Fit to Post: Yahoo! India News » Blog Archive Review: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai «

Review: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai

By Rummana – July 31st, 2010

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Milan Luthria’s “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai” relives Mumbai underworld’s lost era, the Bombay (as it was called then) where the nexus between the gangster, the police, the politician and the Bollywood fraternity made it difficult to discern between the good, the bad and the ugly.

Inspired by Haji Mastan’s life, the film is set against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld’s early days, a period before gang wars had unsettled the maximum city. A time when there was still honour among thieves, where the protagonist who’s a criminal also has a heart of gold. His dishonest and sometimes criminal methods to earn money were justified by his benevolence to the needy. While he smuggled at night, during the day he emerged as the messiah of the poor.

Ajay Devgn runs the business of organized crime successfully with as less bloodshed and murk as possible. While his effective territorial division manages to curtail rivalry among the underworld mafia, he misjudges his trusted lieutenant. The lust for power, greed and betrayal cause the eventual rift.

Ajay Devgn as Sultan Mirza is back in his elements as the anti-hero; cold-blooded and menacing one moment and romantic and compassionate the next. Devgn’s is a subtle and understated performance. His character has various shades of grey and he commands respect and inspires awe among peers and enemies alike.

Most of the cast deliver – Kangana Ranaut acts well and looks lovely with her big eyelashes and fancy hairdos. Prachi Desai appears vulnerable as the conflicted girlfriend. A special mention for Randeep Hooda, who as ACP Agnel Wilson, does a commendable job. He exudes a raw intensity as the honest police officer who means business. The only weak link is Emraan Hashmi, whose performance lacks both the intensity and aggression that the character demands. At times, it looks like he is trying hard to do a Sanjay Dutt of ‘Vaastav’.

Complete with a cabaret, long-collared nylon shirts and 1970’s mise-en-scene, the film manages to recreate a lost era. The film plays with shades, the blacks, the whites and especially the greys. While the plot builds up well, the narrative steadily loses steam. It’s definitely watchable but a tighter script would have done wonders. What could have been a thrilling tale is nothing different from what we have seen before.

Share your views on the film with us. You can also connect with me on Twitter.

You can read my previous reviews here:

Review: Khatta Meetha

Review: Lamhaa

Review: Milenge Milenge

Review: I Hate Luv Storys

Raavan Review: Abhi-Ash Are Insufferable

Raajneeti: The Reluctant Politician

Why Kites Didn’t Soar

Tags : review, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Review, Ajay Devgn, Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai, Emraan Hashmi, Randeep Hooda

Category : Bollywood, Entertainment

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229 Comments

MANDEEP on August 21, 2010 at 11:23 am

THANKS FOR WATCHING MY BIG BRO’S MOVIE I M HUGE FAN OF AJAY DEVGN HE IS MY REAL HERO I LOVE AJAY PLEASE SUPPORT HIM IN EVERY MOVIE & THIS DIWALI PLZ WATCH GOLMAL3 IM WAITING FOR IT

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Fit to Post: Yahoo! India News » Blog Archive Review: Lafangey Parindey « on August 20, 2010 at 5:54 pm

[...] Review: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai [...]

Mainak on August 18, 2010 at 4:14 pm

Fantastic fantabulous movie with great dialogues
Ajay was simply the best
“taqat batana nehi jate dikhaya jata hai”
thumbs up for Once Upon A Time In Mumbai

Chintan Kotadia on August 17, 2010 at 1:17 am

Nice Movie! I liked it!

rajiv on August 16, 2010 at 5:14 pm

Ajay’s performance was awesome and his tiger like eyes r unforgettable..

rahul on August 14, 2010 at 6:23 pm

awsome………ajay’s performance is incomparable..
it’s must watch…..bas dua me yaad rakhna..

ms verma on August 14, 2010 at 6:19 pm

once upon time………d story line s sane as always……so one time watch…d music s ok sort…..but dont expect much out of it

vipin on August 14, 2010 at 2:33 pm

bakwas movie,end was so silly…waste of time&money

yogesh on August 14, 2010 at 2:05 pm

awesome….

yogesh on August 14, 2010 at 2:04 pm

rly awesome movie……prachi lukking nice
and ajay to kya kahe… bus dua me yaad rakhna….

pintu maity on August 14, 2010 at 12:06 pm

Ajoy is the besest in INDIAN actor……….

Sultan Mirza on August 13, 2010 at 8:27 pm

Thanks for watching me in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai & Keep watching this movie in near future.

Bye .. Thanks…. Dua mein yaad rakhana….

Govind on August 13, 2010 at 7:09 pm

Awesome movie!!! I watched it 2times. it’s a fantastic movie. Ajay is the best & once again he has proved that he is the best & versatile actor in the industry!! all actrors have done good job….

had gud time, enjoyed a lot!!!

you really rock Ajay!
i’ll gv ****/5

Fit to Post: Yahoo! India News » Blog Archive Review: Peepli [Live] « on August 13, 2010 at 4:44 pm

Anand Singh on August 10, 2010 at 6:28 pm

Oh Realy Ajay Devgan is looking nice.kangana is also looking good.

pradeep on August 8, 2010 at 9:12 am

Nice movie,Ajay was looking good.

pratik on August 8, 2010 at 8:22 am

this movie is very nice in this 8 month. i want to give national award to ajay.

alok on August 8, 2010 at 5:33 am

awesome movie………must watch…..gr8 performance by ajay devgn….

nidhi on August 7, 2010 at 9:55 pm

good movie,best dialogues,nice songs,ajay performance is superb.

rameez on August 7, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Ajay is very good…..must watch

Vivek,Chirag,Dhaval&Harshal on August 7, 2010 at 3:49 pm

Nothing more we need in our life ,after watching this………
really owesome…………
getting late ………………now 2nd time……

ARVIND RANA on August 7, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Hi guys, I’m very happy to read review, as devgn is my favourite hero, going today to watch this movie.
what you think, 3rd national award for Ajay Bhai this year?

AMJAD A KHAN on August 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm

A MUST WATCH MOVIE FOR ALL.THE ERA OF 70′S IS VERY WELL PRESENTED IN THE MOVIE,BELIEVE ME AJYAY DEVGAN AGAIN ROCKS,EMRAAN IS DID WELL DUE TO HIS LOOKS LIKE DAWOOD IBRAHIM I GIVE 5 OUT 5 TO MOVIE.
”GO AND WATCH IT GUYS DONT WAIT”