Manoj Bajpayee is a flawless artist, and his work conceals any flaws in the final result. Watch it to see how much more Bajpayee still has to give to the art even after dedicating over three decades to it. Read on for the in-depth Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Review.
Movie Details:
Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, Vipin Sharma, Adrija Sinha, and Ensemble.
Director: Apoorv Singh Karki.
Writer: Deepak Kangrani
Language: Hindi (with subtitles).
Production companies: Bhanushali Studios Limited; Zee Studios
Release date: 23 May 2023
Run Time: 132 Minutes.
Where to Watch? Zee5 (OTT Platform)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
Story:
Nu (Adrija), a minor teenager, intends to file an FIR against the most respected God-man in the nation and hangs out with the most dangerous individuals. The world quickly turns against her, and PC Solanki (Manoj), a naive but crafty lawyer, becomes her haven. He fights for half a decade to see that Nu receives justice.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Review:
It has recently become popular to make films that reference reality while yet telling a fictional plot. Another project is now underway this month and it is called Dahaad. They usually just end up being a half-hearted recreation of actual events, like a Crime Patrol episode, 90% of the time. But there are those rare occasions when writers find their moments and make the written word come alive despite its flaws, and this one fits right into that category.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, written by Deepak Kangrani, draws inspiration from the notorious Asaram Bapu case. The self-styled Godman was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at his Ashram near Jodhpur, according to the girl. After a five-year battle with numerous witnesses who had been attacked or gone missing, Asaram was eventually captured and sentenced to life in prison. We all understand why Bandaa switches names while maintaining the same plot. Making films regarding specific topics is difficult at the moment.
Storyline:
The writers and producers are clever because of the way they introduce their primary characters. Making a movie that has a religious theme and mentions gods is a difficult task. In order for Solanki to appear in the movie praying, they make him out to be a man who is extraordinarily holy. Therefore, the conflict is between believers and believers rather than between believers and atheists. Of course, God opposes injustice, and many people see a particular “Man” as God. This is where the conflict starts to get intriguing.
The reason the movie becomes compelling is that the character on whom we are supposed to place all of our wagers initially lacks self-assurance. He is just a regular guy, but when he sees some legendary supporters around, he secretly becomes a fanboy. The movie is defined by the scene where he has to stand up to his idols a minute later. The Bandaa, a person who rises above the ordinary and vanquishes everyone who takes the wrong side, is constantly the centre of attention. Although Bajpayee can carry this role, the movie goes beyond him.
Screenplay:
Yes, the movie is geared towards just one person, not the victim but her saviour, as the title suggests. Nothing outside of him is given the weight it merits in the film. Even if it doesn’t ruin the viewing experience, it is rather upsetting that neither the struggles of the victim’s family after facing off against perhaps the biggest Godman, the Godman himself, nor the dissection of his world receive the emphasis. Even Solanki’s family isn’t thoroughly investigated.
Naturally, it’s a safe game because these characters somewhat resemble real people. Nevertheless, the film is nearly bold. The fact that Ram Jethmalani’s name appears in the cast credits but is dubbed as Ram Chandwani in the film, however, is something I cannot ignore. Maybe some censor board advice? For those who don’t know, Jethmalani is one of the many famous solicitors retained to advocate on behalf of Asaram to have him released from prison.
Star performance:
Manoj Bajpayee is a legend who emerged from the average person. His greatest asset is that he is not a superstar because it makes him more relatable. He is both weak and strong in the role of PC Solanki. He makes choices that will advance his career and uphold his moral principles, but he also has second thoughts about them when a risk presents itself. His performances as a lawyer who can quickly transition from fanboy to adversary are incredibly nuanced. The legend simply raises the bar for himself, and then, with his subsequent endeavour, he breaks it.
He has some excellent performers working with him, like Vipin Sharma and Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha. Between these accomplished performers is Adrija Sinha, who doesn’t let everyone down. She makes careful to prove herself throughout the brief amount of screen time she receives, even though only her eyes are visible to the viewer and her face is concealed.
Final Verdict:
In his feature film debut, Apoorv Singh Karki exudes a lot of confidence. The fact that the director has worked on films like Aspirants and Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt. Ltd. shows that he is skilled at discreetly expressing emotions on screen. That translates in Bandaa as well, as Manoj Bajpayee delivers his subdued speeches that appear to be a tone of peace concluding a battle. Because of how beautifully the bland tone otherwise balances the eruption, it never feels overly dramatic. Because you don’t experience the chills as expected when you should be terrified, the execution does go flatter than necessary in several places.
The music is adequate and serves its purpose. The customary course is taken by the camera work, which makes the movie watchable. It is a masterclass in how an accomplished actor can carry an entire film on his shoulders. Manoj Bajpayee is the reason this movie is alive; he doesn’t blow it. Bollywood Hush would rate the film 4.5 stars out of 5 stars. Click here to read the latest The Little Mermaid movie review. Share your Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai Review below in the comments.
