Shamshera was expected to be a roar from Ranbir Kapoor, announcing his return from his four year hiatus. Sadly enough, it isn’t more than a strong purr. The movie suffers from an overstretched plot and a massive run-time, tiring the audiences by the end of it all. Ranbir Kapoor tries his best to elevate the experience, but the makers have failed to capitalize on a simple yet entertaining plot.
The film immerses viewers from the first frame with its captivating background score and impressive VFX-driven visuals, creating a world set in late 1800s India. The first ten minutes where we are introduced to the clan and its history is the most captivating part of the movie. However, the film starts to lose momentum from there on, becoming a slow-paced action-drama that revolves around a caste-led revenge battle.
The film’s length considering the plot is tiringly long, as it gets no support from the editing and screenplay aspects. Nevertheless, Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt shine as the lifeblood of this drama. Despite the weak storyline, screenplay, and dialogues, the actors deliver sincere performances. Ranbir’s return to the screen after a hiatus is a delight to watch, even as he valiantly tries to elevate an underwhelming story. Similarly, Sanjay Dutt, Bollywood ke favourite villain, impresses as a menacing character, which is basically his bread and butter thing now.
Insignificant support characters
Unfortunately, the supporting characters, portrayed by Ronit Bose Roy, Saurabh Shukla, and Iravati Harshe, have very little impact on the overall drama. Action sequences pe focus and main plot ko overstretch karne ke chakkar mein they overlook character development. Greatly disappointed by Vani Kapoor’s Sona in the movie. When will Bollywood stop using female leads just for love angles and item numbers? Smh.
Intense action scenes and a couple good aspects
The action throughout the movie is well choreographed, and the one in the climax is a nail biter. The film’s soundtrack is commendable but does not leave a lasting impression. The cinematography, background score, and VFX are the film’s standout features.
Muddey ki baat ye hai ki director and co-writer Karan Malhotra seemed to have a grand vision, but the execution falls short. Given the scale, production values, and talented cast, one can’t help but wish that everything had been pieced together more effectively. A shorter film with better writing would have definitely made for a crowd cheering success.
