Meeruthiya Gangsters

Dear Zeishan Quadri,

I have been associated with you since Wasseypur-1, and i was completely blown away with the creative vision and narrative grasp you have on a story and its characters. After some years of contemplating, you finally decided to helm the captain's chair and viola we have a gem named 'Meeruthiya Gangsters'.

The Plot revolves around friendship between 6 reckless youths from Meerut, which is one of the most dangerous areas in India (even though we met the nicest people in the world there). The youths want to earn money and take shortcuts to arrange the dough. Unfortunately, they get conned and their innocence turn into evil, which leads them to kidnap people and collect ransoms for a living. Eventually, their luck runs out when they come head to head with a tough sarcastic cop.

Firstly, i am too associated with the project to do a Review for the film and will not add any good or bad points of the film since it's my own first baby and it would be unfair as a reviewer to review my own film. But as the Screenplay writer of the film, i am satisfied that the film was made according to me and Zee bhai's vision. A piece of advice - It's not an ordinary masala film that you expect puns everywhere, and the shots are not your regular filmy taking. But, what holds the film is its Characters and the language. Real films with dark humor are a rarity these days and Meeruthiya is one of those rare films.

The reason i am writing this for my own film is to stand against those reviewers who have back lashed against the film without giving it a chance. Some Critics have loved it and some have hated it. The Critics who hated it doesn't necessarily mean they haven't got the money to write a positive feedback, it means that the reviewer didn't connect with the film. So, to write a review, a day prior to the release of the film, is plain backstabbing. At least give the chance to the audience to use their own brain to sense the film. By imposing the review to the world, before the release of the film, some reviewers are maligning small independent films.

This negative clout was formed around Bombay Velvet as well before its release and the film had to suffer even though it wasn't that bad.

If the film was that bad then why would senior reviewers like Komal Nahata or Mid day or Dainik Jagran give it positive reviews. Even on BookMyShow Meeruthiya fared better ratings than Katti Batti. May be the reviewer was having an off day and he released his frustration on the film. But atleast think of the hardwork put in by the team for one and half years behind the independent film.

I as a reviewer never give my feedback on any film before its release because today's audiences are easily influenced by words seeded into them, and this gives more responsibility to journalism and writers in general. I met many people in the theaters who loved the film and said they came with a lot of expectation after Wasseypur and they weren't disappointed. A young blogger even told me that negative reviews pushed him to see the film and felt sorry for the reviewers who gave it negative feedback since it shows the deep corruption in our journalism.

And finally now Meeruthiya is getting recognition on torrents and has been named one of the most underrated films of 2015.

Eventually, Meeruthiya did not break records at the box office. But i foresee a following for the film in the future like Andaz Apna Apna, which was panned and later became a cult for the next Gen.

For the people who have supported the film, wait for the return of Wasseypur next year kyunki Sab ka badla lega hamara Zeishan.

Rating- Only Audience's love :* :* :* :* :*

Phantom

Dear Kabir Khan,

This year you impressed and wowed the audiences with 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and now with Phantom, you continue your good form of technically brilliant films but Phantom sheds pace and logic in the second half.

The film revolves around a disgraced army commander who is sent on a mission-impossible to kill the 4 masterminds behind the 26/11 Taj attacks. The Hitman travels through many countries on a free-for-all visa and gets his mission accomplished.

The film is technically on par with Hollywood. The idea is like 'Inglorious Bastards' where a team of military people assassinate Hitler hypothetically. A film like this is a brave attempt as it is. The war scenes in Syria and the entire first half gives you a feeling of a Tom Cruise film. But the second half is where the problem lies. Post-interval, the film is very similar to D-Day & Baby making it a rehash of those films without anything new. The first half is fresh with smart writing and a kadak screenplay except that its 10-15mins long and could have been sharpened on the editing table. As soon as Saif enters Pakistan, the film goes in the cliche zone where the characters and the situation takes you back to old school Bollywood. Also, Katrina is sooooo miscasted. She has perfect hair during a War (ayyo bomb, lemme make my hair first). And then she has kajal and make up on during an assassination attempt. Her accent makes her look so fake. 

The Mir & Headley killings are interesting and the Syria environment is absolutely breathtaking. Also, the visual effects are very well executed. Special mention to the cinematography - brilliant.

Saif is good and does well especially after Agent Vinod which was on similar lines. Katrina is the weak link. All good emotional scenes are wasted on her.

Overall, Phantom is not Bajrangi, while Bajrangi gave you a pride feeling along with a peaceful atmosphere, Phantom brings the same negative feeling from our neighbors which came during 'Border'. Even though the film is an illusionary set up, we want the guilty to receive justice. Rest aside if only measured as a film, rather than a political issue, Phantom is a good film which can be definitely watched once.

Rating - **half