences.

We again witness earthy, rugged and edgy portions which are far from urban and looked truly rural.

"Bullett Raja" is about of two youngsters, Raja Mishra (Saif Ali Khan) and Rudra Tripathi (Jimmy Shergil) who engulfed themselves in the lands of dirty politics of Uttar Pradesh. They rise like heroes and on the flip side it deteriorates they tranquil lives.

Story is merely a revenge drama, but, the writing doesn't hold as the movie progresses. The screenplay is abrupt and flat. The best bit are the action sequences, it separates from the contemporary movies where we can see everything flying with no role of gravity. The action scenes looked really authentic with bullet firing in every 5 minutes. The love track was rushed and abrupt. The other thing which works here are the edgy and fabulous dialogs as always. It has now become the trademark of Dhulia. The climax is predictable; you will probably understand every nuance which the writer tried to reveal at the very end.

The film consists a good start cast (mostly Dhulia's favorite) and peculiar dialogs. Music by Sajid-Wajid is really forgettable as songs do not add anything.

Saif Ali Khan does a wonderful act here, carrying the entire film. He character is very well written. Jimmy Sheirgill is always good and does a fabulous job here. Sonakshi Sinha is common in all the movies now a days and she does the same thing, once again.

Bullett Raja delivers only in parts. The arena was right but it lacked the execution and writing for other actors was not coherent.

Bullet Raja, directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, is a raw and gritty action thriller set against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh's criminal underworld. The film stars Saif Ali Khan as the titular character, Raja Mishra, who transforms from a common man into a feared gangster. The movie blends elements of crime, drama, and action, offering an engaging, albeit sometimes uneven, narrative.

Plot Summary Raja Mishra (Saif Ali Khan) is an ordinary man who finds himself embroiled in the world of crime after a chance encounter with Rudra (Jimmy Sheirgill), a seasoned gangster. As Raja gets deeper into the criminal underbelly, he forges a brotherly bond with Rudra, and together they become an unstoppable force. However, their rise to power attracts the ire of corrupt politicians and rival gangs, leading to a series of violent confrontations. Amidst the chaos, Raja's loyalty and love are tested as he navigates the treacherous world of crime.

Performances Saif Ali Khan delivers a charismatic performance as Raja Mishra, bringing a mix of charm, intensity, and rawness to his character. His portrayal of a man caught between his ambitions and moral dilemmas is compelling, making Raja a memorable character.

Jimmy Sheirgill as Rudra provides a strong counterbalance to Saif's character, showcasing a blend of vulnerability and toughness. Their on-screen chemistry and camaraderie add depth to the narrative, making their partnership one of the film's highlights.

Sonakshi Sinha as Mitali, the love interest, does a decent job but her role feels underdeveloped compared to the central narrative. She brings warmth and a touch of romance to the otherwise gritty storyline.

Vidyut Jammwal impresses in a supporting role, adding to the film's action quotient with his martial arts skills and intense screen presence.

Direction and Cinematography Tigmanshu Dhulia's direction brings a raw, rustic feel to Bullet Raja. He effectively captures the essence of Uttar Pradesh's landscape, infusing the film with authenticity. The action sequences are well-choreographed, and Dhulia's storytelling keeps the audience engaged, despite some pacing issues.

The cinematography by P. S. Vinod complements Dhulia's vision, with vibrant shots of the heartland and well-executed action scenes. The use of local settings and realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld add to the film's gritty atmosphere.

Music and Soundtrack The music by Sajid-Wajid and RDB is a mix of energetic tracks and soulful melodies. Songs like "Tamanche Pe Disco" and "Saamne Hai Savera" enhance the narrative, fitting well with the film's tone and setting. The background score effectively heightens the tension during action scenes and emotional moments.

Themes and Impact Bullet Raja delves into themes of loyalty, power, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in the world of crime. The film explores the bond between Raja and Rudra, showcasing how friendship and loyalty can shape one's destiny in the face of adversity.

While the movie succeeds in portraying the gritty realities of the criminal underworld, it sometimes falters in maintaining a consistent tone. The narrative occasionally veers into predictable territory, but the strong performances and action sequences keep the audience invested.

Conclusion Bullet Raja is a gritty action thriller that offers an engaging mix of crime, drama, and intense action. Saif Ali Khan's charismatic performance, along with Jimmy Sheirgill's strong support, makes for a compelling watch. Tigmanshu Dhulia's direction brings authenticity to the film, capturing the essence of the heartland's criminal underworld. While the film has its flaws, particularly in pacing and character development, it remains an entertaining and impactful entry in the action genre. If you enjoy raw, rustic thrillers with strong performances and well-executed action, Bullet Raja is worth a watch.

Dir. Mr. Tingmanshu Dhulia has taken a confused take on this political drama. This is not a film but a project, whether first you decide actors, then some action scenes, some love scenes and a political backdrop to create drama. Eventually no story comes as outcome. Screenplay is predicative besides few scenes. Dialogues by Director himself is very good. Even the opening dialogue of film is very impressive. Film looses logic at most of the places. If, a person thought about another to kill in his home only and the other person has arrived then what is the need to create childish drama, where he eventually kills him through blast? Because another person has few goons with him, so the blast was required and five minutes unnecessary screen time!!? Love between the lead pair is not well established. An I.A.S rank of officer thinks with his body muscles rather than his brain muscles!? He prefers to combat rather than plan, because this actor is good at fight!!! There are lots of things who indicate that role was considered according to actors caliber rather than the flow and requirement of film. A hard core villain pretends to become Radha and Police believe!!! Performance wise Saif Ali Khan is very good. Sonakshi Sinha has not very much scope but she is good. Raj Babber, Gulshan Grover, Jimmy Shergill, Sharat Saxena , Vipin Sharma are OK. Vidyut Jamwal is very good at stunt but not that much good at act. Ravi Kishan is fine. Music is also very average.