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A prominent social activist is run over by a tempo, driven by political motive; subsequently, devious plans are made to cover up this ruthless crime of power and dirty politics.
A prominent social activist is run over by a tempo, driven by political motive; subsequently, devious plans are made to cover up this ruthless crime of power and dirty politics.
Okay, so there are no towering 'erections' here - like in the famed Chinese city of the same name. Of course, it's 'election' (now how does the Orient pronounce that?) time and promises abound. The age-old joke, "I will make a Paris/ Shanghai/ London/ New York out of this city if elected!" is still swallowed by a gulping 'erectorate' (oops, electorate)! And that is the intense premise of Dibakar Banerjee's Shanghai. It's gut-wrenching, it's 'Made in India', unadulterated, 100% desi maal. Hardly sasta, but tikau. Nothing imported. The story pulsates in the heartland of India. Rising from the bed of desi politics, stained with the blood of hatred, guilt and treachery.
Chaos unfolds in small-town Bharatnagar, rallying around an upcoming election, lofty promises and ambitious plans of making this township (where air-coolers and kachua chaap are a rare sight) a dream- city. A faction of Bharatnagaris are suspicious about the government's 'clean-up-act' with plans of a majestic IBP (International Business Park); with high-rise buildings, malls and other urban frills and fantasies. While the rest blindly support power thirsty netas, only serving their selfish ambitions, and proudly calling it 'pragati'. Wow! That's India rising, alright.
Prominent social activist, Dr. Ahmedi (Prosenjit) flies into the scene (by chartered flight), with bravado, balls and bhaashans - to save the citizens from exploitation and illegitimate political passions. Alas, he's mowed down by a speeding tempo. High-ranking !AS officer, T.A. Krishnan (Abhay Deol) is pressurized by his boss (Farooq Sheikh) to murder his morality, drop his investigation and give this supposed drunken 'hit and run' case a clean-chit. Whereas activist Shalini Sahay (Kalki) is treated like a foreigner amongst the brown-skinned and on a mission to prove this is not an accident, but attempted murder. While politics makes strange bedfellows, Jogi (Emraan Hashmi), makes porn-partners, as a part-time videographer of adult movies. But risque soon turns into risky business when he ends up with real video evidence that can expose this conspiracy. Hereon, the politics only gets murkier, ruthless and bloodier. And Bharatnagar turns into a bedroom of more morchas, murder and corrupted moralities.
Finally, Emraan Hashmi has let go. Also of hot scenes, hot babes and Himesh-isms. Dibakar can take a bow for that. With crude body language, a pot belly, stained teeth and mawali moves, he perfectly looks the part and pulls off an act he should be proud of.
Abhay Deol thoroughly impresses with his cold, restrained and authoritative performance. Add to that a subtle Tamil accent. He doesn't lose grip of his character for even a fleeting moment.
Kalki has few dialogues that probably prompt her panicked expressions throughout. With a character sketch that hints at an ambiguous past; she doesn't reveal much - in performance or otherwise. Prosenjit, in a brief role leaves an impact. Farooq Sheikh adds gravitas to this gritty drama. Pitobash Tripathi as a herd-following morchawaala, Bhagu, stands out.
Director, Dibakar Banerjee's adaptation of Greek writer Vassilis Vassilikos's book 'Z' is impressively Indianized. The story-telling is embossed with naked realism, rawness and brutal honesty. Be it blood stained bodies, close-ups of blackened faces, or ugliness (of body and soul) - he bares it with gut, grit and gore. But it's not the first time we've seen the struggling aam aadmi made scapegoats by mantris who go back to plush seats in their power hubs. It's not the first time chapters on humanity and morality are shamelessly ripped from political text books. The story is predictable (expect for a few scenes), and the revelations that follow, don't send shockwaves or make your bellies churn.
Yet, reality stings. Sometimes more than the 'dengue and malaria' in our very own hinterland.
Review posted this month
Story is good but the movie has unnecessary violence which makes it slow too.
