Curiosity was at its peak when probably the country’s Most Successful Director- Raj Kumar Hirani chose probably this generation’s Best Actor- Ranbir Kapoor to play Sanjay Dutt on screen. Dutt’s life has been nothing short of a roller coster ride and Hirani has managed to sum up everything in this 160 minutes long movie. Sanjay Dutt’s life has been an open book but I am still longing the answers to some of the questions I had from this not so biopic. Leaving everything aside, life of this man still encompasses an ordinary man’s thinking.
Plot:
Sanjay Dutt has 30 days to surrender. Dutt’s wife Manyata (Dia Mirza) suggests him to immortalize his unbelievable story by hiring an author. Winnie (Anushka Sharma), a renowned author is in town. Dutt meets her but she is hesitant to write his autobiography because of the controversial life he has had. Dutt engages her with his emotional tale and she is intrigued.
‘Sanju’ is more of a father-son story. Paresh Rawal plays Sunil Dutt with utter conviction. Dutt’s personal struggles with alcohol, drugs, women, family and professional struggle with his 12 movies failing on a trot are shown in the movie. Dutt’s mother, Nargis has a strong presence in his life and she is the only motivating factor in his recovery.
Dutt has played several characters off screen- a son, a brother, a womanizer, a drug addict and finally an alleged terrorist. Presence of AK-56 in his house and his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts is shown in the movie. His time in Yerawda, his links with the underworld are also depicted in the movie.
Cast:
The women in the film, Sonam Kapoor (girlfriend), Dia Mirza (wife) and Anushka Sharma (author) are all noteworthy. Manisha Koirala plays Nargis and sparkles the screen even in her limited presence.
Paresh Rawal is brilliant throughout. Jim Sarbh who plays the man who gets Dutt hooked on to drugs, is good. Brownie points are in order to Vicky Kaushal who plays Dutt’s best friend Kamlesh, is exceptional.
Ranbir Kapoor plays the titular character ‘Sanju’. He has proved his acting mettle in his earlier movies Rockstar and Barfi, but with this performance he outshines himself. It would not be an overstatement if said that Kapoor has played Dutt better than even Dutt would have played himself.
Music & Direction:
Kar Har Maidan Fateh will definitely bring goosebumps and background score is also good. The direction by Rajkumar Hirani is outstanding and so is the camera work. The screenplay is exceptional and takes you through the intricacies of the story with ease.
If you look at the biopic as a movie it’s brilliant, nothing less but if you go like me to find answers it might disappoint you. However, Ranbir Kapoor makes everything believeable with his finest performance.
Verdict : ❤❤❤ 1/2
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Vicky Kaushal, Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Diya Mirza and Jim Sarbh
Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani