Mumbai Saga: Sanjay Gupta Is Back On His Favourite Hunting Ground With John Abraham
Mumbai Saga starring John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi sees filmmaker Sanjay Gupta back in his known territory, the underworld and it's kingpins.
How many films has Sanjay Gupta made on the underworld and its kingpins? I’ve lost count and I really don’t wish to count. It would be easier to enumerate his films that are not about gangsters and their love interests. Again, not interested.
Gangsters, underworld dons and life of opulent outlawry return with Gupta’s latest Mumbai Saga, a film so steeped in the ethos of out-casteism that the trailer will immediately give you a sense of déjà vu. John Abraham with a perpendicular tikka on his forehead and a permanent be-scared-I-am-merciless scowl stuck on his face like a poster promoting an electoral candidate, looks just about as menacing as John can be when he sets his heart to it.
Clearly, the idea is to portray the criminal in sympathetic colours. I am not too sure I want to see another film glorifying gangsterism especially at a time when internecine violence seems like the last resort of those who revel in creating crevices in the nation’s tranquillity.
Why are we celebrating the lives of gangsters anyway? Do we owe them anything? They should be dead and buried. Nonetheless, as far as cinematic experiences go, I am looking forward to Mumbai Saga. Sanjay Gupta’s storytelling has a certain flair and virility, both on evidence in the trailer. His shot compositions are shot swift and violent. Just like life.
I am not sure Emraan Hashmi’s cop act would have any impact when compared with Mr Abraham’ gangsta raga. Mahesh Manjrekar’s menacing look and sinister act also caught my attention. Clearly, he makes more of an impact as an actor in two minutes of the trailer of Mumbai Saga than as a director in 400 minutes of his series The War In The Hills.
Image source: IMDb, SpotboyE archives