Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review-Verdict
Though the movie has certain good parts, the overall effect is not promising enough

 

 

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review- Story Plot
Harry Mandola (Pankaj Kapur) is a ruthless businessman in Rohtak, Haryana, who wants to acquire the lands of the poor peasants and turn it into a corporate jungle full of industries and malls. However, Harry has another side to him. When he gets drunk, he turns into a 'jolly good fellow' named Hariya, who inspires the same peasants to lead a revolution against himself.

 

Matru (Imran Khan), is a law graduate from JNU, who chooses to work as Harry's driver and gofer, employed for the sole purpose of controlling Harry's alcohol intake. Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) is Harry's rebellious daughter, who is about to be married to Badal (Arya Babbar), the immature son of a scheming politician (Shabana Azmi), who is hand in gloves with Mandola when it comes to acquiring the peasant land.

 

Things get complicated when Bijlee begins to start having feelings for the rustic Matru. If that was not enough, a mysterious man named Mao is leaving messages in secret, urging the peasants to revolt. Last but not the least, Mandola, who swears to quit booze after every drunken escapade, is having visions of a pink buffalo!

 

Will Matru and Bijlee get together? Will Harry see the error of his ways? Will the peasants get justice? Watch the latest Vishal Bhardwaj flick to find out…

 

 

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review-Performances
Vishal Bhardwaj might have gushed about Imran Khan as being the perfect actor to play the role, but frankly, we cannot understand why. Merely sporting a beard and saying a few words in rural Haryanvi is not enough to convince the audience. Khan certainly cannot bring to screen the raw appeal of a villager that an actor like Irrfan Khan brings to his character in Paan Singh Tomar. Of course, we understand that Matru is a law graduate from JNU and not a village lout…but then, why go out of your way to disguise yourself as a rustic Haryanvi when there is no such need? On her part, Anushka yet again plays the spunky and rebellious girl she has been playing in most of her movies and this act is getting quite repetitive, to be frank.

 

The only actor worth watching in the movie is the veteran Pankaj Kapur. As Harry Mandola, Pankaj makes you sit up and take notice. Stern when sober and jolly when drunk, Mandola is one of the truly memorable characters in recent cinema. Arya Babbar is quite irritating as the immature Badal and Shabana Azmi is passable when she does not ham.

 

 

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review-Direction
Fans of Vishal Bhardwaj, who have seen cinematic gems like Maqbool and Omkara, might surely sigh with disappointment. Like mentioned earlier, the movie has certain good moments…the scenes where Harry gets drunk and transforms into 'Hariya' are the ones to watch out for. However, Bhardwaj gets too self-indulgent and many elements in the story seem nonsensical…so, you have villagers hurling cow-dung at the baddies by use of giant catapults, a Zulu dance troupe introduced for no particular reason and a plane crash bringing ISRO officials to investigate the possibilities of a UFO! 

 

Even as far as the characterization is concerned, the director fails to effectively show what makes Harry's character transforms in the climax. Moreover, the chemistry between Matru and Bijlee is not explored impressively.

 

 

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Review-Final Word
A personal fan of Vishal Bhardwaj, this reviewer regrets to say that this flick Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, is not the ace director's best product at all…

As a composer-lyricist duo, Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar have always provided a unique and wholesome entertainment to audience. From the days of Maachis to Maqbool to Omkara to Ishqiya to Saat Khoon Maaf, this pair has provided to listener many things to remember the album for. In their case, a listener's expectation is very clear that there would always something to talk about, whether it's the unique sounds or the unusual lyrics penned by Gulzar. Same hit combination is back with a 'hatke' romantic comedy which is in a typical Vishal style with Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. Both decided to have fun with music, which reflects in the album. There are 9 original tracks with a lot of intriguing sounds and music.

 

Album begins with the title track Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mann Dola which is rendered by Sukhwinder Singh and Ranjit Barot. This track has a very rustic feel in terms of music and lyrics. Listener would also get a feel of African music in the song with drumbeats in some parts, since there is a need of that in the story. The Track is already very popular and has been climbing charts. What amazes most about Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar is that even if the words are very vernacular and have a regional touch, music still transcends everything and touches the listener. Ditto is the case here for this fun filled track.

 

Khamkha is the next track in the album where Vishal Bhardwaj himself on with Prem Dehati lending his voice towards the end as well. It's a soft track with deep, romantic poetry by Gulzar. Though the song has a Western influence, ending touch by Prem brings it back to the flavour of the album. Though the song is not as good as Dil Toh Bachha Hai Jee (Ishqiya), it would still be able to hold on its own. Both of these initial songs display Vishal-Gulzar's ability to switch mode from fun filled outing to deep and passionate music and poetry.

 

Next in line is anther funny song titled Oye Boy Charlie which is rendered by Rekha Bhardwaj of Darling (7 Khoon Maaf) fame with Mohit Chauhan and Shankar Mahadevan also stepping in. It's a fast paced track where Mohit Chauhan is a pleasant surprise in such a setting. He blends well with the kind of rural flavour that Shankar and Rekha bring in. One doesn't hear words like Meri Vitamin ki Goli or 'Tu meri Timbaktoo hai too often but in this case they remain with the listener, hence making one believe all the more in the maestro called Gulzar.

 

Next in line is Lootnewala which is rendered by Sukhvinder Singh and Master Saleem. The track depicts the story aptly with the help of lyrics and has a 'reprise version' as well. Beginning of the track would remind one of Nasha Hi Nasha from the namesake album by Sukhwinder. Both these versions are intriguing and now it's the song's picturisation which will decide its long term likeability.

 

Sha Ra Ra would remind one of an Indian Wedding because of the orchestra and the singer. It's a short track by Prem Dehati which probably is a requirement in the storyline.

 

Badal Uthiya is next in line which is rendered by Rekha Bhardwaj. It's a slow folksy track with a Haryanvi touch. The track is expected to appear as a part of the background score and narrate a situation. There is also a 'reprise version' of the same song rendered aptly by Prem Dehati. Music of the track will stay with the listener, especially due to its classical touch with the coming in of the sound of 'sitaar'. One has to add that Vishal saves some good music for his wife and the track is an evidence of that.

 

Chaar Dina Ki is a fun filled track with a lot of fun and 'masti'. Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan and Prem Dehati participate in this jamboree while giving a glimpse of the Haryanvi culture after drowning themselves in alcohol. It would be fun to watch Pankaj Kapur letting his hair down with the younger generation.

 

Chor Police is like a poem recited by Pankaj Kapur with chorus. It's a theme-based entry, which probably is a lot of fun to watch on screen.

 

Since the film has an African element to it as well, there is a short track titled Nomvula by a South African group called Umoja. It is catchy number but it has to be mentioned that there have been better compositions in the past from that part of the world.

 

Overall this one is an album which has good music and just as in case of Vishal's movies, the soundtrack is blended with the story. However, as it happens in many instances, though the music is as per the requirement of the script, it might not be a sell-out. Hence, most of the appreciation is expected to flow in once audience get a hang of the movie.