Not for the FAINT-HEARTED: Vidya Balan has NAILED it in Begum Jaan

Comments [ 6 ] By Priyanka Chauhan | 14 April 2017 | 2:39pm

Vidya Balan take a bow! What a fabulous actress she is. More than the story it is Vidya who is the USP of the film.

A glimpse of the story:

The film is a remake of Bengali film Rajkahini (2015) and the story of Begum Jaan is loosely based on Shyam Benegal's 1986 movie "Mandi". The story revolves around Vidya's character and her fight against the authorities to save her house. The story also unfolds the lives of sex workers and how the society treats them.

About the characters:

The film has a huge cast. While Vidya Balan plays the protagonist Begum Jaan, there are sixteen more pivotal characters.

Ila Arun is seen playing Amma and she plays a major role. At various intervals, she keeps narrating the stories of powerful women in the history of India.

Ladies of the brothel include: Gauahar Khan as Rubina, Pallavi Sharda as Gulabo, Priyanka Setia as Jameela, Ridheema Tiwary as Amba, Flora Saini as Maina, Raviza Chauhan as Lata, Poonam Rajput as Rani, Mishti (Indrani Chakraborty) as Shabnam, Gracy Goswami as Laadli.

Other important characters include: Pitobash Tripathy as Surjeet, Sumit Nijhawan as Salim Mirza, Ashish Vidyarthi as Harshvardhan, Chunky Pandey as Kabir, Rajit Kapoor as Ilias, Vivek Mushran as Master, Rajesh Sharma as Shyam and Naseeruddin Shah as Rajaji.

What we liked:

After Vidya's performance, it is the dialogues that you will take back with you.

Here are the few which I personally can't get out of my head:

Mahina hume ginna aata hai saab, har baar saala laal karke jaata hai. (I know how to count month, they leave me bloodied every time).

Tavaif k liye har din ek jaisa hota hai Master. (Everyday is the same for a whore).

Then comes the intense scenes that will make you squirm in your seat.

What we didn't like:

There are a lot of loopholes in the film which result in increasing the complexity.

The characters aren't given a brief introduction due to which we fail to connect with them. Lack of understanding of the character leads to further confusion.

Chunky Pandey's character (Kabir) is abruptly added. You are supposed to hate his character, but he fails to do so. His screenplay is weak and that is again followed by a frail performance which is nowhere justified to the plot.

Overall:

The film is a complete package of hard-hitting dialogues, gripping scenes, and powerful music. But, as I have mentioned in the title, it's not for the faint-hearted. If you are looking for a family entertainer this weekend, then 'Begum Jaan' is a strict 'no-no'. But, if you wish to drench yourself in the intensity of a sensitive topic like feminism or just witness some strong performances, then you can go ahead with the film.

Watch the trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmT2nfc6ko

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