Latest Reviews & Buzz for
संजू (2018)

You can now expect a Salman Khan biopic soon. Where Somy Ali, a husband beater, hires a black buck to kill Sallu. The black buck injures Sallu badly. Sohail Khan then takes him wounded to hospital on a vegetable cart. A Mumbai pothole disbalances the cart and it accidentally knocks off six people on the footpath .. dead! The audience cheer, clap and shed tears for Salman. The film ends with Malaika Arora hiring the same black buck to trap Arbaaz in match fixing!

While I am writing this, it is happening that- with the highest opening collection of this year, Sanju is on the way of becoming another blockbuster by Rajkumar Hirani. Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt has done absolutely fantastic job. Thus, this is becoming the highest grosser of his career (till now).

Film should only be taken as a film. This is not an attempt of Hirani to change public and their mindsets toward Sanju and his film career, jail sentence and personal life. It is just a Bollywood flick. And audience is getting it. After 34cr on day one, 38cr on day two, Today it will enter into 100cr club. And believe me, it is worth a watch.

Sanjay Dutt has very limited period of time with his mother. Though the relation between them is shown superbly. Two strongest bonds which we see in the film are father-son and Sanju-Kamli (His friend). It's amazing to see how one can survive in hard situations because of his father and a friend. Film is giving a good message of not to loose good people in life. Also, change your company if it changes you into something which is harmful to you or your family. I will write on and on but leaving it and hoping that you will find more inspirations from Sanju's life story.

Ranbir Kapoor is as usual fantastic. What amazed me this time is, when he entered on screen with a muscular body in the gym. Manisha Koirala is superb in her role as Nargis. Anushka Sharma and Diya Mirza are there as a biographer and Manyata Dutt respectively. They both are fine in their spaces. Jim Sarbh has very small role and he has done accordingly. (No! He's not there as Sallu.) Karishma Tanna as Pinky is okay. Sonam is good here. Boman & Mahesh Manjrekar are entertaining in their special appearances.

Apart from Ranbir, we all are expecting something great from both Paresh Rawal as well as Vicky Kaushal. Paresh as Sunil Dutt has done incredible job. In his interviews, Paresh had said that he was worried about bringing the equal integrity and positiveness which Dutt Saáb had. I think he has done it rightly! In the film, Sanju says that these two are his Gods, and only because of these two, he's alive! I think each person deserves one friend like Kamlesh or a father like Sunil or if possible then both! Vicky is superb! Super entertaining as well as full of emotions. These three (Ranbir, Paresh and Vicky) make the film completely worth a watch. In fact i heard many saying they will go for second time as well.

I have no doubt in music department. Some are saying it has not good songs. But actually, there is just a single complete song which is Kar Har Maidaan Fateh. Which I think suits in the film as well as without the context of the film. Sukhvinder Singh's voice roars in the hall like a Tiger's. Scenes of rehab center have been shot well. Ravi's cinematography is cool. And brilliant in the scenes of Drugs, Bathroom, America, etc. The drug song called Ruby Ruby takes you to another level but for some seconds only. Written by Irshad Kamil and composed by Rahman, it is worth listening to in the earplugs. Main Badhiya is not a song, just an antra is there in the film. Another one featuring Karishma Tanna has also only an antra that too without music. So there is just a single song and it is worthy enough.

My favourite scenes are: Explanations of three good lyricists of Indian Cinema which were like Ustadji to Sunil Dutt; 'Tere jaisa yaar kahan' sequence; Last moment with Nargisji; Untold speech; 'Jaadu ki Jhappi' from Munnabhai MMBS.

Film will collect more than 300cr. People are loving the film. Hirani is a true filmmaker who makes film for everyone. Don't go to judge Sanjay Dutt. Learn to accept what he is. Bacause I am sure, you don't like it when someone judges you! Treat others equally as you treat yourself. This film is not making him hero or something, this is just an unusual story of a man called Sanjay Dutt, happens to be an actor, a public figure.

