Hulla: Mumbai Unplugged! review

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Bikas Mishra reviews Jaideep Varma's debut film Hulla

The sight of Mumbai isn't unusual in Hindi cinema, the feel of the metropolis is. Beyond the glitz of the stars and gloom of the gang wars, a Mumbai exists in the lives of so many of us, who are perennially caught between our aspirations and innumerable obstacles. The Mumbai that "Hulla" brings alive is quite ordinary in the sense that only ordinary people inhabit it and that's reason enough to watch this film. It's our story!

The plot of "Hulla" is centred around Raj Puri (Sushant Singh), a pragmatic stock sub broker, who doesn't mind "borrowing money" from his client's account to buy a house for himself and his working wife in the suburbs of Mumbai. His wife Abha (Kartikadevi Rane), daughter of Malabar Hills resident retired bureaucrat, is a marketing professional. Everything seems to be going fine in their lives, till Raj discovers a strange noise that takes his sleep away. No it's not the bombs or anything that the city is generally associated with ( at least in some recent films about it) but it's the shrill noise of the night guard's whistle.

"Frivolous" it may sound, but the film derives it's plot from this basic premise.

Raj's career goes for a toss and he turns insomniac and obsessive in his attempt to fight the menace, ruining his professional and personal life.

The film is replete with characters whom we encounter everyday and often don't take notice of. Like Mathew (Chandrachood Karnik), who works as a security guard after getting retired from Navy. And Janardan (Rajat Kapoor), secretary of the society, a middle class businessman, who lives in a one BHK apartment in the same society.

"Hulla" masterly captures the unique relationship that Raj and Janardan share. Janardan, who has to cope with a failing business and inexorable aspirations of his wife, draws tremendous sense of pride in him being secretary of the society. He uses it to the hilt in order to derive a sadistic pleasure out of the misery of Raj.

While, Raj, a successful broker turns obsessive in this pursuit of reason and sleep.

These characters are well sketched, however, beyond a point taking the narrative forward with such a wafer-thin premise starts taking its toll. Probably because director takes the dramatic premise too seriously and believes the audience is with him.

Nevertheless, the premise has a charm of its own.  Here there is an issue, a valid one but it also makes you laugh. The frivolity inherent in the subject matter could have taken the film to a different plane. Probably this is what I expected from this film. I wanted it to be Bunuelesqe, that "Khosla Ka Ghosla" was to an extent. Otherwise who'll believe a Nautanki party will get Khosla his "stolen" plot back. However, in "Hulla" director believes in the seriousness of the issue to the extent that he offers unconditional sympathy to the protagonist.

"Hulla" could be an imperfect work of cinema but it's thoroughly engaging and entertaining. There're situations which make you laugh out loud. Raj's south Indian neighbors are the funniest of the characters. In a scene where Raj and Abha visit them and are served tea and biscuits is a hilarious one.

Rajat Kapoor is convincing in his role. He lets go all his sophistication to get into the skin of a middle class businessman. A very different role from what he has been doing so far.

Sushant does a memorable job. 78-year old Chandrachood Karnik, is inconsistent in his performance but he stays with us for the character that he plays.

Jaideep is a director to look forward to, whose story and characters are deeply rooted in our time . The best part of his storytelling is his characters who are so real that you'll find them all around you, even while watching the film.

Indian Ocean's music is as good as ever, only would have loved to hear them little more.

Jaideep, Hulla is a fabulous debut. Because more than any other reason-it's about us, middle class dwellers of the city. I think this is reason enough to watch this film. Look forward to your next film.

[rating:3]
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