mumbaikar review: Big cities have both advantages and disadvantages. The opportunities they provide are vast, but the sense of isolation that comes with being a part of such a city can be all-consuming – whether you are a resident or a visitor. The city spares no one. With its central theme of mistaken identity and the plight of people trapped in adverse circumstances, the characters in this Santosh Sivan-directorial, the official Hindi remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Maanagram, learn the importance of kindness and gain valuable insights along the way.
In the beginning, Hridhu Haroon, playing a young man who moves from a small town to a bustling metropolis, tells HR (played by Tanya Maniktala), “If I consider Mumbai my own, then the city too , will consider me as his own. But, Mumbai, the city of dreams for some and not so welcoming for others, had other plans. Things soon take a turn for the worse in this urban thriller that spans over 48 hours and offers a glimpse into the lives of multiple characters facing a variety of challenges.
Tanya’s boyfriend, played by Vikrant Massey, is a rebel determined to lead a decent and meaningful life. Meanwhile, Hridu is mistaken for Vikrant and beaten up by thugs and his important documents are lost. In another track, there is a slightly eccentric man (Vijay Sethupathi) who has his heart in the right place. He aspires to make it big in life, both in terms of money and fame, and joins a criminal gang in Mumbai with the help of a friend. Her first assignment involves kidnapping a young boy named Rahul from his school. In a twist of fate, he ends up kidnapping the wrong boy who happens to be the son of a notorious criminal, PKP (Ranveer Shorey). Then there is a cabby (Sanjay Mishra) who works in one of PKP’s businesses that rents cars to the same BPO that Tanya and Hridhu work in. In Kidnapped Kidnapping, the story’s coverage and characters find themselves embroiled in a situation involving ruthless gangsters and corrupt police officers.
It is a potboiler with a good mix of action, drama, romance and comic relief. Vijay Sethupathi is comfortable as a weirdo with unique quirks but a kind heart. He commits crimes to establish himself as a famous ‘don’, but his conscience starts betraying him. He gets the bulk of the punchlines and delivers a solid performance.
Vikrant Massey gives a convincing performance as a rebellious man who is torn between a desire to do right and limited patience for those who cross him. He transitions effortlessly between a lovelorn romantic pursuing a scorned girlfriend and an angry man ready to go to any length to seek vengeance when threatened. Whereas, Massey beautifully plays the role of a compassionate citizen who extends a hand to help a stranded little boy reach home. Ranvir Shorey delivers a solid performance as the sneaky gangster PKP, showcasing both his terrifying presence and emotional depth as a desperate father on a mission to save his son. As the plot deepens, Shourie’s desperation mounts and he delivers extraordinary visuals that leave a lasting impression. Sanjay Mishra and Brijendra Kala (as a police constable) do justice to their parts, while Tanya has little to do in the entire screenplay. Hridu makes up for his inconsistencies in the second half.
The parallel storylines in the film move swiftly between each other, but unfortunately, the dialogues fail to make a significant impact. At times, the accents are thick, taking away the clarity of the dialogue delivery, and overall, they fall short of the expected impact. The film falters in detail which is meant to add to the reportedly bizarre script. Thrown into the mix is a Bengali character who speaks surprisingly flawless Bangla, and then there’s a wayward woman caught in a raid who feels the need to cat-call a man while at the police station. On the flip side, the inter-connections don’t feel forced, but reflect the reality of life in the metro, where the sheer population leaves ample room for a comedy of mistaken identities and errors.
If you haven’t seen the Tamil version, the unpredictability of the hyperlinked thriller will be a delight. A nice, one-time watch.
The film is currently streaming on JioCinema.
