Reviews & Ratings for
मक़बूल (2003)

You know something is right with a movie if Om Puri and Naseerudin Shah are contended with playing small roles of corrupt-cops.This Macbeth-meets-Godfather tale set in Bombay is one of my favourite mafia movies of all times. Vishal Bharadwaj is splendid at transforming classic plays in indian scenarios but Maqbool is his top form .With the greatest possible starcast –Naseerudin,Irfan,Om Puri,Pankaj Kapur, Tabu, Piyush Mishra it’s a felony to talk of acting. The movie is told from inside of a mafia-family and with in-depth characterization of every single character .Vishal plays shrewdly with viewer’s loyalty when you don’t know whom to root for, everyone justified in his own action. Although a small budget took its toll on editing, yet a perfect ending makes up for it.

Shakespeare's renowned tragedy 'Macbeth' is retold in Indian mafia standards! The context is no longer Scotland,but Mumbai. The betrayed king is not Duncan,but Jehangir Khan, a powerful mafia and Macbeth is his unfailing man-Friday ,Maqbool. The provocative Lady Macbeth is Jehangir's second wife,Nimmi and the major instruments of doom-the role of the witches is taken up in disguise by a duo of manipulative police constables.The film includes a brilliant cast comprising Irrfan Khan,Tabu,Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah,Om Puri. Vishal Bhardwaj is splendid in his rendition of the story of betrayal,murder and unethical usurpation. Jehangir,his father-figure is murdered by Maqbool to fulfil his ambition of being the helmsman of the illegal business and gain the authority over Nimmi. The instigating evil force -the constables constantly play with the imagination and ambition of Maqbool and egg him on till he engages in a bloodbath. In the end,however they help Maqbool to escape but too late.The grim image of underworld,the confusions,deception,merciless killing every action has been intertwined adeptly within the thrilling storyline. The medieval world of Macbeth is consciously,impeccably translated into the Mumbai underworld. Every actor,the supporting cast do justice to their roles.