Sanju (2018)

I have so many mixed feelings about this movie that I honestly don't know where to start. Considering how polarising it was (and continues to be), I guess that was bound to happen. 

Let's start with the good. First of all, I can't get over how good Ranbir Kapoor was. You can see that he really put in his 100% into becoming Sanjay Dutt, and it was quite an experience to just witness that. While we are on this topic, it would be criminal to not mention just how good the make-up, prosthetics and costume departments were. I give them full credit for this movie being the visual spectacle that it was. I also really appreciated Vicky Kaushal's acting here. I'd last seen him in Bhoot (2020) and man, that was a headache. Good to know that he's not as overhyped as I've been suspecting him to be for some time now (especially after watching Uri). Him and Ranbir kind of saved this movie, to be very honest.

The non-technical good bits that I want to talk about are how this movie treats addiction as a mental illness, and how it effectively shows the damaging nature of sensational journalism. I am very ashamed to say that I don't really have a lot of knowledge regarding the former, but this movie did help me see things in a new perspective, especially after discussing it with a friend. As for the latter, I really have nothing more to say except that fake news is one of the biggest culprits in setting fire to the Indian democracy, a historical moment that I am currently living through and dealing with on a daily basis, so excuse me if I just don't want to talk about it yet again.

Now coming to the parts I didn't like. This is my biggest and probably the most irrational grudge against the movie- the casting of Paresh Rawal as Sunil Dutt ji. Dutt saheb was a national treasure, first of all, while Sir Paresh Rawal (his words, not mine) is a past-his-prime boomer who is currently playing an active part in setting fire to the Indian democracy. Secondly, Dutt saheb was adorable and had an undeniable charisma, both qualities with Rawal uncle lacks. It was frustrating to see him play one of the best men to probably ever exist, and I really couldn't stop getting annoyed with every scene of his.

Another part which I did not like at all was how Sanju and his sisters literally never interact in the film? How is that even possible? I get that they can't include literally everything in the movie, but would one scene have killed them? I can't fathom the logic behind this directorial choice at all.

Speaking of the director- it's no secret that Hirani and Sanjay Dutt have been good friends for a long time now. Something just doesn't sit right with me when I hear that this movie hasn't been whitewashed at all. I mean, even from a friendly perspective, you'd expect some whitewashing must have occurred right? This claim makes me suspicious as hell, which just adds to my personal discomfort at seeing everything wrong that ever occurred in his life being conveniently blamed on someone else. Drugs? He was too gullible. Illegal weapons? He was too anxious about his family, which made others take advantage of him. Wow, so he literally did nothing wrong then? And also wow that Ranbir can literally never stop playing a man-child huh. I know that was mean, and probably uncalled for, but I had to say it. It would have been nice to see him actually introspect and take the blame for some things, like I don't know, DOING DRUGS IN HIS MOTHER'S HOSPITAL ROOM? I'm sorry, but that is just inexcusable. It's because of this that I just felt bad for Nargis ji, Sunil ji, and their daughters, and not so much for Sanju himself. Had they ever made him just say that he made a few mistakes, I would have been more sympathetic towards his journey. But I'm sorry, that's just not happening now.

In conclusion, stan the real Sunil Dutt and not this fake ass replica. And pray that one day this country's obsession with Bollywood lessens and we can all live in peace.