shanghai movie reviews

shanghai movie reviews
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

Emraan Hashmi doesn't want to be tagged as underdog in Bollywood

Emraan Hashmi doesn't want to be tagged as underdog in Bollywood
After giving stupendous performance in his latest release Jannat 2, the star has become the most bankable actor of the tinsel town. Indeed, he is a new trendsetter in the Indian Film Industry as he started a trend of erotica with the prequel of his blockbuster hit, Murder 2.

It is known that Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi was criticised initially for playing bold characters but he never bothered the criticism and followed his own path. Consequently; today he is being recognised as an A lister of the town. If believe the industry sources, then some film critics considered him as an underdog in Bollywood but the actor is miffed on being tagged with the same label.

On being quizzed, Emraan expressed his displeasure and told the sources, “I have never given the right to industry to rate me or criticise me. Their criticism never bothered me. I am not an underdog. I have been fairly well rated by the audience”.

The serial kisser of the Bollywood town further added that he is happy to witness a bold change in the content of mainstream cinema. The actor is all set to shake the chords of the audience once again by playing a porn filmmaker in his forthcoming Shanghai, featuring Abhay Deol, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Kalki Koechlin in the lead roles.

Emraan, you have begun a new era of bold flicks, you are indeed a trendsetter in real terms!

Abhay Deol finds his role very challenging in Shanghai

Abhay Deol finds his role very challenging in Shanghai

Bollywood actor, Abhay Deol has pinned all his hopes with his most touted forthcoming project Shanghai which is all set to hit theatres on June 8. The movie is helmed by Dibakar Banerjee and features Emraan Hashmi, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Kalki Koechlin in the lead roles.

Abhay is among the notable actors of the Indian film industry and is well known for his intense acting. On being quizzed about his acting skills, the actor asserted that for him, films are a mode of self satisfaction and he discovers himself through acting in the movies. Abhay has a wide perspective and he doesn’t consider box office charts as a parameter of success. He further revealed “I am exactly as I was seven years back. The only thing that has changed probably is that now I am going out and talking about my films.

I believe films are not so much about acting as they are about discovering”. Speaking about his forthcoming Shanghai, Abhay told the sources that he is very nervous as he finds his role very challenging. Moreover, this political thriller is his most difficult film ever.

Abhay your enthusiasts are eagerly waiting to see you in a complete new avatar. Hope you will repeat the success story with your next as well!

I would never do a film like Dabangg, claims Prosenjit Chatterjee

I would never do a film like Dabangg, claims Prosenjit Chatterjee
 Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee is a big name in Bengali film industry however, if talk about his Bollywood career then he is testing tinsel town waters once again with Dibakar Banerjee's promising new film Shanghai. The film co-stars Emraan Hashmi, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin.

Prosenjit plays a charismatic politician, who is shown to be dying at the beginning of the film. But he is still a major presence in the film, as the 11 people who have witnessed his murder have their own versions of it.

The National Award-winning actor, who wowed us with Dosar and Chokher Bali earlier, also appeared in few Bollywood films for instances, Aandhiyaan, in 1989, Meet Mere Maan Ka, 1991.But his career in Bollywood was never very active nor does he wanted it that way as content with the Bengali projects coming his way.

So is there anything you dislike about Bollywood films? He says, “Not really, there’s nothing I hate about Bollywood. But honestly, I would never do a film like Dabangg. I’ve crossed that phase and I can do that in Bengal, but I don’t feel the need to do that here.”

Well, a person of his stature can speak these words and of course no one would ever mind as he has a certain reputation in the industry!

Kalki Koechlin ended up biting Prosenjit's lips while filming an intense scene for Shanghai

Kalki Koechlin ended up biting Prosenjit's lips while filming an intense scene for Shanghai
We are sure that this will indeed come as a shocking revelation for the readers as sources inform that Kalki Koechlin's first on-screen liplock, in the upcoming Shanghai with Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, ended with the young actress attacking the veteran!

Eyewitness presents on the sets during the filming told that while doing an intense smooching scene for her Shanghai, Kalki literally ended up biting Prosenjit. Though Kalki had shot for a split-second kissing scene in Shaitan and Dev D, but this is her first smooching scene onscreen.

Dibakar Banerjee, who is the director of the movie Shanghai, recently revealed to the sources that, "Kalki plays an Indian in the movie with a mixed parentage and looks like a foreigner. Prosenjit is a well-known social activist."

He further states that to get into the mood of the scene that was shot in a kitchen, he instructed Kalki to attack Prosenjit. "I told her to make the first move. While filming, she actually bit PC sir's lips!" the director said.

The most funniest part of the story is that Dibakar actually forgot to say "cut" while shooting this scene and instead got busy shooting the tap in the kitchen.

Well we guess Kalki that you really need to take some lessons...no no we are not talking about acting lessons here, we are talking about kissing lessons!