Tu Nanga hi toh aaya kya ghanta leke jayega

When I first saw the trailer of Laal Kaptaan, I was impressed but didn’t give the movie much thought. Certainly, never thought of watching it in theatre. The movie wasn’t promoted at all. Perhaps the producers accepted defeat before it was even released.

I wasn’t able to sleep one night and it was 3 A.M and by the time Laal kaptaan was already in Amazon prime. I looked at rotten tomatoes and it has 13% approval. Decided to watch thinking it will be boring and help me sleep. The movie had the opposite effect. Once I started watching it, I couldn’t stop and had to complete the movie. I would rate this as the best movie of 2019 from Bollywood. Certainly if a movie like this would have been made in Hollywood, it would have been more recognised.

Direction 10/10

Directed by Navdeep Singh(Navdeep Singh (director) - Wikipedia) of Manorama and NH10 fame, Laal Kaptaan is his masterpiece till now. He has all the qualities to be the best director of our time. The direction is flawless and impeccable.

Acting 10/10

The film has 4 important characters played respectively by Saif Ali Khan, Deepak Dobriyal, Manav Vij and Zoya Hussain. With Neeraj Kabi in guest appearance, this movie boasts of awesome cast and all of them have done justification to their roles. I would really like to appreciate the acting of Saif Ali Khan and Deepak Dobriyal. They have surprassed all the expectations and now I am a huge fan of post Sacred Games Saif Ali Khan.

Plot 8/10

The story revolves around a cat and mouse chase of an unnamed Naga Saadhu(Saif Ali Khan) hunting his target Rehmat Khan(Manav Vij) against a backdrop of India’s failed uprising against Britishers in the late 18th Century. The plot is slow at times but that is the need of the movie. You can’t expect Tiger Shroff/Hrithik Roshan chase in a movie meant to be realistic.

Music 8/10

If these things weren’t enough to engross you in the movie, the background score and the songs of the movies will definitely do the task.

Cinematography 10/10

The depiction of 18th Century India, it’s living conditions, the people, the food everything has been done right. This is what Thugs if Hindustan would have been if it was done honestly.

And no, neither the look nor the character of Saif Ali Khan is related to Jack Sparrow. That’s how a Naga Sadhu looks and the movie has certainly depicted it authentically.

I am pretty sure this movie is going to be called a cult classic in coming months and years.

In the end I would like to say the filmfare award for best lyrics went to these lines

Tu Nanga hi toh aaya kya ghanta leke jayega

and the lyrics of a song(Kaal Kaal) from Laal Kaptaan is

Aadmi toh bandar sa, ban ke bas sikandar sa, neetiyon ka dambh roj bharta hai

Edit 2nd March 2020