This late movie review of Gulabo Shitabo is for people who are yet to watch it .
Gulabo Sitabo is the first movie released on OTT during the lockdown.
The trailer was enticing. The casting of Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushman Khurrana ( New Midas Touch boy of Bollywood) appetising. Seriously, I would have seen it like First Day if not for some compelling reasons like having driven Mumbai-Indore the day before.
Gulabo Sitabo is all about Mirza (Amitabh Bachchan) and Baankey (Ayushmann Khurrana).
Mirza and his Fatima Begum (Farrukh Jafar) live in their vast but crumbling haveli in Lucknow. It has old tenants still playing the same unchanged rent through the generations. The tenants have resisted rent hike.
One of the tenants is Baankey, living with his mother and three younger sisters. He has even stopped paying rent and in fact, is waiting for the rightful old aged Mirza and his Fatima Begum to die.
The tussle is for rent collection or eviction Vs no rent payment. A broken wall leads the landlord and tenants in a police station. A representative of the archaeology department comes to know about the haveli and plays the heritage building card. The landlord goes to a lawyer who has different plans. And the haveli is also in the radar of a builder. One would believe these are enough ingredients for an exciting plot and entertaining movie.
Amitabh Bachchan as Mirza once again proves why he is so much respected for the art. He lives the character. Ayushmann Khurrana as Baankey is a perfect foil to Amitabh Bachchan. However, you fell that Ayushman has played such roles before. The newness is missing. Srishti Shrivastava, as Baankey’s sister, adds some masala in the play. She is an actress to watch out for.
Vijay Raaz and Brijendra Kala as the archaeology officer and the lawyer are brilliant. They are underutilised. Maybe they deserved somewhat expanded roles/lines and a different wardrobe.
Gulabo Sitabo does keep you engaged for 124 minutes showtime.
You enjoy the conflicts and the interactions, the small episodes in their lives. Yet, in the end, the feeling is different, and you want to ask the director Shoojit Sircar and scriptwriter Juhi Chaturvedi – Yeh Kya Kiya. ( What have you done?)
The drama and the inherent comedy with satire is okay while the game is on, however at the end it lacks a satisfying performance. Gulabo Sitabo is like the crumbling haveli. It promises a lot. It still has the richness and an aura of yesteryears but is weak at many places. The AA Jodi of Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmaan Khurrana keeps it from falling out.
Gulabo Sitabo is NOT A WATE OF TIME. And at the same time, it is not highly recommended must watch type.
Star Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vijay Raaz, Brijendra Kala, Srishti Shrivastava Director: Shoojit Sircar
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Blog/ 47/2020/movie/06
