O’Romeo Movie Review: Vishal Bhardwaj’s Film Is Dark, Poetic, and Violent!
O’Romeo Movie Review and Ratings
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Farida Jalal, Nana Patekar, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Aruna Irani, Hussain Dalal, Rahul Deshpande
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars)
‘love a curse, destroys someone who gets hit.’ Something similar happens with Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid Kapoor‘s ‘O’Romeo’. ‘O’Romeo’ had been in the news ever since its announcement. Finally, today it has reached theatres. This is Shahid Kapoor‘s fourth film with Vishal Bhardwaj. The last three films, ‘Kaminey’, ‘Rangoon’, and ‘Haider’, have received appreciation from critics. Now action, love, cheating, and revenge are all seen in ‘O’Romeo’. Do you know how it is, ‘O’Romeo’? 1995. Bombay. A don named Jalal gets his staff, Mahboob, killed. Because Mahboob wants to leave her job and enter the household. When her widow Afsha, comes to know about this, she decides to take revenge on the four people involved in this murder. For this, she reaches Jalal’s enemy and gangster Ustara. Ustara dismisses his demand as a joke at first. But ultimately, he has to admit it. Now you get to see in the movie how these guys get to Jalal and kill him.
There is no dearth of films made on the underworld of Mumbai, but there are some stories that do not make noise but gradually gain a hold. O’Romeo is also a similar film. It is a story that first brings you closer to the characters and then reveals the secrets hidden between them in the second part. The pairing of Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid Kapoor once again takes the audience on a serious, emotional, and mysterious journey. Today, ‘O’Romeo’ is released in theaters. The length of this film is 2 hours and 59 minutes.
Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has a deep connection with literature and novels. His famous films ‘Maqbool’, ‘Omkar’, and ‘Haider’ were highly appreciated as Indian adaptations of the plays of William Shakespeare. At the same time, ‘intelligence’ was also based on Amar Bhushan’s spy novel Escape to Nowhere. Taking this tradition forward, his new film ‘O’Romeo’ is inspired by a chapter in the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by author Hussain Zaidi. This book brings to the fore the world of women who have been active in the Mumbai underworld.
O’Romeo Movie Review: The Story Plot
O’Romeo is a revenge story. The story of the film is based on 1995 Mumbai. Ustara (Shahid Kapoor) works for IB Officer Khan (Nana Patekar). Khan gives Ustara money to kill the gangsters. The Ustara completely follows Khan’s instructions. Because once Khan had taken out the Ustara from the clutches of Jalal (Avinash Tiwary) and saved his life. Ustara lives on a cruise with his grandmother (Farida Jalal) and his companions.
Among these, Chhotu (Hussain Dalal) is his most special. Bar dancer Julie (Disha Patani) is Ustara‘s girlfriend. One day, Afsha (Triptii Dimri) was shot by Jalal Ansari. She came to give betel nut to Shankar and Inspector Pathare. All of them are special people of Jalal. There is a backstory behind why Afsha wants to do this. In which her husband, Mehboob Qureshi (Vikrant Massey), is present. What happens is that Afsha wants to kill these people. For this, you will have to watch the film.
The Utrara refuses to let Afsha do so. But then something happens that the Ustara saves Afsha‘s life and helps her kill these four. Not only this, but he also trends Afsha. During this time, feelings for Afsha also start awakening inside the Ustara. Jalal (Avinash Tiwari) has a strong entry in the interval scene of the film. He lives in Spain with his wife, Rabia (Tamanna Bhatia). From there, he controls his drugs and all the underworld businesses in Mumbai. Jalal is so ferocious and savage that it is very difficult even for IB to reach him.
His terror in his very first scene becomes known. Till the first half, the story seems to be an action-drama between the gangster war and the police. In the second half, it becomes a love story and a revenge story. The Ustara that kills people within minutes with his Ustara suddenly becomes Romeo and is ready to go to any extent for his love (Afsha). Ustara, Afsha, Jalal, and Khan all have a backstory in the film. Which comes out layer by layer in the story.
