Gulaal: Powerplay

Anurag Kashyap is certainly riding high on his Dev D success, but Gulaal is a different genre altogether. It’s a story about power, politics and all that takes to make it big.
The movie starts on a truly powerful note. Kay Kay Menon, delivering a long but inspiring monologue, which sets the tone for the movie.
The movie talks about Rajputs who want to have their own share of land and rule, separate country called Rajputana. Kay Kay Menon being the flag bearer of the cause. He starts with college politics, as that’s the breeding ground for every politically awakened youth. Raja Choudhry plays the part of a simpleton who is forced into this world of powerplay after murder of his roommate Abhimanyu Singh who was contesting for the position of GS. Ayesha Menon debuts in this movie, she plays the role of a guitar strumming, blood spewing seductive vixen, for whom power means everything. Aditya Srivastav as Ayesha Mohan’s brother is the person who tries to dethrone Kay Kay Menon and tries all the tricks in the book, including getting Kay Kay Menon seduced by his sister, to get what he wants. Then there are brilliant cameos played by Jessy Randhawa, Piyush Sinha and others.
A special mention Deepak Dobriyal’s portrayal of Bhati is awesome, he is one actor to watch out for in this movie and movies to come. After a brilliant performance in Delhi 6, he backs it up with another power packed one.
The movie was made even before Dev D and probably that suggests the starcast with a high dose of Anurag Kashyap entourage with Kay Kay Menon and Aditya Srivastav again locking horns. This is a tale of political battle brewing up in Rajasthan where the Rajputs want to fight for their own country and as they feel that they are wronged by the Govt of India. It also tells the story of a young college going youth who gets entwined in this battle of power.
What we see then is a long and winding road to power and deceit. The movie is brought to life by the casts who perform their characters as if they are living out of their skins. The music is great and lyrics set the tone of the movie. Piyush SInha’s lyrics are what brings a refreshingly new feel to the movie. Even the dialogues are of high standard, and no unnecessary foul mouthing.
Anurag Kashyap is a new age director and his brilliance at handling difficult subjects is nothing new. The movie leaves with lots of images, the ragging sequence where Jessy and Raj are forced into a room, when Kay Kay addresses all Rajputs in the opening sequence or the college election speech by Raj where he acts completely clueless and controlled by others, you are made to think.
Its a brilliant movie and a must watch.