They say the worth of a film can be gauged by the size of the audience. In this case, the maxim was proved wrong.  The show started bang on time with me as its only audience. Was the movie going to be that bad?

I did not get to pursue that thought further as Picture Thoughts Productions’ Bhindi Bazaar Inc had me glued to the screen right from the start. So much so that it was only during the interval that I realized that the audience size had increased to two.

It isonly at the end of it that you do realize that the story is not very unusual, but what makes it worth a watch is the screenplay. The storytelling is laudable. The entire tale is told between a game of chess between Shroff (KK Menon) and Tez (Gautam Sharma). The back and forth from the past to present makes the film gripping accentuating the twists and turns that move the story forward. There are no loose ends and while you think there might be, the film keeps you wondering as to what’s coming next.

This is the first film for director Ankush Bhatt, but surely not the first for many of the artists who have performed in this film. It is a pleasure to watch the actors perform and not over-act as has become the case with most films today. Every character, big or small is convincing in his/her role. Jackie Shroff also makes a special appearance in the film

The camera has been utilized very well and adds to the gritty look of the film. The flashback scenes have an additional yellowish tone in keeping with the time and setting. Credit goes to the editor for weaving the various shots into a gripping story.  Fast cuts, slow motions, angles, continuity- it’s all been woven so well that unless you are out looking for them you will not realize it.

The film scores another point for its music by Sandeep and Surya. The track ‘Akkad Bakkad Bombay’ was already a raging number even before the release of the film. The music and picturisation will surely take it to the top of the charts especially since the lyrics are part of a famous rhyme. Catrina Lopez’s item number is already creating waves and is sure to be received with whistles and hoots in single screen cinemas.

The story is set in the streets of South Mumbai’s bhindi bazaar which is renowned for its thriving pick-pocket business. It explores the loyalties and sentiments of the mobsters, their victims, their followers and of course their opponents. It is a portrayal of the darker emotions. But thankfully the director did not take the theme literally unlike other ‘dark’ films.

What is the story? Who are these two people playing chess? What is Jackie Shroff’s role? What happens finally? Go find out for yourself at your nearest theatre. You will thank me for not ruining the fun by telling you the whole story. 

Verdict: Thrilling Thriller