Review posted within last 6 month
Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin were outstanding as usual in their performace. They were the highlight of the movie !!
Review posted within last 6 month
one of the best movies of 2012. abhay deol as a bureaucrat simply rocked. plot bit loose but sharpness in direction, good music track were plus
Review posted within last 6 month
One time watchable...
Review posted within last 6 month
gr8 concept .... nice movie.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
A interesting movie to watch with much thrill ! A very good entertaining one !
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I am still thinking why they selected Kalki for this role? Or was there anything that I missed? But I watched it completely :( Watch only if there is nothing else to do.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Another good movie by Abhay Deol. Didn't get bored for once.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Not worth the hype
Review posted more than 6 month ago
After a very long time, a political thriller at its best has come out. Hats off to Dibaker Bannerjee.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Best movie of recent time........Abhay Deol Rocks.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
The best film in recent few weeks. Wow..... can watch it repeatedly.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Well one has to wait till the climax to get the real meaning of the movie's title,good movie.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I'm really forward to watch this flick. I really believe this movie is gonna have some substance unlike Rowdy Rathore. Plus Abhay Deol is in the movie which totally makes it 'no bakwas'!!! He is a Classic actor. I've booked my tickets at Wave Cinema nearby my house. And I'm so excited!!!! Yayyyyyy!!!!!
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Really worth watchable movie depicting the curren political condition and policy . But the succes of rowdy rathore made this movie underestimated
Review posted more than 6 month ago
It was a good, hard-hitting reality movie.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
The story that has been depicted is good.... though the movie runs very slow... slow enough to doze off somebody ! I'd better advice one to stay in home and see this later than going to theaters for such a waste of money and more importantly time !
Review posted more than 6 month ago
If you wanted to see a fast-paced thriller, Shanghai is not for you. If you want to see some real cinema, with intelligent shots and subtle creativity in terms of the entire tone, taste, content, dialogues and class of the movie, it's a perfect 10. The movie revolves around political parties in verge of a coalition and a business park to be constructed, eventually leading to a gripping search of truth and seeking justice on the murder of a leader who fought for the poors' rights. About the content, the dialogues are rare but effective, the characterization of each player is amazing while the storyline is strong and fresh. Some clever shots and picturization makes us feel good about Indian cinema, especially a scene wherein a van carrying a dead body (having people in it grieving for the dead man) is halted just because there's a political celebration going on the streets. About the performances, Emraan plays a geeky, street guy who is good at his wit, played well. Kalki speaks less, cries more, acts okay. Abhay Deol steals the show playing an IAS who is of southern origin, right from his style to his accent to dialect, he is totally in character and subtly and calmly adds zing to the story. A one time watch for real admirers of great cinema.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Dibakar banerjee is a good director. His previous three films were all a shining example of good direction, superb editing and showcased his firm grip on the story. But in the case of shanghai he got lost. The characters were never fully developed, the audience were not given a chance to connect to any one of them. The basic outline of the story and its settings were remarkably created but they couldn't shape it into something spectacular instead they chose the easy way out. with easy way out i reflect upon the extensive use of emotional scenes which vaguely took forward the story. This made the movie look like a documentary at numerous times which is in contrast to his previous movies which were all super liked because of their pace and story telling. At the end it felt like just seeing the tip of the iceberg. I personally felt disappointed as he could have done so much right with this movie.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
After A long time, something to watch for. Its not entertainment but touched a serious, logical and happening scenario. Totally stunned by acting of Abhay and Emraan...proved themselves real actors. Seriously worth watching atleast once, worth appeciating the efforts of production team, specially for the theme.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I din like it. it sounded more like a documentary..
Review posted more than 6 month ago
a nice and real take on rustic india. Good work by emraan and abhay but dibakar could have made it more interesting.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
abhoy deol is too good! and emran so...
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Nah,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it's not a copy from South,,,,,,,,,,,,nor does it have any item songs,,,,,,,,,,,,nor manly dialogues from the hero,,,,,nor does the heroine walks in a bikini. Nope we will not like it. We are Bollywood fans,,,,,,we have no brains. We only make films like Dabang or Rowdy rathore a hit,,,,,,,,,,,,,we are cheap,,,,brainless and mindless morons...........sorry this film should be flop
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I agree .. its boring...
