Johnny Gaddar

I could simply review this film with a 3-word, "Watch this flick...!" (note the exclamation mark for effect...). But, that would not do any justice to what I am currently feeling 2.5 minutes after watching this movie.

This genre of movies comes as a complete refreshment amidst crappy self acclaimed laugh riots that seems to pollute the movie screen once too often these days. Sriram Raghavan pulls off a Guy Ritchie with this one. The best part of the movie is that it is not a 'whodunnit' thriller. We know all along who has done it, and the question is... how is he gonna get away...!

A brilliant follow up to his crisp hollywood-inspired Ek Hasina Thi, JG comes through as a lot more crisper in terms of editing, music, background scores and not to leave out the camera work.

The performances are credible, with Zakir Hussain and Vinay Pathak riding high. Neil looks the part a 100%, but his dialogue delivery is a major pull-back. I didn't expect anything more out of Rimi, so she is OK. Ashwini plays a brilliant role in the measly screen time allotted to her! The strength of the movie is the pace and the total lack of (melo)drama...!

The under-potrayal of emotional attachment of the protaagonist/ antagonist is a stronghold. For absolutely no reason you never hate this guy, in spite of the fact that he goes around killing people and disposing their bodies. And, this is probably what lubricates the little bit of brakes that movies tend to apply.

Music warrants a special mention. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (after a long time) strike a genius. Barring the brilliant title track you wouldn't ever want to hear any of the other songs a second time, and there in lies its beauty. You might watch the movie twice over and end up saying there was no song somposed for this movie! The bar songs, the 'item number' are composed to blend in with the scene to perfection. you hardly notice them. Credits to Sriram and SEL for the same. The title credits sets the tone and the pace for the rest of the movie. Editor Pooja Surti and director Raghavan take you through the rest of the movie without a single moment of boredom.

If this movie is anything to go by, Bollywood has a revisit to its 70s in the waiting...No remakes, just inspired originals... :)

Nonetheless, let me add...

Watch this flick!