Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manushi Chhillar
Director: Pulkit
Rating: ★★1/2
There’s this unexpected and wild moment in Maalik where Rajkummar Rao - the same man who is a stone-cold gangster with several brutal killings to his name - asks a friend to help him pee. His range - from shooting bullets to introducing a gang member as a bathroom buddy - is real. There are a few other moments when he tries to get romantic with his wife, but the fun is interrupted with his father calling him at the worst possible time. Rajkummar even sighs, “Yeh Babuji kabhi mujhe babuji ban ne nahi denge.” These little moments remind you of the same loveable 'Bickky please' guy from Stree, who is now intense and violent, trying to look all serious. No matter how gritty and gruesome he gets, his comedic timing sneaks through (even though in a few sequences), and viewers simply love it.
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What is the story of Rajkummar Rao's Maalik?
Rajkummar Rao plays a university student from Allahabad in the late '80s who turns into a gangster. Reason? Someone assaults his father, a farmer by profession, and he’s not letting that slide. He dives headfirst into the world of crime, and shows no inhibitions in thrashing and killing people. In the first half, as he breaks bones, the viewers too feel the pain. But as it gets louder and even more violent, it gets a bit exhausting. As Deepak aka Maalik - who starts from the bottom - crushes anybody who gets in his way, the movie adheres to that old-school underdog-turns-top-dog story which has been explored in films multiple times over, and doesn’t offer anything new. But the main issue of the film is that it lacks the real sense of right and wrong. The protagonist - who is a criminal - is combating those who are equally shady.
What works for the film?
Rajkummar Rao works like a true chameleon. One movie, he will leave a lasting impact with his raw intensity, and in another he would leave you in splits with his comedic timing. How does he do it? He fully dives into his characters. His ability to play a gangster with seriousness and a tad of comic timing feels completely natural, never forced. Whether he is combating his foes, silently falling or enjoying light moments with his wife, Rajkummar Rao knows how to keep it real. His magic lies in the ability to be the character, and never make the viewers feel that he’s acting. Manushi Chhillar begins with nothing significant to do, but towards the end, she manages to surprise. She looks effortless in exuding the village girl vibe. Anshumaan Pushkar as Badaun is both powerful and convincing, and totally owns it. Prosenjit Chatterjee is impressive, but deserved more screen time. Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, and Saurabh Sachdeva prove why they are magical together. Rajendra Gupta and Baljinder Kaur - who play Maalik’s parents - do justice to their roles. Yogi Raj (Langda) is scary. And the actor who plays the checkpoint cop is decent too.
What doesn't work for the film?
In comparison to the film's first half which is sharp, gripping and fast-paced, and nicely put together, the second half is where things start to drag. It gets so long and repetitive that you begin to wonder if the director just lost the plot. We know, too much of anything can kill the vibe, and that's precisely what happens here too. Much like the unnecessary action sequences that could have been edited out, item number Dil Thaam Ke featuring Huma Qureshi too could have been snipped.
Our verdict
Maalik is clearly not perfect and comes with its flaws. However, somehow, it still holds its ground, much like its hero. Rajkummar Rao who powers through the film with enough fire to light up the whole screen, the film can be endured.
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