'Ghee che to Ghapaghap che' and 'Hirani che to Paisa Wasool che!' This emotional journey is not to be missed. Got tears in many scenes. My regards to Sanjay (from a boy who is not his fan) Love you Sanju!

Sanju Movie Review :

Sanju is a love letter from Sanjay dutt to his now deceased father Sunil dutt. This is done via the film maker Raju Hirani, who is a master at crafting films. It is also a film, which attempts to show Sanju Baba’s side of the story. Unfortunately, that is where the film falls a bit short.
Let’s talk about it more, because as said in the film, no topic is so simple that it can be understood, judged and a verdict given in a few sentences.

Story :
The film is presented as semi-autobiographical and semi fictional. Real names are used but in conjunction with fictional characters. So for people who are going in to see the real story behind the man, might be a bit disappointed. As its more of a fictional retelling of sanju’s story.
However that does not dilute the powerful father son bond shown in the film and the trials and tribulations of a famous person’s life.
The story does its job in trying to clear the name or failing that at least give an alternative view of sanju’s life.

Acting :
The trailers showed off how good Ranbir Kapoor is at slipping into Sanjay Dutt’s shoes. The full film doesn’t disappoint in the acting department. Ranbir Kapoor deserves a best actor award for his portrayal of Sanjay Dutt. He is really good in the role and doesn’t miss a beat.

Supporting him is Vicky Kaushal. Who Plays Sanju Baba’s loyal friend. It is said that he is the amalgamation of 2 or 3 of sanjay’s real life friends. Vicky is REALLY good in this film, he starts out as an over the top Gujju Caricature but soon fills his role with heart and warmth. His role is the third most important role in this film about a father, son and his friend.

Which brings us to the father. Sunil dutt is played by Paresh Rawal and although he is a really great actor, he cannot hope to match up with the real Sunil dutt who is a legend. Rawal tries really hard and mostly succeeds but still remembering the real Dutt Sahib and his acting, this performance falls a bit short. But that is not the actor’s fault. Not many can film Sunil Dutt’s shoes. Infact currently no one in Bollywood can act and convince an audience that they are watching Sunil Dutt on screen.

Manisha Koirala, Dia Mirza, Anushka sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Boman Irani round of the rest of the notable casting. Everyone of them has done justice to their roles, but none of the side characters have a standout performance. There is a nice cameo by Arshad Warsi which made me miss his Circuit character even more…

Direction & Editing:
Raju Hirani is credited as the director-editor of the film. He is one of India’s best directors and he doesn’t disappoint in the least. But the subject matter lets him down a bit. This is not munnabhai or PK, this is a real life story and has to be dealt with sensitivity and there is not much of the classic Raju hirani comedy. Which is fine, but it does make the film a bit boring and slightly dragging in parts.
Regardless, he manages to outshine the writing and somehow turn this simple story into something better.

Overall :

In this film, Sanjay dutt has told his side of the sotry, but it is missing important details of his life such as his first marriage, his fallout (supposed) with his own sister and how he met his current wife. Maybe all of that would have diluted from this script but these omissions do seem to try and show Sanjay as a different person than he might be in real life.

Not to mention the message of the film is given as,
1. Sunil Dutt was a great man who did a lot for his wife and children
2. The press is a horrible thing, almost a daily consumption drug of masala news and sensation (the movie’s words… not mine)
If you would find such a thing offensive, then this film is not for you. But dutt and hirani have taken a LOT of pot shots at the press and the only pervasive villain in the film is looming specter of the press. This is not going to make the press happy.

Rating :
This is a solid 7/10 film. Not as good as Hirani’s previous films. But an important film for Sanjay Dutt, the misunderstood star.


Conclusion:
This film DOES address the whole, is he a terrorist thing. In fact a LARGE portion of the film is all about that. I don’t have any personal opinion on the same, but it is part of the film.
In the end, will it change the minds of those who think he is a criminal and making a film about him is not ok ?

NOPE.
The film also addresses it via a dialog by Anushka sharma. They know it won’t change the minds of the haters, but it does give Sanjay a chance to say his two words.

Only question is… are you curious enough to spend your money to hear his side of the story ?