‘Shootour At Wadala’ (SAW) is a complete ‘paisa wasool’ movie especially if you are fan of action and masala, despite the three ‘failed attempt’ item numbers by 3 most wanted item girls in the film. While it is a complete ‘John Ibraham’ flick, all the actors, (specially male) have gone to the skin of their respective characters and that is worth-watching.
SAW is highly inspired by S Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘From Dongri to Dubai’ and the film can be accounted as a biopic of a notorious goon Manya Surve (John Abraham). As its name provides, SAW filmizes the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police, where gangster Manya Surve was shot dead, which took place at the junction next to Dr. Ambedkar college, Wadala, Mumbai on 11 January 1982.
Manya rules over parts of Mumbai and messed around with his rivals Zubair (Manoj Bajpayee) and Dilawar (Sonu Sood). Apart from the ‘Bhai-izm’, the gangster also boasts a human side as well as a romantic life on lieu of which he makes love to his girlfriend Vidya (Kangana Ranaut) and play the loyal friend to Sheikh Munir (Tusshar Kapoor).
The film has been narrated by the dreadful gangster himself to the Police (ACP Aafaque Bagraan – Anil Kapoor) in a van. The tale is about how he transformed from a college boy Manohar Surve to gangster Manya Surve. It showcases how the focussed Manohar gets wrongly accused of a murder that drastically changes his life for the worse, as he gets imprisoned for life. In jail, Manya meets Sheikh Munir (Tusshar Kapoor) and becomes his friend, who helps him escape. After flying from the jail, Manya forms his own gang to challenge the ruling underworld bhais – Dilawar Imtiyaz Haskar (Sonu Sood) and his brother Zubair Imtiyaz Haskar (Manoj Bajpayee). There are three item numbers by Priyanka Chopra, Sunny Leone and Sophie Choudry in the film but though those mesmirizes the male actors on screen, those hardly impresses the real audience.
Review – The film is worthwatching as it perfectly depicts the story of its genre (Action-dramma) with lots of bloodshed, powerful performance and outstanding directorial treatment. Yes, it is a entertainment packed flick to make you sit tight at the theatre. Of course, the first half is bit slow (perhaps because it takes time to establish a lot of stars), but the second half is really thrilling for the action sequences. A special mention for the scene where Manya takes on the Imtiaz brothers face-to-face. Also the scene (in slow motion) of John catching the Vile Parle Bus is a brilliant one.
Even, Tusshar Kapoor plays outstanding as a side kick. In short, the ensemble of supporting actors gives Wadala a definitive edge. Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Sonu Sood and Ronit Roy are 100% in character all the time. Veteran Anil Kapoor has once again displayed his powerful acting prowess to win the audience.
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On the darker side, it is quiet unfortunate that item number specialists like Kangna Ranaut and Sunny Leone fails to impress the audience; we know the Barfi! Babe is not a connoisure of item number.
Director Sanjay Gupta has taken great care to leave an essence of the ’70s and ’80s in the film. Not only wardrobe, but sets including the buildings and cars offers a seventies effect perfectly. Dialogues by Milap Zaveri goes well with the characters and interestingly the actors have efficiently delivered all of them to offer a justified result always.
No doubt the film is one of John’s career-best performances. Sonu Sood offers a power-packed performance. Manoj Vajapayee once again proves his aptitude. Even wathing Siddhant Kapoor, son of onscreen baddie Shakti Kapoor, is worthwatching. The girls gets lesser scope to show their talent in this male-dominate and men-populated flick.
Verdict – The film is a complete entertainer for its action, dialouges and power-packed performances. It will be more appreciated by mass. SAW falls in the must-watch category no doubt.
TNI Rating – *** & ½ ( 3 & ½ ) Stars out of 5.