Bandra movie review: Arun Gopy’s latest film, Bandra, starring Dileep and Tamannaah Bhatia, kicks off with a bit of a letdown and, unfortunately, stays that way till the end, leaving viewers with a sense of dĂ©jĂ vus.
In the world of cinema, where stories from around the globe have been shared for over a century, it’s getting tough to bring something totally new. “Bandra” tries but ends up feeling like a mixtape of old stories and scenes we’ve seen before.
The story is set in Mumbai and introduces us to Sakshi (Mamta Mohandas), an aspiring filmmaker struggling to get her first project off the ground. But her ideas fall flat. In the middle of her struggles, she stumbles upon the story of Tara Janaki (Tamannaah Bhatia), a past Bollywood star from the ’90s who tragically ended her own life. To unfold Tara’s story, Sakshi gets a guide, Mirchi (Kalabhavan Shajohn), who takes her back to the ’90s to narrate the tale of Tara and her love, Aala (Dileep). The rest of the movie follows Tara and Aala’s story as told by Mirchi to Sakshi.
Bandra movie review
Right from the start, Bandra feels like a movie you’ve seen before, like Marty McFly saying, “Hey, I have seen this one, this is a classic,” in “Back to the Future.” The main plot is like a mix of other films, from “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai” to “The Dirty Picture” and “Heroine.” It borrows scenes from other movies and even mirrors the life of past actress Sridevi. Despite its long runtime of over 156 minutes, the film doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
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The supposedly original parts lack impact and fail to make you feel anything. Relying only on a strong background score isn’t enough to make a moment memorable. You need a good story or a thrilling moment to really grab the audience’s attention. Unfortunately, “Bandra” falls short when you expect something big to happen, leaving you wondering why it keeps going without any memorable moments.
Watch Bandra trailer here:
Although the ’90s era is beautifully captured in the visuals, the lack of an engaging story makes all the visual efforts seem pointless. You might find yourself checking the time, wondering when the movie will finally end.
It seems like Arun Gopy focused more on the technical side and forgot to keep the story on track. Despite a small cast, the characters in Bandra don’t get the attention they deserve, making them feel like puppets controlled by the writer.
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As for the performances, Dileep tries to bring some style, but it’s not enough to save the movie. Tamannaah’s charm and decent acting initially help, but it gets tiring as the film drags on. Mamta Mohandas delivers a portrayal similar to herself, but other actors don’t get much chance to shine.
While the cinematography and editing are good, the movie’s coloring, typical of underworld dramas, takes away from the overall experience. Despite some good background tracks, they struggle to fit in. Art direction stands out but sometimes feels excessive.
In short, Bandra starts off as a bit of a letdown and ends the same way, leaving you with a sense of déjà vu.
Bandra cast:Â Dileep, Tamannaah Bhatia, Dino Morea, Lenaa, Mamta Mohandas
Bandra director:Â Arun Gopy
Bandra rating:Â 1.5 stars
