Movie Review | Shagird

Movie: Shagird

Cast: Nana Patekar, Mohit Ahlawat, Rimi Sen

Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia

Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Shagird is about the Delhi crime branch, a law enforcement unit that gleefully perpetrates crime itself.

The department, run by ACP Hanumant Singh, played by Nana Patekar, is relentlessly brutal and corrupt. A newbie officer Mohit, played by Mohit Ahlawat, makes feeble noises about the cash and killings but soon, he also learns to toe the line.

This dark student-teacher drama is played out against the backdrop of UP criminals with names like Bunty bhaiya, played by Anurag Kashyap, and politicians who are of course just criminals with legitimacy.

Shagird has moments of power and a rough, sweaty texture that throbs especially as the camera snakes through the bylanes of Old Delhi.

The story isn’t startling or new. Still, this intricate web of deceit and betrayal could have been a compelling thriller but Dhulia, who co-wrote it with Kamal Pandey, just doesn’t weave it skillfully enough. There is a strange childhood love angle and an even more ridiculous kidnapping plot.

We all know that politicians are corrupt but surely they aren’t shooting people in broad daylight on the streets of Delhi. And this gang is so dumb that they don’t even notice the gigantic television van following their car. And did I mention that Rimi Sen plays a leading news journalist, the type who goes to meet a dreaded terrorist wearing a tank top.

Nana Patekar fans will enjoy his purposefully eccentric, casually ruthless cop but honestly, it felt like déjà vu to me. I’m going with two and a half stars.

Nana Patekar turns cops again

A still from Shagird

Bollywood actor Nana Patekar's special connections with the police helped the team of Tigmanshu Dhulia's " Shagird" in shooting at key locations, including the iconic India Gate, in the capital.

In "Shagird", Nana plays ACP Hanumant Singh, a cop based in Delhi. To shoot at some locations in the capital, the crew was required to go through long procedures of paperwork and permissions. But thanks to Nana, the Delhi Police extended great help and security, said a source.

"Nana has studied figurative art from JJ School of Arts. He has always been very fond of art since childhood and was planning to pursue a career in the same field. Although destiny had something else in store for him and he found himself doing theatre.

"Nana continued with his sketching in a very productive manner. He started to help the police force and worked closely with them during the Mumbai riots which was of great help to them. Even after the riots, Nana offered help to the police as and when required. So they are nice to him," said a source.

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia was pleased at the help they received.

"While shooting for the film I usually found police to be very warm to Nana Patekar. I thought for a long time it was because they love him as an actor. However, later I realised that he had a very special bond and thus permissions never were a hassle for us," he said.

Nana's connections with the police also helped him to accompany a cop to a real life encounter location to understand the characteristics and body language of an encounter specialist.

"Shagird" will release May 13.

After Deepika, Nana says 'No' to Housefull 2

There are talks that Nana Patekar who was to do Housefull 2 has appealed to be let off...

Sajid Khan was so confident about 'Housefull' that he had already planned a sequel to the film - something he is already working on. Actress Deepika Padukone who was in Part 1 opted out of doing the sequel as she chose to do Rajinikanth's Rana, and thus didn't have dates to allocate to this venture.

Now Nana Patekar, who had said yes for the project, is backing out. The reason cited for this is his little laadla Malhar, who is all set to make his film debut with a movie that will be directed by Nana Patekar himself. And Patekar wants to focus all his energies on the motion picture in which his son will be launched.

If sources are to be believed, Boman Irani will now essay the role Nana was approached for. However, director Sajid Khan denies these rumours, and says Nana was never approached for the movie, and further stated that the casting is in progress.

With all this haan-na, it'll be a while before the casting of 'Housefull 2' is in place.