After over 2 months finally, we have a Friday release. Though it is not a theatrical release but is historic in the sense that this can be the way of release during the pandemic. The Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana starter movie Gulabo Sitabo hit your screens last night. The movie which is available on Amazon Prime video was streaming as soon as the clock hit midnight (and not like the wait for the next morning to watch the movie).
The result of this was that many watched the little over 2 hours movie last night (including myself) and the reviews came as early as Friday morning. While I would be talking about my take on the movie as we go forward let’s first start with what the public has to say:
Well, the story is centered around an old ‘haveli’ named ‘Fatima Mahal’ somewhere in the city of Lucknow. Mirza played by Amitabh Bachchan is a greedy old man whose wife Begum played by Farrukh Jaffar is the owner of the haveli. Bankey played by Ayushmann Khurrana is a tenant in the house who stays there with his family of 3 sisters and a mother.
Bankey refuses to pay even rent of Rs 30 to Mirza and has been in the occupation of the house from generations. Bankey and Mirza are the center character who are always at loggerheads. Mirza wants to get the Fatima Mahal after his wife’s death so that he can throw way all the tenants. Bankey on the other hand has no such intentions and wants to be there in the house.
While Mirza and Bankey are good to hold on screen the real show-stealers are two ladies. Both of whom leave their magic whenever they come on screen. Farrukh Jaffar as Begum is excellent with her dialogues. She even makes you laugh without uttering a word sometimes. The lady is also at the center of the climax and emerges out to be the real winner.
The other lady Srishti Shrivastava playing Bankey’s sister Guddo (eldest amongst his 3 sisters) is bold, dynamic and breaks away the traditional orthodoxy of being a woman in a conservative society. She impresses with her dialogue delivery and is a fresh face to watch. Vijay Raaz as Archaeological Survey Of India officer is as good as he can be. While Brijendra Kala as lawyer Cristopher Clarke is unique in his own ways.
The tussle of Bankey and Mirza, performances of Begum and Guddo, and the entire game of greed, power, and the struggle of the lower economic class and poor families is what that summarizes the movie.
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The name Gulabo and Sitabo is a reference to Bankey and Mirza from the popular puppetry which has puppets by the name who are always at loggerheads. Overall it is a one time watch and maybe you would find it a bit slow towards the end.
