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Cast:  Om Puri, Tabu, Chandrachur Singh

Directed by: Gulzar


Maachis is a 1996 film written and directed by Gulzar. Now Gulzar's name is enough to attract anyone to watch this film and this is just what happened in my case.

Maachis or matchbox is very apt title for this movie. Let me explain why, just like,  to fire a matchstick you have to rub it with the box, a person become an assassin or terrorist when there is a bebasi n bekasi (compulsion and helplessness). But that is not all, once the matchstick is lit; it burns itself and everything that comes in contact with it. Gulzar being the master of words chooses it ably.

Maachis is a journey of a man Kripaal from a caring friend and responsible husband-to-be to a terrorist. He ain’t uneducated, brainwashed religious naïf rather a victim of the corrupted system. After 1984 riots there has been a huge violence against Sikhs, it’s no more a hidden truth. Whose love & care for his friend and soon to be brother-in-law, forces him to revenge the atrocities faced by his friend. In the process of avenging he turns into a terrorist. He shoots Vohra(the inspector responsible for his friend’s misery) in the head and then heads back home only to leave forever and join the group that helped him shoot Vohra. The next mission of this group is a secret but it involves missile launcher and they are waiting for the person who could do that. This person turns out to be Veeran who was Kripaal’s fiancée. What is their mission? Will they succeed in their mission?

Shyam Bengal once said, “It’s this ability of great work to make you see the particular in general and general in particular.” This movie does that, it encapsulates the loopholes within the system, its hypocrisy that provides the breeding ground for people like Sanatan and Bali, also, the turbulent struggle within the hearts and minds of these people along with the physical and emotional struggle of their families. Above all it pose the accountability and sanctity of legislature and their obligation to the people who choose them. It is all of the above and has a soul of Romeo+Juliet. 

To add to this great cinematic experience are the songs. "Chhod aye hum wo galiyan" the visuals of this video are as amazing as this melody. I have reasons to believe that while making Highway Imtiaz was searching the place shown in this song. Then there’s Chappa chappa charka chale which is more or less in the similar lines. Paani paani this song is the most melodious of it all, Tabu’s expressions in the song makes it more soulful.

The performances of the actors are cherry on top, Tabu never disappoints, nor does Om puri as far as their acting capabilities are concerned it’s impeccable and unmatched. Chandrachurna singh as the lead  Kripaal  does his part responsibly, Jasjiet Shergill who I think is Jimmi Shergill shows the signs being of good actor that he is now. The rest of the supporting casts too doesn’t disappoints for a minute.

I’m a nobody to say anything about Gulzaar capabilities other than that I’m in awe with his works, be it the lyrics, writing or direction.

This movie is highly recommended!

Author: Pallavi Tripathi
Author's Rating: ★★★★

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Jimmy Shergill, Sonakshi Sinha, Vidyut Jamwal.

Directed by: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Also featured in IMDb Critic Reviews 

So, I watched Bullet Raja last night and I am hugely disappointed now. No it is not as rubbish as "Dabangg", "Rowdy Rathore" or "Singham" any other shit they are making in the name of action films these days. 

I am disappointed because Tigmanshu Dhulia made this film, if this was made by Prabhudeva, I would have said that he improved a lot as a Director, but "Bullett Raja" is below standards for someone like Tigmanshu. 

It was clearly visible that Tigmanshu was more interested in the commerce of the film and not on how the film is made. When we talk of Tigmanshu, we can't resist thinking about "Haasil", "Saheb Biwi aur Gangster" and "Paan Singh Tomar"; such is the standards he has set for himself in the Hindi Film Industry.

This is the story of 2 extrovert young men [Jimmy Shergill and Saif Ali Khan] from the state of Uttar Pradesh, who despite of all their resistance fall into the dirty politics of the state, eventually turning them into local gangsters. With time, they evolve to become two of the most feared gangsters of the state. But the execution was just not good enough and it was like they actually wanted to be a gangster only.

So, what could have been a really good gangster lord cinema, took a romantic turn and the film went to self destruction. There could be a romance angle included in an intelligent way but it appeared like they forced a heroine in between the plot only because a hero needs one.

Tigmanshu often cast the same actors in more than one of his films, and Jimmy Shergill has been working with him since Haasil in 2003. Jimmy was good but not as great as he was in Saheb, Biwi aur Gangster, he has great acting skills and it was disappointing seeing him do an alright job.

Sonakshi Sinha did what she has been doing since Dabangg, she becomes a part of every plot where there is no use of a heroine and when they actually need an actress, why whould someone cast Sonakshi, anyway ?

Vidyut Jamwal had a little role though it was an important character in the film. He has shown more expressions than he generally shows in any of his films, but one who really did something great in this otherwise mediocre film was Saif Ali Khan, Saif was really good as a middle class man and immersed himself deep into the skin of the character of a local UP guy. The fact that he has done great acting playing a metro-sexual in cinemas like "Love Aaj Kal" and "Cocktail" fascinates me even more when I see him playing a small town guy. He did a great job in "Omkara" as well, and this was another instance when he shown how versatile an actor he is.

This film has a good story line but is hugely commercial that makes it a mediocre cinema. Tigmanshu Dhulia fans are going to be disappointed.