Pak Tribune

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Yami Gautam, Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, Divya Dutta

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Rating: ***1/2

'Badlapur' is definitely not the stuff for those with a weak appetite or those who like things black or white. Director Sriram Raghavan consistently treads that thin line between the right and wrong in this complex revenge drama, which keeps us riveted but also mighty unsettled.

Young advertising professional, Raghu, (Varun Dhawan) loses his wife (Yami Gautam) and his son when they are murdered in a freak incident. The enormity of the grief makes Raghu also lose his will to live and he merely exists for years in a nondescript world even as one of the accused, Layak, (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is languishing in jail. Layak's other partner (Vinay Pathak) manages to escape.


The wound refuses to get healed and is festering in Raghu's heart till he finds an outlet 15 years later when Layak is about to be released. And then begins a violent and mindless revenge spree.

The story, peppered with black humour to tickle us once in a while, reveals many more levels as we go along in this emotional roller coaster ride. The impressive ensemble cast contributes in a large way. Nawazuddin gives a stellar performance as he plays the full-fleshed character of Layak, a convoluted criminal mastermind at the outset, but who cautiously lets his humane, vulnerable side peek out once in a while.

Pitting against someone like Nawazuddin must be a mighty task, but one must applaud Varun Dhawan for not only being wise enough to pick up this role, but also putting in a lot of effort. He comes up with a performance that far exceeds the expectations one would have from a greenhorn.


The four heroines capably add spice to this furiously boiling broth, but it is Radhika Apte's Koko who stays with you.

While the first half keeps you firmly in its grip, the second half starts meandering a little till it captures you back with an absolutely unforeseeable climax.

What you mainly take away from this movie is its core; a story (written by Sriram Raghavan) that tells us that most often the situation is the villain. And, perhaps, each of us is capable of turning a criminal when faced with an extreme situation.

Contrary to rumours that Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone don't interact a lot on the sets of Imtiaz Ali's upcoming film 'Tamasha', our source tells us that all is well with the duo.

"They continue to remain cordial. More so, both actors are very particular about their fitness regime and work out together," says the source.

Reports of a rift between the two came forth apparently after the two actors requested for different flights to travel abroad for the first schedule of 'Tamasha'. Then, the duo requested for rooms on different floors of the hotel they were supposed to be staying in during the film's shoot.

A source from the unit says, "They aren't best of friends but care about each other. They talk when needed. They do hang out sometimes post their shoot but there is nothing more to it than that," adds the source.

Director Imtiaz Ali remained unavailable for comment.

Vishal-Shekhar may have scored the music for Shah Rukh Khan's last few films but Pritam seems to be the star's choice at the moment

Songs composed by musician duo Vishal-Shekhar have been a constant fixture in Shah Rukh Khan's recent films including 'Happy New Year' (2014), 'Chennai Express' (2013) and 'Ra.One' (2011). However, things look set to change now.

If sources are to be believed, Pritam has been roped in to score the music for SRK's next with Rohit Shetty. Says a source, "An announcement will be made only when the film rolls next month, but Pritam is definitely scoring the music. Things had gone sour between Vishal-Shekhar and Shah Rukh in the past over certain incidents, which may have led the makers to collaborate with Pritam."


Last year, Vishal-Shekhar were missing from SRK's Slam! - The Tour in Canada and US to promote 'Happy New Year'. But Yo Yo Honey Singh, rumoured to be King Khan's favourite, was taken on board though he had nothing to do with the project.

It is well known in B-Town that Honey and Vishal-Shekar share an acrimonious past. The composer duo was upset when SRK roped in Yo Yo to sing the 'Lungi dance' track for 'Chennai Express'. At that time, Vishal had launched a verbal tirade against the singer-rapper online. The irked composers also skipped an episode of a music reality show that they were judging as SRK came on the show to promote 'Chennai Express'.

Buzz was that SRK and Shetty had kept Vishal-Shekhar in the dark about the 'Lungi dance' number even though they were the film's composers. Adds the source, "Due to past incidents, it appears that for their next project, they made a conscious decision to work with Pritam."

Pritam remained unavailable for comment. The makers, too, were tightlipped about the music composers.

Oh yes! You read it right! Salman Khan might be permanently replaced by, the Halla Bol host, Farah Khan.

Happy New Year director, Farah Khan might take up Salman Khan's position for Bigg Boss 9. Apparently, Farah Khan who has claimed to be one of the biggest fan of the controversial, high volatile reality show had been discussing about being the host for the next season with her friends. A little birdie told us that Farah had been considered by the makers of the reality show as the host for the next season. 


