It’s after a long while that Bollywood has come across a concept like Shanghai, which not only offers you a peep into reality but even takes you on a ride into the deep and dark political pit.
The film is a political thriller under-wired with intelligence and nerve, both cinematic and ideological. Having the backdrop of a small town where politics, big business and the underworld are on the same side in an organized plot to mislead an already dispossessed laypeople, Shanghai pushes mainstream Hindi cinema into the outer edge of a zone that has traditionally been beyond the knowledge of those who make movies simply to make a quick killing.
Director Dibakar Banerjee, who has already proven his mettle with films like Khosla Ka Ghosla, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and Love Sex aur Dhokha, has once again come up with an appealing subject. The dry humor in the film and the sarcasm used is simply flawless and is perfectly complemented by the acts showcased by Emraan Hashmi, Kalki Koechlin, Abhay Deol and Prosenjit Chatterjee in their respective roles.
The film has a respected left wing activist, Dr Ali Ahmedi (Prosenjit Chatterjee), who lands in Bharat Nagar (a nondescript town that believes it can be another Shanghai, a microcosm for all of India) to address a rally against a business park project that will displace hundreds of families against their wish.
While the ones in power, inclusive of woman chief minister (Supriya Pathak), her principal secretary (Farooque Sheikh) and a local politician, are determined to stop the anti-displacement campaigner in his track. Further the viewers are made to witness the cold blooded murder of Ali Ahmedi, which then marks the real struggle.
A must watch for the real movie buffs
rating 3.5/5