Review posted more than 6 month ago
superb
Review posted more than 6 month ago
pathetic writing, awful review "jokes"...but nice movie...although not of dibakar;s khosla ka ghosla level. but it's a very different attempt.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
SHANGHAI is not only a film, its a representation of Complicate and Dirty Indian Politics. A must watch. Give it a try as same as I did it. :)
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Dibakar has got everything,.his movies r proofe of it...Excellent.,!!!
Review posted more than 6 month ago
This is unlike Dibakar's previous movies. very predictable storyline.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Outstanding
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Shanghai.. Four words describe it best "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" Its Dibakar Banerjee at his Satirical best.. Makes a mockery of enquiry commissions, politicians, bureaucrats, political parties, alliances etc.. Is Ably supported by 3 Aces.. Abhay Deol as Krishnan is a real surprise package. Kalki has proved that looking ugly is o.k. if you can act well.. Emran Hashmi sheds the serial kisser image and is absolutely down to earth.. Short cameos from Prosenjit, Farooq Sheikh and Supriya Pathak fill in beautifully.. This is one movie you should not miss.. Keeps you glued to the seat till the very end..
Review posted more than 6 month ago
If this is not good cinema.. then what is???? Excellent movie... from start to finish, gets you seething with anger!!!
Review posted more than 6 month ago
it's a must watch and too good movie..... hats of dibakar da for 'hatke' thinking and keep it up ...... only flaws is it fails to give any solution but depicts real scenario of Indian politics
Review posted more than 6 month ago
very good movie,hv shown the truth of political curptn,but could be betr
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Kalki has proved that looking ugly is o.k. if you can act well..lol haha ha
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Silk Smitha - Shanghaied: Dibakar Banerjee, in his very first creation - Khosla Ka Ghosla, showed his astute understanding of comedy and what it takes to make great movies. He experimented (and successfully so) with the script and the tech...nical aspects of movie-making in his last offering (Love, Sex and Dhokha) too and I liked the movie immensely. In fact, I thought it was the uniquest movie I had ever watched. Often, creative minds loose sight of the very reason why they are in the business of making films, because they are doggedly trying to "recreate" themselves, hell bent to prove it to themselves (if not to the world) that they are different and better than anyone else. Dibakar too seems to have been overcome by this obsession in his latest offering - Shanghai. I have never had a liking for docudramas BUT thats not the reason why I find Shanghai drab. I always watch a movie like a child - no prejudices and no preconceptions. Of course, if a movie stars actors whom I can not stand (Deepika Padukone for instance) then I avoid watching that movie in the first place and if for some reason I indeed end up watching it, the "unprejudiced" rule comes back into play. Shanghai is a movie with a predicatble storyline, which was the staple of South Indian cinema for a couple of decades (especially the 80s and the 90s). There are a few surprises on the way though, which are inadequte to lift the movie to the level of Dibakar's previous attempts. The characters fail to evoke much emotion in the audience, which is the litmus test of any good script and director. Abhay Deol, as usual, manages most efficiently to get under the skin of the character he has been assigned. When it comes to acting, he is the best "Deol" that Indian Cinema has seen so far. Farookh Sheikh is amazingly adept in his portrayal of a conniving, cringing Babu. In fact, these two make one feel that one is actually peeping into the office of a Babu and is secretly overhearing their conversations - thats how REAL they are. Emran Hashmi, for the first time perhaps, has been given the chance to show that he is capable of acting and this movie is for him what Omkara was for Saif Ali Khan BUT his Jogi is not as effective as Saif's Langra Tyagi. Having said that one still has to commend his effort wholeheartedly. Inspite of great performances by all actors, the movie utterly fails to keep the audience engaged and involved. If I am SMS-ing while watching a movie in a theatre that surely should send the alarm bells ringing for the maker/s. When one is uninspired one must look for inspiration eclectically. One must NOT reject any source because of one's own intellectual superciliousness. Which is why Dibakar needs to learn something from Silk Smitha, "..........Filmein sirf teen cheezon ki wajah se chalti hain... Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment.................", aur Shangai entertainment nahi hai.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
so what did you do after getting angry???? shagged and went to sleep??? we know how good is abhay deol as an actor(Dev D), and at the same we have had enough of moral pricking films, so one less is not gonna make much of a difference and peolple who are looking for good acting, direction etc should better watch art films
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Don't understand what you are objecting to? I think more such movies should be made rather than not. What's wrong with being affected emotionally by a movie? This was a good movie and I liked it enough to be mad at the system. Don't understand why that's a bad thing.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I think CM haven't killed Dr. Ahmedi, but his own wife did. Have any body seen last bit of it, murderer was driving a JCB for NBP project.....