According to the buzz, Bigg Boss Halla Bol has been a bigger hit than Bigg Boss season 8, also considering the TRP growth the makers might give Farah another chance. 

Earlier also, before season 8 started there had been rumours of Salman might step down from hosting the show but, the news of Salman not hosting the show created a lot of stir amongst the audience and his fans. Leading to which Salman again stepped into the host's boots. 

As the show went on air, there has been abuzz, that this would be Salman's last season. As a result when the makers planned to extend the 8th season, Salman withdrew from show, stating that he has other commitments to fulfill and would be back next season. 


However, now the grapevine states that the success of Halla Bol has made the makers believe that Farah can replace Salman as a host for the show.

Well, everyone supported Farah as she substituted for Salman on Halla Bol, but what do you people think would Farah be able to live up to the charm of Salman? 

Actress-social activist Shabana Azmi, who has slammed the Central Board of Film Certification's decision to refrain from profanity in films, has appealed to give up the British system of censorship and adopt the American one, whereby the filmmakers are liberal about their own films and censorship.

CBFC chairperson Pankaj Nihalani has issued a controversial diktat blacklisting 'offensive' words from Indian films. The decision has left many Bollywood celebrities in shock and disagreement and Shabana is one of them.

She feels "Censor Board's business is to certify and not censor according to appropriate ages".

"I think it is very important that we discard the British system, which means you appoint a chief and then you have 30 different people who willingly are chosen according to the political dispensation of the day which means every five years you expect the morality of your country to change," Shabana said here Thursday at the screening of the film "Qissa".

"Instead we should adopt the American system, whereby the filmmakers themselves yield and decide that they don't want a single cut but they realise that age appropriate behaviour is important. If they have a universal exhibition then they voluntarily give cuts," she added.

Actress Anushka Sharma, who is currently busy promoting her film "NH 10", credits her films `PK` and `Bombay Velvet` for igniting passion for cinema in her.

"Films affect you on a personal level because this is the life you lead - 95 percent of my life is about my work.

`Playing different roles also affects you and a huge credit goes to 'PK' and 'Bombay Velvet'. For the kind of passion it developed inside me for cinema is great," Anushka told reporters in a group interview.

In the film, Anushka will be seen fighting for her survival along with her husband, played by Neil Bhoopalam, after their road trip turns out to be a complete nightmare.


The actress says portraying the role with conviction was physically challenging for her.

"It was physically very challenging so I started training myself accordingly. We also did workshops to build the chemistry between the characters," said Anushka, who has also turned producer with the film.

Directed by Navdeep Singh and co-produced by Eros International and Phantom Films, the film is slated to release March 6.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has laughed off snide comments from one of his blog readers and says he isn't sure if the individual has lost his "sense of humour".

Big B posted a long letter from a "disappointed" fan, who complained about the style of the superstar's writing calling it "a torturous bheja-fry", on his official blog srbachchan.tumblr.com, which he uses to express his thoughts on varied subjects or to even promote his projects, late Thursday night.

Keeping his calm, the 72-year-old, who is gearing up for the release of his films "Piku" and "Wazir", replied by a simple laugh, writing "Ha ha..."

Referring to the fan as an "EF" (extended family), Amitabh added: "Come on EF...what happened..lost your sense of humour...many feeling offended by the Blog content..really...do you really think it was offensive..you must be joking..do you genuinely believe that I could ever do that..

"It was a pat on the backs of the EF .. feel it and feel the love.."

Actors and the media are known to share a `love-hate` kind of relationship, but megastar Amitabh Bachchan took to his official blog to laud the dedication of media persons, saying they deserve `respect` and `dignity`.

`I do feel, that the job assigned to a member of the media has an agenda too. They get briefed from their seniors, much like what we are subjected to by our writers and directors,` the 72-year-old posted on sir bachchan. tumblr.com.

`They have a job on hand. They are under instructions and they are carrying out their job. They need the respect and dignity of their presence,` he added.

The actor, who has been tagged as `Bollywood's Shahenshah`, also noted that instructing journalists to ask a particular set of questions is unfair.


`Once agreed to meet the press or the media, then dictating to them what they can ask and not ask is really expecting too much. It also is freedom curbing. If you do not wish to make a statement or say something for public consumption, do not agree to meet the media.

`But once agreed, be prepared for all kinds...they could be favourable to you, or uncomfortable. You may chose to at the moment to keep silent or not comment at all. But...to expect that it shall be within the precincts of what you desire, may not entirely be possible...at least that is what my experience says,` Big B shared.

Meanwhile, the screen icon is gearing up for the release of his films "Piku" and "Wazir".