Colours of corruption

What it's about: When you talk about an Anurag Kashyap film, you've got to be prepared for some hard-hitting drama. His new offering, Gulaal is not about the festival of colours. For Anurag, Gulaal or the colour red symbolises blood.

Don't expect to see women in colorful clothes dancing on the sand and drawing water from wells because this one's all about the murky nexus between the youth and politics. The central characters are played by law student Dilip Singh (Raj Singh Chaudhary) and fundamentalist Dukey Bana (Kay Kay Menon), who wants a separate Rajputana state for radical Rajputs; to be ruled by the royals who'd lost their power to the government.

Rananjay (Abhimanya Singh) is Dilip's roommate who introduces him Dukey Bana and corruption, after he is ragged at his college. A few humiliating lessons later, Dilip finds himself contesting the election against Kiran (Ayesha Mohan) who along with her brother Karan (Aditya Shrivastava) drive him away from Dukey and Anuja (Jesse Randhawa) who's in love with him. He soon realiSes that he is merely a pawn in the hands of all the people around him and decides to fight back.u00a0u00a0u00a0

What's good: The film was in the making for nearly nine years but doesn't appear dated as it is based in the past a time when the princely states were dissolved after India's independence. All of Anurag's films have been unique, but this one seems like a story you've heard before at least parts of it.

However, Anurag manages to engross and involve you in the first half. The dialogues are good and the cinematography is excellent, capturing the mood of the film. Kashyap deserves full credit for a choosing a brilliant cast and drawing breathtaking performances from them.

Abhimanyu Singh is superb as a rebellious Rajput prince. Kay Kay is impressive once again. The other two notable acts are Deepak Dobriyal (Batti) and Piyush Mishra (as Dukey's mentally unstable brother). Jesse Randhawa, who has very few lines, successfully conveys her pain and anguish through her body language.u00a0

What's bad: The second half of the movie is a drag. While the first half whizzes by, the post-interval portion seems never-ending. Mahie Gill, who impressed in Dev D, is wasted in a half-baked role. And the much written-about mujras are nothing to dance about. Songs take the narrative ahead but they are not for repeat listening pleasure. The climax is stretched too much and spoils the overall impact.u00a0

What's that: The painted mime who always accompanies Datta is a mystery. If he is supposed to signify something then that it lost in realisation. Also, the neon sign of 'Hello There', which converts into 'Hell Here', is blatantly stolen from 'Batman Returns' (1992). And what are those references to Tabu throughout the film? Okay, we get it. Mahie resembles Tabu now can we go on with the film please?

WHAT TO DO: Not meant for the faint-hearted. If you are the discerning sort, these are two-and-a-half hours well-spent. At least a large part of that time.

Gulaal

U; political drama
Dir: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Raj Singh Chaudhary, Abhimanyu Singh, Deepak Dobriyal, Jesse Randhawa and Mahie Gill
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At a cinema near you
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Andheri
Fun (10.30 am, 11.30 am, 2.15 pm, 5 pm, 7.45 pm, 10.30 pm), Fame Big (10.45 am, 1.45 pm, 3.15 pm , 4.45 pm, 7.45 pm, 9.15 pm, 10.45 pm)

CHURCHGATE
Inox Nariman Point (11.15 am, 2.30 pm, 5.15 pm, 8 pm, 10.45 pm)

MARINE LINES
Metro Big (11.10 am, 1.55 pm, 4.40 pm, 7.35 pm, 10.30 pm)

MALAD
Fame (10 am, 10.45 am, 12 pm, 1.30 pm, 3 pm, 3.45 pm, 4.30 pm, 6 pm, 7.30 pm, 9 pm, 10.25 pm )

MULUND
Big Cinemas (11.20 am, 2.35 pm, 4.50 pm, 7.45 pm, 10.40 pm)

SANTACRUZ
Inox Milan Mall (12.45 pm, 6.45 pm, 9.45 pm)