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Shanghai brings out the murky world of bureaucracy and Indian political system made by the unconventional director Dibakar Banerjee which will constantly hold your interest for 2 hours. Though the movie was a bit slow and could have been made better but it was a brave attempt by the director. Surely it is not for the masses. Actors were perfect in their characters like Abhay Deol playing a role of South Indian IAS officer but the flavor of the movie was undoubtedly Emraan Hashmi.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
I saw the movie today and I didn't like it that much. Though the acting is superb by all the actors, the story is very, very slow. I won't be surprised if you fall asleep during the movie. Emraan Hashmi has done flawless acting but the story pace could prove to be a drawback for many people. If you want paisa-wasool movie then I won't recommend this movie but if you are in for some change from masala genre then go ahead and watch it. And I think the reviews are little bit too much positive. Its an ok movie. I didn't like it but doesn't mean you may not.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Sumit, I would rather agree with your comments HALFly, because ou said some good parts about the performances. But I am in a little disagreement part in the movie making because what I felt is that the movie has been made with great detailling. If you could have seen the scenes properly, but unfortunately you were sending SMSs at that time... :-) Manta hu ki Filmein "Entertainment" ki wajah se to chalti hi hai. Lekin cinema ka "MAKAAM" OONCHA hota hai kuch aisi hi filmon se..!! Anyways, atlast it all point of views of two different people. :)
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Very good attempt,Stunning performance by abhay deol, But at the end of the day ppl come to watch movie for entertainment, it lacks pace and any convictions,fails to keep the audience on the edge , very predictable.... so cant be called a thriller . Cant give "Realistic cinema" as a reason for such a movie, Cos we ve seen better and more entertaining realistic cinemas before.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
There are lots of paid review: the movie was hopeless. Lots of problem with story, depressing darkness, the fellow comes from america and he becomes so great that he is killed? and the heroine's father is in jail she looks bitchy and not fit to become herione, it was very clear that who was behind the killing except the IAS officer,, total faltu movie take it from me. though I liked Dibakars all previous movies this one sucks.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
All you Abhay Deol Fans out there ... its a must watch for you. Another scintillating performance by him ... this guys has an eye for detail .... Emran Hashmi wasn't bad either. A little slow at times but overall a good movie and moreover as I said earlier if you are an Abhay Deol fan, its a must watch :)
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Only one advise: People who liked movies like Amu / Namesake / Udaan or even mumbai meri jaan could go and watch this movie, They would love the direction, story content and acting by each and everyone.... Others please buy tickets for Rowdy..
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Emraan Hasmi's performance is commendable too....:) He won the show in comparision to Abhay Deol!!!!
Review posted more than 6 month ago
During a talk show on this movie I heard emran hashmi saying to the host that he had to put on 10 kgs weight in a months time to suit this role. Does this make any sense. Is not gaining excess weight in a short time bad for the body. Why could the director not find any one else already in this weight category to do the role. Sunny Deol was there. Stupid mentality. I have not seen the movie so fake rating.
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Worst Movie i have ever seen..
Review posted more than 6 month ago
Agreed!! Specially Udaan :D
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