Nawazuddin Siddiqui‘s much-awaited movie ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz” has finally released today. The movie is directed by Kushan Nandy and produced by Ashmit Kunder. The film features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bengali actress Bidita Bag in the lead roles.
The movie starts with two professional assassins drinking on the bridge over the railway track and sharing their life stories and remembering how they have entered into the business of killing people. One considers the other his teacher. The junior has so much admiration for the senior that he has renamed himself as Banke Bihari (the character played by Jatin Goswami) out of respect for his guru, Babu Bihari (the character played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui).
Banke Bihari gets a self-realization when he gets to know that Babu takes Rs 25000 for each murder, while he takes only Rs 8000. This will turn their conversation towards inflation and how it has become difficult for them to hired guns to operate with honesty. Then, they challenge each other to murder three people whosoever will eliminate the three first will win and the other one has to leave the business of killing people.
They respect each other as they consider contract killing is like any other job. Daredevils have their own right and they enjoy patronage from local politicians. They have accepted their lifestyle believing that this is their fate and they will not attach to anyone except their craft of committing murders in unique ways.
However, Babu does not even mind Banke flirting with his girlfriend Fulwa (the character played by the Bengali actress Bidita Bag). In fact, all three of them drink and dance together. Babu trusts Banke a lot because he has already cleared the trust test before.
Director Kushan Nandy opens a film with a gun trotting Babu along with an Amitabh Bachchan’s song in the background. It’s a mufassil Uttar Pradesh where a local strongman Dubey loves to see his wife getting a massage from a burly masseuse. Then you will see a razor-tongued Jiji (the character played by the Divya Dutta), she lusts for power and she abuses non-stop. Jiji holds the key to local political thrones and takes challenges head-on and her conversations with the local cop are laden with innuendos and bring out the struggle to have an upper hand.
However, the movie has got the ingredients but the properties are not right in the movie. Many are comparing the movie with Gangs of Wasseypur because of the Nawazuddin’s rough image and Babumoshai Bandookbaaz lacks a cohesive script. The movie is more like a web series where twists happen to keep the story float till the next episodes. Director Kushan Nandy does not use them cover up the script loopholes.
The Bengali actress Bidit Bag will be seen playing the role of gusty and ambiguous Fulwa and she adds steams. Bidita’s comfort level during the intimate scenes with Nawazuddin fetches attention and her sensuousness adds a new dimension to her cobbler girl.
Babumoshai Bandokbaaz appears to be a superficial movie because it fails to explore the character it states everything about them in a matter of fact tone which will eventually slacken the audiences connect with them. Some moments in the movie are spontaneous laughter. But these moments can’t take away your attention from the shallowness of the entire facade.
However, the story of the movie never quite takes off. Nawaz’s acting skills tower above everyone else and he does not disappoint with his acting skills. Th script of the movie disappoints the viewers. Newcomer Bidita Bag shines in her role. Her raw sexuality keeps both Babu as well as the audience on the edge.
This movie is an out and out Nawaz film his quirks, his mannerism, his flaws all will make a delightful watch but Nawazuddin does not come across as enough in this film. However, the rustic landscape of Uttar Pradesh is captured well.