Movie Review : Saheb Biwi aur Gangster

Rating : 4/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2011
Running time : 2 hours 10 minutes
Director : Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast : Jimmy Shergill, Mahi Gill, Randeep Hooda, Vipin Sharma, Shreya Naraynan, Deepraj Rana
Kid rating : A

A Macbeth-ian tale of betrayal, this is set in modern-but-suffering-from-a-feudal-hangover India. In the badlands of rural UP, reigns Saheb (Shergill), the now-dead Raja/Zamindar’s son. Dependent on his father’s widow for funds, Saheb himself has a wife – the Begum (Mahie Gill) and a mistress Mahua (Narayanan). Fast losing political clout Saheb decides to contest elections. His rival Gainda Singh (Vipin Sharma), eager to thwart  Saheb, decides to plant a mole in his household. The mole Lalit (he calls himself Bablu – “ghar ka naam”), arrives as a replacement driver when the Begum’s driver is inconvenienced. Soon Bablu (Hooda) has struck up a friendship with the lonely Begum and dreams of taking the easy route up . . .

This is such a great setup – Saheb, Chotti Rani and Bablu the three vertices of our tension-filled triangle – that I’m just waiting for the action to begin. And begin it does, slowly and languorously! Dhulia paces this film beautifully, and fleshes out his headstrong characters with interesting quirks and motives. Saheb is conscious of his diminished power, and abhors the fact that he has to ask the Badi Rani for funds. Begum has a history of mental instability, is eccentric and jealous of the mistress. Bablu is in Saheb’s household to spy on him, but finds himself attracted to Saheb’s wife and wealth. With all three wanting what they cannot get, schemes abound. You know the situation is going to explode, and you’re glued to your seat waiting for it!

The actors do a fantastic job. The script crackles with smart dialogues, and lovingly etched settings. Shergill as Saheb is just the right touch of aristocratic, Mahie as Begum just the right amount of headstrong, and Hooda as Bablu just desperate enough to set them all hurtling towards destruction. There is also music-video siren Deepal Shaw as Bijli; a highly deglamorised role for her.

This is a dark, gritty film, and fairly graphic in nature. Dhulia nicely ties the personal with the political, giving us a smart and interesting watch. Highly recommended.