Badlapur is worthy to watch once for memorable performances by Nawazuddin and Varun Dhawan and cinem !!

Director Sriram Raghavan strikes the hammer of genius with BADLAPUR for he buys your eyes and makes you stay immovable to the screen right till the end. The biggest highlight of the movie is the fantastic tussle between two powerful actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Varun Dhawan surprisingly adjoined by the peculiar screenplay-labyrinth. The makers have appropriately labeled this movie as a 'Twisted Entertainer'. Yes, the film is dark, gruesome and violent, but, at the same time, it's also cerebrally motivating and entertaining.

 

 

This is one of those rare tales where the pace is consistent right through with satisfactory momentum build every 15 minutes. If the first 30 minutes set the context and take you through the changed lives of both Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui who are struck by tragedies of their own, the interval point is simply fantastic with newer characters being introduced.

 

 

But, it is the second half that simply bowls you over. The moment Vinay Pathak and Radhika Apte come on the scene and Varun Dhawan makes a deadly entry into their home. There is no looking back whatever and the psychological play by Varun is just fantastic. But, just when one thinks that it is going to be a archetypal revenge drama where a 'typical hero' would go on a rampage, the comeback of Nawazuddin Siddiqui on the scene simply brings in a change in the game plan, hence justifying the title of Badlapur as a twisted entertainer.

 

 

Misha (Yaami Gautam) and her son Robin are killed by a bank robber Laik (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Misha's cheerful husband Raghu (Varun Dhawan) is devastated and traumatized. He tries every possible means to get even with Laik, including forced sex with Laik's prostitute girlfriend Jhimli (Huma Qureshi) to humiliate him. Laik is sentenced to twenty years prison term where he makes several unsuccessful jail-break-attempts. Fifteen years later, Raghu 'facilitates' Laik's early exit from the jail. The twists-in-the-plot continues, ensuring a roller coaster thrilling ride. 

BADLAPUR, which is seemingly based on a true tale, sees Sriram Raghavan and Arijit Biswas write a brilliant screenplay. Sriram Raghavan navigates the movie in a nonlinear format, thus, keeping you guessing at many a juncture. The spectator is foxed when the narrative floats between Raghu's 'lunch' with Harman (Vinay Pathak), Koko (Radhika Apte) and Shobha (Divya Dutta). 

 

 

Sriram has made some very interesting movies in the past (Johnny Gaddaar, Ek Hasina Thi) and Badlapur is right up his alley. He brings in new characters, new situations and new scene setting in the movie, hence making sure that you don't quite know what to expect next. In spite of complicated situations and complex characters, he keeps the story telling simple, which is an accomplishment in itself since Badlapur could indeed have gone wild. In that aspect, one also has to compliment producers Dinesh Vijan and Sunil Lulla who go ahead with a no-compromise approach for Badlapur and give Sriram a free hand in telling his story.

 

 

This is somewhat that works in favor of Varun and Nawaz as well, both of whom are simply fantastic in their depiction. Varun shows extraordinary difference in approaching his part and goes through a transition in everything ranging from body language, mannerisms, facial expressions and dialogue delivery. The boy is confidently going to gain awards and rewards for this act. As for Nawaz, only one line - 'Yeh kahan se aaya hai bhai!' He comes up with an excellent performance and most of his lines, especially in the second half, get him whistles and applauds.

 

 

Amongst the prominent ladies, it is Radhika Apte who surprises with such a natural act that it is tough to take away eyes from here. She is a kind of actress who needs to be seen more often. Huma is beautiful to the core and the way she delivers her dialogues and demonstrates her affection for the man she loves is heart breaking. Divya Dutta is as natural and gets limited scope. Yaami Gautam has a restricted part to play but as expected, brings in a lot of fragrance to her part. As for Vinay Pathak, Kumud Mishra, Murli Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar and Pratima Kazmi, they prove once again that they are trained actors to the core.

 

 

Now this is what makes Badlapur superior because director Sriram Raghavan turns the whole vengeance saga upside down and comes up with a tale that engrosses you, thrills you and also asks you a lot of questions in its little over two hours film.

 

 

On the whole, BADLAPUR offers you cinematic brilliance with a rider that there's violence and bloodshed. You shall be treated to truly memorable performances by Nawazuddin and Varun Dhawan. And yes, it is a movie that will continue to live-on in the minds of cinema lovers for a long time to come.