Madaari (2016) [Film Review]

Madaari; or, Justice for All

     The Hawk swooped on the prey and carried it away... Story sounds believable, but you don't like to hear it... The prey then attacked the hawk...sounds unbelievable, but is so pleasing to hear...

This week’s review will be about the latest film with Irrfan Khan in the leading role. Obviously, I’m referring to Madaari (The Puppeteer) which had its premiere in July, 2016 in India. Inspired by a real-life accident, the movie puts to question the integrity of Indian political system and stigmatises its most condemning aspect: corruption.

Release Info

Directed by: Nishikant Kamat Starring: Irrfan Khan, Vishesh Bansal, Jimmy Shergill, Tushar Dalvi

Language: Hindi Movie Industry: Bollywood Runtime: 134 min

 

Synopsis

Nirmal Kumar (Irrfan) was a happy single parent with a steady job. Unfortunately, his son Apu (Kedar Bagaria) died on his way to school due to a bridge collapse. Devastated father is not able to stop mourning after the death of his child. All of a sudden, Nirmal finds a new purpose in life: to track down and punish those responsible for the accident. As a result, he devises a sophisticated plan which centers on kidnapping the son of the Home Minister (Tushar Dalvi). By the act of kidnapping, he intends to force the Minister to find the culprits who built the faulty bridge. As Nirmal finds himself on the run across India with 8-year-old Rohan (Vishesh Bansal), mainstream media pick up the subject and hail Nirmal as a hero of the common people.

The Ultimate Puppeteer

First of all, it should be made clear that Madaari is the film that was inspired by true events (as stated in the original trailer) not based on them. The difference between the two words may be small, but as I have not paid close attention to the statement in the trailer, my suspension of disbelief had to go through the roof while watching the actual movie. In other words, Madaari takes a real event and positions it as a starting point for a fictional tale of seeking justice and criticising the government.

Despite its hardly plausible plot (a guy kidnapping the son of a politician and evading the police for a long period of time in spite of the media buzz) the film is entertaining and easy to watch primarily due to the reliance on "the individual vs. the system” theme. In addition, Madaari thrives as an engaging thriller because of exploring the dynamics between its vivid characters. Irrfan Khan gives a brilliant (even an Oscar-worthy I would say) performance as a man who has nothing to lose and wants to give the establishment a lesson. Vishesh Bansal does well as Rohan, a spoiled “prince” who gradually befriends Nirmal, but the chemistry between them is not the core of the picture.

Madaari’s true heart is the electrifying finale, which provides the viewers with a vengeful self-satisfaction as if straight from Law Abiding Citizen (2009) and Straw Dogs (1971). However, in contrast to these movies, Nirmal’s revenge is not a morbid one. Instead, the film slams the audience with a shocking message uttered by the Home Minister: “The truth is that the government exists solely for corruption”.

The film will not change the state of Indian (or even global) politics, but it may certainly contribute to spreading awareness about the possible abuses of power by the leaders. I can easily imagine Nirmal getting caught in reality by the CBI executive (Jimmy Shergill); nevertheless, the film invites us to consider a what-if scenario: What if the oppressed individual makes his point and does not die in the end? This aspect combined with Irrfan’s top-notch acting is what makes Madaari a worthwhile motion picture.

Recommendations

I highly recommend this film to anyone who likes Irrfan Khan. Whenever he appears on screen in the leading role, he single-handedly carries the weight of a film on his shoulders thanks to his charisma and outstanding acting. Madaari is an excellent example of that. It’s a well-made thriller, which also makes you think about authentic issues and political degradation. All things considered, Bollywood is known for having many famous Khans, but to me, Irrfan Khan is the real “Khan of Bollywood”.

Overall score: 8/10