Manmarziyan
Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Music: Amit Trivedi
Release: 14th September 2018

Anurag Kashyap being the crusader of the darkness for Hindi cinema shifts his motion into brightness with a modern day take on the complexity of relationships. Written by a young creative producer who has her roots in Amritsar, the film is written on her perspective of an ugly take on the complexity . Kashyap adding his sensibilities, the film broadens and takes a trip back Kashyap’s last Punjabi-touch Dev D.

The leading pair, Vicky Kaushal and Taapsee Pannu play two intensive characters who cannot take their hands off each other but the crack of the dream arise when Pannu’s character feeling the pressure of marriage and responsibility decides to settle in the route of marriage but Kaushal’s character not wanting to pick up the responsibility drops out on the relationship.

Enters a mature subtle Abhishek Bachchan becoming the suitor for Pannu begins to complicate issues more. Unsurety and the pressure of responsibility lead the question of the complexity of the spousal bond. Set in the middle class locality of the holy city Amritsar, the film deals with a jet age with melting butter relationships that prioritise relationships on digitally but not in confrontation .

For many, who have seen Kashyap’s last feature Raman Raghav which slotted it as his weakest, we can rightly say this is weakest yet. To begin, the script is its fall back. Kanika Dhillion’s script in the simplest to say does not have anything relevantly new to the consumer, it’s a case of ‘been there, seen that, done that’.

Kashyap’s direction attempts to compliment the half-baked script and does it job to a certainty. The first half of the film of course charms the audience with its unconventional narrative style, melodious music and events of uncertainly amongst the characters. Not doubting Kashyap’s direction, getting the tone and the right positioning of the characters considering his backlog of work doesn’t have an essence of romanticism.

The team behind the film have done a fantastic job, the music plays a large role in the film with the Punjabi tone and the twins brings a nice touch to the narrative. The film has been edited in such a way that it understands the texture of notion of being subtle but the film is too long, the end portion screams to be wanting to get done but unfortunately doesn’t leave wanting to part with the story.

The theme broadens maturity and irresponsibility of relationships with failures of overcoming the complexities where the characters which are structured such flawy, the to-the-face issue is the death of such romance and over essence of selfishness.

Kashyap’s problem is he doesn’t know where to stop. A magical first but a bore of second half doesn’t hold the interest the viewer. Kashyap attempts to hold attention but drops in dragging it needlessly. Previously, Kashyap has had the issue of climaxing his films where he doesn’t know when to pull the leaver. In this case, not only the leaver but the iron becomes rotten.

In terms of performances, Taapsee wears Rumi’s skin as comfortably as a night suit. The character of an outspoken, custom fighter who obliges to speak in what is right for her and what works for her. Vicky Kauhsal, is a powerhouse to say the least. This year the boy alone has managed mark that hes not only a diverse actor but willing to experiment with his appearance for the role. Being a Punjabi, he slips into the character so naturally that one would think it’s based on his actual natural self.

Abhishek Bachchan making a comeback pulls off the character of Robbie with such subtly one is reminded of a Ajay Devgan from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. One can never doubt his skill as actor but can say they are happy to see him returning to the big screen after a hiatus.

Overall, Kashyap as a made a mature attempt on a drama but suffers due to the weak script. Potentially a well diverse story on relationships ends up becoming a bore. The performances and the music adds to the film but sadly does not become its strength. The film has its moments but loses its focus in progression.

A marzi for the one attempt only