When the opening credits started to roll, I was mighty impressed by the animated work in the background. However, half an hour later, I started to get this sinking feeling that "this animated work" would probably be the only thing impressive about the movie.
First things, first. When you make a realistic or "art type" film and that too based on/inspired by true events, the handicap faced is that most viewers are already aware of the topic and those who aren't have this knowledge thrust upon them by the untiring media. Therefore, the filmmaker has no choice but to stick to the basic storyline and extract extremely good performances from the star cast to be able to hold the viewers' attention and this is precisely where Gulab Gang fails miserably. Yes, even with two good box office bets of yesteryears – Madhuri Dixit & Juhi Chawla.
The script demanded dialogue delivery of typical Hindi belt. If that be the case, then casting Juhi as the villainous politician mouthing lines in desi accent defies all logic. Some Juhi fans will argue that she was a superstar of her time. Well, she was a star who was "part of" quite a few hit films but that doesn't necessarily mean that she was brilliant in all of them. Even when she was in her prime, she was at best above average, never path breaking. She was and will be best known for her liveliness, youthful charm and disarming smile which is why her being cast as a negative character created such a buzz but then as it turned out, the bee just buzzed, it lacked the sting! Juhi's crooked smiles and shifty glances were grossly overdone. She was trying so hard that it hurt. Can't villains and vamps speak normally? It is difficult to comprehend why Juhi was given such rustic dialogues when she was so ill at ease delivering them.
Coming to Madhuri Dixit, well, sadly for her fans even she couldn't do much to save her Gang. She too struggled with her vernacular skills albeit lesser than Juhi. Madhuri had the chance to make the most of this opportunity but she faltered. She is also let down by the template of the film. Just because Madhuri's name is synonymous with jhatkas and matkas, does it mean that post every action sequence, a song and dance routine is a must? Needless to say, the ill timed song and dance pieces distract the viewers from the core issue. That the songs were nothing to write home about, is a different story altogether.
The action sequences are well shot and some of the one liners are good but does portraying a woman as the protagonist necessarily mean that she copies what a male hero does best which is - utter seeti inducing dialogues and execute slow motion action stunts? In fact, the woman as the Hero can add absolutely new dimensions. Cases in point, Smita Patil in Mirch Masala, Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini, Tabu in Chandani Bar, Vidya Balan in Kahaani and Madhuri herself in Mrityudand (arguably her best performance) and Lajja.
Another thing not understood is why it is a prerequisite even in a movie based on a serious/real topic to cast an actress with a beautiful face (even at the cost of acting). I mean Madhuri is (or was?) a good actress but wouldn't someone like Mita Vashisht with undeniably great acting skills but with unconventional good looks been a better choice? Add to it, her ability to convincingly look and sound rustic and she would have fitted the role to the T.
Cutting back to the actual movie, we have Madhuri (although staying in a remote, dusty, nondescript village) appearing on screen, looking as if she has just stepped out of a beauty parlour – flowing hair, tastefully styled and coloured, not to mention the flawless skin and eye makeup. Even the rest of the gang is dressed in designer cut blouses and fashionably pleated saris. And I am sure I espied an exquisitely manicured hand in the background. The only ones looking and sounding somewhere near real are Tannishtha Chatterjee (the talented "Brick Lane" actress), Divya Jagdale and Priyanka Bose. In fact, they are the only ones who manage to hold your attention. The climax seems to have been inspired by Total Siyappa because that is what it is – "totally siyappad!!"
A documentary based on the original gang titled GULABI GANG was (thankfully) released prior to this masala version and I have heard that it is extremely hard hitting. So I would say three cheers for Sampat Pal and her gang. As for Madhuri's Gulab Gang, I would say that this GULAB has too many thorns.
First things, first. When you make a realistic or "art type" film and that too based on/inspired by true events, the handicap faced is that most viewers are already aware of the topic and those who aren't have this knowledge thrust upon them by the untiring media. Therefore, the filmmaker has no choice but to stick to the basic storyline and extract extremely good performances from the star cast to be able to hold the viewers' attention and this is precisely where Gulab Gang fails miserably. Yes, even with two good box office bets of yesteryears – Madhuri Dixit & Juhi Chawla.
The script demanded dialogue delivery of typical Hindi belt. If that be the case, then casting Juhi as the villainous politician mouthing lines in desi accent defies all logic. Some Juhi fans will argue that she was a superstar of her time. Well, she was a star who was "part of" quite a few hit films but that doesn't necessarily mean that she was brilliant in all of them. Even when she was in her prime, she was at best above average, never path breaking. She was and will be best known for her liveliness, youthful charm and disarming smile which is why her being cast as a negative character created such a buzz but then as it turned out, the bee just buzzed, it lacked the sting! Juhi's crooked smiles and shifty glances were grossly overdone. She was trying so hard that it hurt. Can't villains and vamps speak normally? It is difficult to comprehend why Juhi was given such rustic dialogues when she was so ill at ease delivering them.
Coming to Madhuri Dixit, well, sadly for her fans even she couldn't do much to save her Gang. She too struggled with her vernacular skills albeit lesser than Juhi. Madhuri had the chance to make the most of this opportunity but she faltered. She is also let down by the template of the film. Just because Madhuri's name is synonymous with jhatkas and matkas, does it mean that post every action sequence, a song and dance routine is a must? Needless to say, the ill timed song and dance pieces distract the viewers from the core issue. That the songs were nothing to write home about, is a different story altogether.
The action sequences are well shot and some of the one liners are good but does portraying a woman as the protagonist necessarily mean that she copies what a male hero does best which is - utter seeti inducing dialogues and execute slow motion action stunts? In fact, the woman as the Hero can add absolutely new dimensions. Cases in point, Smita Patil in Mirch Masala, Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini, Tabu in Chandani Bar, Vidya Balan in Kahaani and Madhuri herself in Mrityudand (arguably her best performance) and Lajja.
Another thing not understood is why it is a prerequisite even in a movie based on a serious/real topic to cast an actress with a beautiful face (even at the cost of acting). I mean Madhuri is (or was?) a good actress but wouldn't someone like Mita Vashisht with undeniably great acting skills but with unconventional good looks been a better choice? Add to it, her ability to convincingly look and sound rustic and she would have fitted the role to the T.
Cutting back to the actual movie, we have Madhuri (although staying in a remote, dusty, nondescript village) appearing on screen, looking as if she has just stepped out of a beauty parlour – flowing hair, tastefully styled and coloured, not to mention the flawless skin and eye makeup. Even the rest of the gang is dressed in designer cut blouses and fashionably pleated saris. And I am sure I espied an exquisitely manicured hand in the background. The only ones looking and sounding somewhere near real are Tannishtha Chatterjee (the talented "Brick Lane" actress), Divya Jagdale and Priyanka Bose. In fact, they are the only ones who manage to hold your attention. The climax seems to have been inspired by Total Siyappa because that is what it is – "totally siyappad!!"
A documentary based on the original gang titled GULABI GANG was (thankfully) released prior to this masala version and I have heard that it is extremely hard hitting. So I would say three cheers for Sampat Pal and her gang. As for Madhuri's Gulab Gang, I would say that this GULAB has too many thorns.