Gangs of Wasseypur is an epic in terms of its vision, execution and ambition. Years, decades pass and the revenge saga goes on and on and on. Though there is a definite end to the film, the premise has an indefinite loop. And, the genius director proves that he has a voice unlike any in this industry, albeit goes a little overboard.
To pull off a 5 + hours epic without any note-able star power and making it a cult success is not a joke. There is no mediocrity in the making. From the littlest of characters to the nuances in the set design, Kashyap gets everything spot on. A mere character actor “Nawazuddin” of yore, looks like a Mega Star on screen, with complete control of the proceedings.
What Kashyap excels in is Character Development, mixing comedy with pulp and action sequences. He seems to be completely inspired by the Tarantino style of film-making, where the dialogues are brisk and the violence is electric. Even the use of background score/songs to elevate any sequence is an inspired delight. Sneha Khanwalkar infuses life into the scenes with her delightfully raw and slice of life music.
The first half of the 2nd film is excellent, but things seem to drag on and on in the second. The convoluted tale of crossing, double crossing and double double crossing tests your patience. It seems like a rudderless ride, but you know it’s intentional. And that’s my problem with the film. Just as you start getting frustrated, the heroin sings “Frustiyaayo nahi mooraaaaaaa”!!!
Kashyap goes into over-indulgence, concentrating on set-pieces rather than the entire product. It’s like a kid is given with magical powers and he doesn’t know when to stop using it. I think Kashyap was having too much fun with the talent at hand, and used to sleep wondering what I could do next.
Anyways, though there is a problem with the length, he makes up for it in style. The movie is definitely worth a watch, only if you have the stomach for some serious pulp. It’s also a masterclass in acting by all the main characters. So go watch it. But as I said earlier – do not expect a classic. It remains an epic quiet literally. Film keh ke leti toh theek tha… yeh bin kahe bhi le leti hai…
Rating : 6.5 / 10 ( Overall)