Guddu Rangeela: A meandering tale

When will our filmmakers finally learn that villains must either be beaten to death or handed over to the police (if they have already arrived in the scene) and that guns and crowbars should never be left by their side?

But in Guddu Rangeela there is a strong reason why Billu Pahalwan (Rohit Roy), one monster of a man who swears by community honour for every excess he does, is left dying with a gun conveniently by his side.

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If you happen to see the movie, you will understand that the final act of vengeance is also one of the solutions that the film’s writer-director Subhash Kapoor proposes to address the disturbing issue of caste-led honour-killing.

It is, to put it mildly, simplistic and that precisely is the trouble with the film. It takes one of the biggest issues of our times (also seen earlier in Anushka Sharma’s NH 10) and reduces it to a caricature, as Bollywood always does.

In many ways, therefore, Kapoor’s movie, which comes after the quite enjoyable and socially-relevant Jolly LLB, becomes a letdown.

The emotional strength that Guddu Rangeela tries to whip up with one powerful scene where a man is coerced to shoot his daughter who violated the caste code soon gives way to a convoluted plot that challenges logic (which you may think is worth applying to movies such as this).

So it is that the mis-adventure of small-town, bumbling crooks Guddu (Amit Sadh) and Rangeela (Arshad Warsi), who ‘kidnap’ Baby (Aditi Rao Hydari), the sister-in-law of Billu loses its punch even before it begins.

We learn that they have been fooled into the job by Gora Bengali (Dibyendu Bhattacharya), who in a moment of ironic mirth, flaunts the card ‘Public Relations Manager’ for the ‘Underworld.’ The plot, from then on, gets progressively muddled.

It cuts to the back-story of Guddu & Rangeela, the victims of a heinous crime by Billu in the name of honour killing. Eventually, the film becomes a cat-and-mouse game between Billu and the duo.

To the credit of the director, he effectively makes us realise how individuals become victims, scapegoats and utterly helpless when the system (read politics and police) turns corrupt. It is a sad commentary really about Indian politics – but the question is: Can there be no other way other than individuals taking up guns to overcome it all? Guddu Rangeela recommends none other.

The film is watchable for the great chemistry and camaraderie of Arshad Warsi and Amit Sadh. They have some great lines and while the two do not make for a ‘Veeru & Jai,’ they surely make a mark. Ronit Roy, as always, breathes life into his villainy reminding how much of a talent powerhouse he is. From sound modulation to body language, the man just shines through.

Aditi Rao and Shriswara (as Babli, Rangeela’s wife) too do justice, the latter in an emotional speech where she challenges the village council. Guddu Rangeela, however, could turn out to be a great calling card for Dibyendu Bhattacharya. It is this man you will remember after the movie.

Guddu Rangeela is in fact another lost opportunity. There is nothing wrong in mixing humour with social issues but steering away from clichés is the least we expect from Subhash Kapoor.

Guddu Rangeela

Starring: Arshad Warsi, Amit Sadh, Aditi Rao

Director: Subhash Kapoor

Now playing at theatres in the UAE