Bullett Raja
Year: 2013
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Jimmy Shergill, Sonakshi Sinha

In the last few years, Tigmanshu Dhulia has been in the news for all the right reasons. His directorial ventures Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Paan Singh Tomar and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns were some of the best films of recent times. Naturally expectations were high for his latest offering Bullett Raja, despite its none-too-impressive promos. Does the film manage to fulfill those high expectations?

What’s the plot?

Two young men, Raja (Saif Ali Khan) and Rudra (Jimmy Shergill) become friends at a wedding party. They pick up guns to defend themselves from an ambush and end up saving a powerful politician. Looking at their act of valor (and their upper caste, educated, unemployed status!), the politician takes them under his wings and offers them jobs as his henchmen. After a brief jail stint and some ‘expert advice’ there, Raja and Rudra come out to be the most dreaded hitmen in UP’s political scenery. Their daredevilry and friendship becomes stuff of local legends. But then an attack by the pair’s enemies sets off a chain reaction of vengeance and violence. Will Raja, forced into biding his time at his girlfriend’s (Sonakshi Sinha) place, be able to finish off his foes? Or will the unholy politician-corporate mogul nexus get rid of the daring gunman, who is getting too big for his shoes?

What’s hot?

·         Saif Ali Khan carries off the title role in style. But his macho killer Raja Misra here is no patch on his Omkara- portrayal- Langda Tyagi.

·         Jimmy Shergill once again impresses with his underplay.

·         Sonakshi Sinha and Vidyut Jamwal too play their limited (and patchily written!) parts with elan.

·         The item songs work well.

·         The clever twist in the end is enjoyable.

What’s not?

·         Dhulia had shown exceptional grasp on North India’s complex political rivalries in his earlier films. But the layered complexity of the plots and characters that made those films so watchable is missing from Bullett Raja. It is definitely more upscale in terms of production values but loses the artistic edge in the bargain.

·         Two core elements – Raja and Rudra’s friendship and Raja’s romance – have been portrayed sketchily and seem unconvincing. The same could be said for the overall treatment of main characters. They seem flimsy and no effort is made to explain their emotions and actions.

·         Dhulia’s tendency to make films on North Indian family feuds-fuelled political games (and also his standard supporting cast of Raj Babbar, Mahi Gill and the likes!) give off a repetitive feel.

·         The second half drags a lot.

Verdict

After wooing the critics and multiplex audiences with his intriguing political thrillers, Tigmanshu Dhulia tries to translate the formula for mainstream masses. Bullett Raja does well to keep you interested in the first half but then the grip slackens and even a well-conceived climax cannot deliver a satisfying conclusion.

If Dhulia had stuck to his tried and trusted formula of tight scripts with complex characterization and conflicting emotions, this film could well have turned into a memorable crime saga but unfortunately this time around he seems to be too distracted by the demands of commercial cinema. Half-baked story and superficial characters take away a lot from Bullett Raja but still the inherent talents of the director and main actors ensure that it remains a watchable film.

Rating

2.5 stars