Movie Review: Bombay Talkies

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Movie Review:

Bombay Talkies

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan (Cameo), Rani Mukherji, Randeep Hooda, Saqib Saleem, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Katrina Kaif (Cameo), Vineet Kumar.

Directed by: Karan Johar (Segment), Anurag Kashyap (Segment), Dibakar Banerjee (Segment), Zoya Akhtar (Segment).

Review by: Faisal Saif

Ratings:  *  *  *

Somewhere i read about this movie getting a “5 Star” ratings and that made me more curious to go and watch this film. 5 Star ratings? But doesn’t a “5 Star” ratings means a ‘Perfect’ and a ‘Flawless’ film? The review also said in the end (For Anurag Kashyap’s segment-story especially) “It could have done with a tighter grip over the narrative” and it also pointed (For the whole film) “Long after each story ends we are left wondering what would happen to the vividly written characters. No, that’s not a good thing in this case.” It clearly means Bombay Talkies had it’s Flaws. Still a “5 Star”?

I am still unable to get the answers, If Bombay Talkies had Flaws, How come a “5 Star” rating? How many stars does ‘Mother India’, ‘Mughal-E-Azam’, ‘Pakeezah’, ‘Do Aankhen Barah Haath’, ‘Navrang’, ‘Do Bigha Zameen’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge’ and other (Unmentioned) cinematic gems deserved?

Bombay Talkies is prepared by four short stories by four best Indian Film makers we have.

Karan Johar:
An urban couple (Randeep Hooda and Rani Mukherji) is happily married or at least it seems so until the wife meets a new colleague (Saqib Saleem) at work which changes her life forever and all hell break loose.

This story somewhere reminds you the woman courage and boldness what we have already seen in Karan Johar’s Not-So-Succesful ‘Kabhi Alvida Na Kehnaa’. This story is shocking, But not a surprising one. Because Karan Johar had already tried this format earlier. Still, For the well-crafted and astonishing performances by all the three characters, This one is worth a watch.

Dibakar Banerjee:
A failed actor (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is struggling to make a living after his father’s death. All he stumbles upon is his last chance to prove himself to the world and more importantly, to his daughter. A small scene in a film with actor Ranbir Kapoor (No! Ranbir is not there in the film).

This story really hits you hard and gives you wet eyes especially for a brilliant and applauding performances by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sadashiv Amrapurkar. This story is an inpiration from Satyajit Ray’s short story.

Zoya Akhtar:
A 12 year old boy (Naman Jain) from a middle-class family is inspired by a film star (Katrina Kaif) to break the conventions of the society and follow his dreams come what may. He is obsessed with Katrina Kaif’s dance and songs, And makes his father (Ranvir Shorey) worried and irritated.

This one reminds you of Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane’s ‘Udaan’ and Sanjay Gupta’s (Long forgotten) Bipasha Basu starrer ‘Pankh’. This one looks good only for the child actor Naman Jain.

Anurag Kashyap:
A man from a small town in UP (Vineet Kumar) comes to Mumbai to fulfill his ailing father’s last wish which may also save his life. He wants to meet the superstar Amitabh Bachchan and he will not give up.

The story is dragging and funny at the same time. It also gives you a pinch on your heart about the whole Amitabh Bachchan and his home’s aura. The film (Again) stands out for Vineet Kumar’s performance.

Yes, Bombay Talkies is a well made film because as i mentioned, It has been made by India’s finest film makers. Bombay Talkies is a serious cinema which may attract to the the people who shell out money to watch something different and vibrant. But for the people (At least 75% Indian Moviegoers) who look for “Entertainment” value, Bombay Talkies cannot be recommended from my side.

The makers claimed Bombay Talkies to be a ‘Tribute’ to the 100 years of Indian Cinema. Tribute? If i try and analyze each story from Bombay Talkies, It gives me a ‘Negative-Feeling’ towards Indian Cinema. Indian Audience still go for films such as ‘Rowdy Rathore’, ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’, ‘Race’, ‘Munnabhai Series’, ‘Golmaal Series’, ‘Housefull Series’, ‘Rajinikanth Films’, Salman Khan Films’ and the list goes on and on. In such films, They get their ‘Paisa Vasool‘ (Worth-A-Money) factor.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ can be termed as a ‘Perfect-Tribute’ to 100 years of Indian Cinema according to me.

I would like to repeat myself here, Bombay Talkies is a good film. But it has it’s Flaws and can be only recommended for a special but a small sector of viewers who are looking for a serious cinema.

PS: Please don’t distribute “5 Star Ratings” like chocolates and candy’s friends, You might need a Reality-Film-Check.