April 29, 2011
Cast: Sendhil Ramamurthy, Tusshar Kapoor, Nikhil Dwivedi, Pitobash Tripathy, Radhika Apte, Sundeep Kishan
Directors: Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK
Three desperate men fighting circumstances and struggling to make a better life for themselves in a corrupt metro…these are the protagonists of the appropriately titled Shor in the City, a sparkling comedy thriller that sucks you into its world from the very word go. Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, the film unfolds in Mumbai over a period of 11 days during the Ganesh festival, and follows three separate tracks that gradually intertwine.
Tusshar Kapoor runs a pirated-book publishing business with two petty-thief partners, who have got their hands on a bag filled with guns and explosives that they’re hoping to sell for a princely sum. Recently married and inherently decent, Tusshar has no interest in getting involved with his friends in this shady business. He prefers instead to stay home and pore over a copy of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist that has changed his life.
Sendhil Ramamurthy is an American-Indian who’s returned home to set up a small business, but finds himself being bullied by local extortionists who’re threatening him and his model girlfriend. And finally, Sundeep Kishan is a young cricketer who doesn’t know how to raise the Rs 10 lakh needed to grease the palms of the selector so he can get a place in the Under-22 team, and subsequently marry his girlfriend who’s being pressurized by her family to enter into an arranged match.
A delicious mix of quirky humor, gruesome violence, and surprising sensitivity, Shor in the City works on the strength of its smart script and consistent performances from its ensemble cast. Tusshar Kapoor surprises with a mature turn, and his delicate romance with Radhika Apte makes for some of the film’s warmest moments. But the actor who dazzles here is Pitobash Tripathy as the eccentric small-time goon Mandook, who steals every scene he’s in.
A living, breathing slice of busy Mumbai, this film has dark humor running through its veins: whether it’s the opening scene in which Tusshar and his partners rob a prominent author, or the scene in a restaurant’s toilet where Pitobash gets even with a former acquaintance. There is comedy even in the film’s dark climax, which for me was the only baffling portion of this film.
I’m going with three-and-a-half out of five for Shor in the City. This is one of those films that completely surprised me by how much fun it was. Now it’s your turn to find out!
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
ok.. sure will..!
Comment by Durgesh Sirwani — April 30, 2011 @ 10:26 am
What did you find baffling about the end? I felt it made complete sense in a very subtle manner. Though I maybe wrong in my interpretation. I’m keen to hear what you have to say.
Comment by tigernomad — April 30, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
Such good reviews and still only 3 and half star. What are you saving remaing for? 😉
Comment by Saurabh — April 30, 2011 @ 6:24 pm
A slow but very different & neatly executed movie. The movie is focusing only on the bare essentials & no unwanted deviations, like about the job that Sendhil is into, or his past life or for that matter any of the characters past or about their family is never mentioned (even that kids parents r not shown)
Mumbai is shown in its reality, the couples getting cosy at marine drive, the masked faces in bikes, the ganesh festival, the fashion street, local..
The best part was the climax in which Tusshar to his own surprise sees his life given a chance!!
And again a special thanks to Ekta for introducing Sendhil into Indian Cinema 🙂
If u wanna see a different but meaningful movie, pick this one for the week!!
Comment by Meera Nair — May 1, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
Agreed!A common subject but a different plot.Tusshar’s performance tells us that end of the day, an actor always depends on a good director.
Comment by Swaroop Kodur — May 4, 2011 @ 8:22 pm
completely different movie.. !! really unexpected !!
Comment by mithun m chand — May 4, 2011 @ 9:24 pm
hello all..didnt get the end..how tushar doesnt dies and aftr tht why he behaves strangely..pls help
Comment by sudarshan — May 7, 2011 @ 1:00 am
Caught the movie atlast yesterday…One word..awesome…this is commercial cinema at its best…goes to show that indian commercial cinema doesn’t need to be mindless banal and stereptypical.
tushar was really good,probably for the first time in his career.senthil did what was expected from him.nikhil too was good.i think i speak for every one here pitobash steals the show..mature cinema…don’t miss it.
Comment by imran — May 25, 2011 @ 6:02 pm
Rajeev this stuff deserves a 4 dude…at least.come on now don’t act like u are givin ratings out of ur own pocket
Comment by imran — May 25, 2011 @ 6:05 pm
Y tis movie is so over rated !!!!
absolute mediocre stuff .. no story line …. at all
worth not even 2 stars .. tis is one whch shld b watchd wen it cmes on TV ..
a certain WASTE of money for cine goers
Comment by Chetan — June 6, 2011 @ 6:02 pm