O’Romeo Movie Review and Analysis
This is an impressive film for me. Because Vishal tries to do something here, which he probably has not done till now. He was always seen as a filmmaker who made serious cinema. One is never expected to make a film whose purpose is only entertainment. He was imprisoned in the same slot. He was expected to make similar films again and again. ‘O’Romeo‘ frees him from that image. This is the biggest victory of this film. Now, coming to the issue of how the film ‘O’Romeo‘. In my opinion, this is a tasty film. Inspired by real events but far from reality. Full of bullets and abuses. But this is not his specialty. This is a love story in the form of a revenge drama. Who does not make her dress her personality. In the world in which this story takes place, there is no other option but violence. But ‘O’Romeo‘ does not romanticize violence. There is a scene in the film when Afsha asks for a gun from Ustara. Ustara also gives him a piece of advice along with the gun. He says, “Once that line is crossed, a beast is born inside forever.”
Therefore, he seeks revenge for Afsha, his purpose. He doesn’t want Afsha to become like the monster he is. But it’s not just his kindness; it’s also his love for Afsha. He buys a fight that he probably won’t be able to win. And this fight is not with Jalal, but with himself. He has fallen in love with a girl who will never be able to love him back. This was expressed very poetically in the film. When Afsha comes to know about the feeling of razor, she says, “Love is a curse, which has hurt me and you too.”
The imprint of our times is visible on ‘O’Romeo‘. The kind of action, full of blood and gore, that is there in this film, we have seen in many films in the past. But these action sequences are very stylish and sleek. But their abundance reduces the fun. There are two more things that you missed in the film. And she did not allow ‘O’Romeo‘ to be made a film, so Vishal set out to make it.
First, the film’s villain, Jalal. Which, by the way, is inspired by Daws Ibrahim. But this is a fancy villain. Lives in Spain. Does bullfighting. But as heavy as his role has been made, he does not prove to be that dangerous. There is more thunder and less rain. Plus, Avinash Tiwary looks very out of place in the role of Jalal. With the talent that the actor has, he could have made himself very threatening. But writing limits them. And he remains a regular caricatured villain. His being in Spain reduces the weight of the film.
The second thing that I miss in this film is the gathering of so many actors. Apart from two songs, Disha Patani has been given a chance to appear in a few scenes. This is the same role that Gauhar Khan did in ‘Ishaqzaade’. But it does not play that big a role in the story. Tamannaah Bhatia has played the role of Jalal’s wife, Rabia. Which is tried to be justified with the help of a flashback. That decision also seems to stand on its head.
The beginning of the film gives a feeling of larger than life, when the murder of a producer is accompanied by a massive execution in the cinema hall. Son Filnam’s popular song ‘Dhak-Dhak Karne Laga’ plays in the background. The story then mainly focuses on Ustara and Afsha‘s relationship, but Afsha‘s backstory seems overdrawn. The story wavers after the interval. In the crime book written by Rohan Narula and Vishal Bhardwaj (Vishal Bardwaj), Usantra’s obsession with Afsha is not established as to why he is risking everything for her. The character of the villain Jalal is inspired by Kukhyat underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim, but proves to be the weakest link in the story. In the dialogues, he has been described as very powerful, but his dominance and danger on screen are not felt that much.
The conflict between Ustara and Jalal has also not become exciting. Jalal’s wife, Rabia (Tamannah Bhatia), says that she does not like Jalal becoming a terrorist. Whereas he is an underworld leader. This contradiction is beyond comprehension. The film contains scenes of brutal violence, which can be disturbing. There is a need to consider the prevention of the ever-increasing scenes of violence in films. However, the duration of the film is also quite long. There was full scope for reducing it by removing many unnecessary scenes. The songs and music of the film are its strongest link. The songs written by Gulzar and music by Vishal Bhardwaj support the film on both emotional and commercial levels. Songs like ‘Ishq Ka Fever’ and ‘Paan Ki Dukaan’ are really good, and Shahid Kapoor‘s dance makes these songs great. Cinematographer Ben Bernhard captures the story coming and going from Mumbai to Snappen very well on camera.
Nana Patekar and Farida Jalal have been given the task of accounting for their POTUS. Why wouldn’t anyone want to see Nana dancing on ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga’? At this stage of her career, Farida Jalal got a role that gives her an opportunity to do something new, something fresh. In the rest of Vishal Bhardwaj‘s films, Shahid Kapoor is a completely different beast. That thing is repeated in ‘O’Romeo‘ also. Triptii Dimri has played the role of Afsha. The arc of this character is snatched away and given to Ustara. Despite this, Triptii‘s work is solid. His character is vulnerable. But she is so serious about revenge that she doesn’t even realize that what she has set out to do is almost impossible.
