The Sena hadn’t really pitched for that extra ‘a’ in Mumbaai and anyway the city was called Bombay in the seventies, timeline of this film. But if you can gloss over that politics/ numerology - infested snarl in Mumbai’s identity, Milan Luthria’s latest is a cracker of a film.
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai obviously fictionalises the lives of Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim, never mind a disclaimer stating otherwise at the start of the film. The fiction element draws from the fact that Haji and Dawood were never contemporaries in real life. The film however wedges the stories of these two dons to set up a gripping watch.
If director Luthria was out to recreate an era, he goes beyond the how his protagonists look and dress — even beyond the much - touted psychedelic cabaret that wantonly drenches the screen by way of Gauhar Khan’s item act. The freak factor here lies in the aplomb with which the director revisits a brand of masala cinema that faded after Salim - Javed stopped scripting films together.
Once Upon A Time... is a celebration of that old - school cinema in all its fury, packaged gloriously with sweeping dialogues and unabashed heroism. The good thing is, it works while it lasts.
You get the drift — this one’s meant to be The Untouchables of Bollywood. Luthria was out to give us our own Al Capone saga wrapped in a fancy period pack, with the Haji - Dawood lore as a stimulant.
But that’s precisely where an awful truth hits you. After all these years when it comes to naming names, Bollywood’s still coy. Unlike Brian Da Palma’s cult crime caper The Untouchables , which saw Robert De Niro essay the actual Al Capone, Luthria’s in a hurry to convince you his film is plain fiction.
So Ajay Devgn’s Haji Mastan is christened Sultan Mirza for this story. Emraan Hashmi as the young Dawood - like protégé reveals headline - inspired traits of the don, but is called Shoaib Khan. Kangna Ranaut’s Bollywood star adds charisma to the narrative, and gives Sultan Mirza a romantic and emotional prop. The track’s meant to be a passing nod at sundry link - up reports between dons and actresses over the years — again, no names are taken.
The setting is the formative era of organised crime in India’s financial Capital. The story ( Rajat Aroraa), essentially narrated from the point of an upright cop ( Randeep Hooda), looks at how petty smugglers laid down the brass tacks for international terrorism links to infiltrate India. All of it is said to be based on actual events.
Pardon Devgn’s thick - mooch look if it reminds you of Company. It’s a very different don he’s portraying here. Sultan is the messiah of the poor. Like Haji Mastan, he controls the powerful and the rich, and helps the poor. He’s the city’s uncrowned king, a desi Robin Hood of sorts.
Coming after a zillion filmy dons inspired by Haji Mastan over the decades, the character may seem could have easily seemed jaded. It doesn’t, mainly because of the way it has been penned. And also because of the way the actor brings it alive with his proven intensity. Ajay juggles his act well between the ambitious gangster and the quietly witty lover. This is among the actor’s best roles ever.
In contrast, Emraan Hashmi is clearly enjoying his antihero Shoaib. He gets the ruthless trait of the role just right, as lover and as killer. Never mind the out - of - place sixpack torso, Emraan just has the perfect face for this role.
In sync with the seventies blockbuster formula starring multiple male leads, Once Upon A Time... chauvinistically reserves little space for its heroines. Still, Kangna’s gorgeous Bollywood star Rehana impresses. She adds softness to the brawny drama.And Kangna is subtle in her portrayal of a filmstar who can’t resist the mobster.
INcontrast, Prachi Desai looks like she took on Shoiab’s lovergirl Mumtaz, only because she wanted to look sexy in that Dimple Kapadia - inspired Bobby wardrobe. The attempted oomph punch doesn’t work, though Prachi impresses as a silent sufferer hitched to a monster lover. Among the props, Randeep Hooda looks good as the cop who set out to nail Sultan.
His deep voice is an asset, but the role could have been better - etched. You’ve seen murky underworld filth served loud and filmy. You’ve seen the filth recycled with realistic swagger, too. This film gives the formula an imaginative retro spin.
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