Babumoshai Bandookbaaz movie review: This one had the potential to be better

Directed By: Kushan Nandy
Produced By: Kiran Shyam Shroff, Ashmith Kunder, Kushan Nandy
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami, Shraddha Das, Divya Dutta
Duration: 2 hours 3 mins
Bollywood Bubble: 2.5/5

Today, we came out of a multiplex after watching Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’. And we were so confused because even the movie left us confused. What was the aim of the makers; to make a massy film or to make a message oriented film or they wanted to make a massy film with some message it? You people are also confused. Right!

So, let us tell you that ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’ is about Babu (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who is a contract killer. He has been given contract to kill three people, but even Baake (Jatin Goswami) has been given contract to kill those three people. While killing the first person Babu and Baake meet, and that’s how they come to know that they both have been given the contract to kill the same persons. They decide to compete with each other and see who will kill all the three first; and whoever loses will have to leave the contract killing business. Meanwhile, because of an incident Babu and Baake become friends, and kill the third person together. However, Baake reveals that the contract was to kill four people. So, who’s the fourth person? Who will win this game, Babu or Baake?

From the trailer itself, we had come to know that this movie will be a rustic-massy film, and it offers us what it showed. We won’t say that the story written by Ghalib Asad Bhopali is something great or unique, but it is also not bad. However, what goes wrong here is that the writer wanted to give out a message, but then the message just went haywire making this one just another massy film, with some cuss words, whistle-worthy dialogues, lovemaking scenes and the songs that will make all the masses dance on it. We are not saying that massy films can’t give a message, but here it looks too jumbled up. This one surely had the potential to be better, if the writer had one vision.

The movie is helmed by Kushan Nandy who dons the director’s hat after a long gap. His narration style is decent, but as the story and the screenplay weren’t up to the mark, the director too somewhere falters in making this film a strong one. He has tried to make this one a realistic film, but at some point the realism looks forced. However, Kushan succeeds in a few things, like picking perfect locations and taking out great performances from the actors. One more positive element of the movie is the cinematography done by Vishal Vittal. His camera handling is too good. But, we cannot ignore the strictly average editing. Editing done by Ashmith Kunder and Kushan Nandy is very mediocre. The scenes in the first half are abruptly edited. Sometimes you feel that a scene is going on and even before it ends, the next one just starts, abruptly.

Talking about performances, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is very good in his role, but then our question is; what’s new in his character? He has done such roles in many movies. Bidita Bag is nice in her role, but frankly, her character does not have much apart from some lovemaking scenes and brazen dance moves. We are quite happy that Chitrangada didn’t do this movie as the character wasn’t something that could have done justice to her talent. Well, the surprise package in the movie is Jatin Goswami. He is excellent as Baake and doesn’t get overshadowed by Nawaz. Divya Dutta once again proves that she is one of the most talented actresses we have in industry. A special mention to Bhagwan Tiwari, he is really good in his role of a cop. Shraddha Das has nothing to do in the film, totally wasted.

When it comes to music, the songs are strictly for masses. But, what impresses us is the background score. It is amazing.

On the whole, ‘Babumoshai Bandookbaaz’ had the potential to be a very good film, but then it just turned out to be yet another massy film. The makers wanted to give out a message of ‘You reap what you sow’ (Jaise karni waise bharni), but unfortunately it doesn’t come out effectively.

Watch Trailer