There is a beautiful scene between Shahid and Triptii in the film. When Ustara finally understands that Afsha will not reciprocate his love, he is unable to accept her. Tries to have physical relations with her by using a power position. But can’t do it. Then Afsha tells him, “You do not want my body, you want my soul. Which you cannot get in this life.” After hearing this, Razor walks out of that room. He returns to the room and picks up his liquor bottle lying next to the bed.
Looking at ‘O’Romeo‘, it seems that only Vishal Bhardwaj has taken the contract of taking Shahid Kapoor out of the chocolate hero image. Like every time, here too, he has made Shahid do the same work as he did in ‘Kaminey’ and ‘Haider‘. This is the reason why, sometimes, when he is seen in a crazy, ferocious form, he reminds us of ‘Haider‘ and ‘Kaminey’. But that anger and intense look in his eyes make his work excellent. Also, the sparring between him and Nana Patekar helps in softening the atmosphere.
It is good to see Triptii Dimri in the film, because here she has not only shown her beauty but has also played the most important character of the story. In the film, she is seen doing more action than romance. Of course, the director has also made good use of her beauty. But his emotions and aggression have come out openly like this for the first time. Somewhere, the credit for this goes to Vishal Bhardwaj. Looking at him, it seems that this character was for him only.
Avinash Tiwary has surprised. His entry definitely happens just before the interval, but looking at him, it seems that it is better late than never. He has completely entered the character of Jalal. He looks scary and ferocious. Even the audience will get scared once they see the anger and brutality in his eyes in the close-up shots. Whereas even in emotional scenes, he gets completely involved. He has shown that he is truly a versatile actor, and his range is much more than that of a ‘Majnu’. It is expected that after this film, more powerful roles will come to his credit.
Nana Patekar has completely gotten into his character. The joke that he has done in the character of Khan, only Nana can do it. Of course, his character could have been explored a little more, but as much as it is, it is very important in terms of the story and what to say about Nana’s acting. Apart from this, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Disha Patani are in the story only for a short while. But whatever time he has come, he has done justice to his character. Tamanna is a different kind of character from other characters.
However, Shahid Kapoor‘s spectacular dance overshadows Disha’s hot figure and bold steps in the song Aashiqon Ki Colony. Perhaps it happens very rarely that even while Disha Patani is dancing on screen, people’s eyes go to someone else. At the age of 76, Farida Jalal does what she did not do in her entire career. She has been seen in a bold manner, where, for the first time, she is using harsh words on screen. Of course, it is natural to be like this when you are the grandmother of a gangster. Hussain Dalal’s work is also good.
Vishal Bhardwaj‘s direction never feels stilted. But this time, he is not able to create magic like ‘Maqbool’, ‘Kaminey’, and ‘Haider’ here. Perhaps in the process of weaving a gangster-action drama and a love story, he goes astray at some places. Due to which the story also seems lost on many occasions. Some action scenes and sequences seem completely heroic, which, till now, Vishal Bhardwaj had avoided. As the climax is shocking, because if someone is so powerful, then how does a man reach her so easily? This question troubles everyone. The rest of the cinematography is good on many occasions. The fight sequences are very well shot, and the close-up shots of Avinash Tiwary and Shahid Kapoor in the climax are really spectacular. There is a good use of songs from the 90s in the film, which makes the fight sequences even better.
O’Romeo Movie Review: The Last Words
‘O’Romeo‘ is an entertaining film. Who doesn’t shoulder the burden of your expectation? She does whatever it has to do, raw. This raw includes film length. Whenever Vishal Bhardwaj and Shahid Kapoor have brought any story till now, it has not been such that it cannot be seen. Of course, ‘Rangoon’ can be said to be an exception. But ‘O’Romeo’ is not at all something that should not be given a chance. The story is inspired by real characters. That’s why she hasn’t wandered too much. If you want to see a good work from a good star cast, then of course this film is for you. Yes, it is so much that the film will not look boring anywhere. Yes, it definitely takes some more time. The story could have been a little better.
