Drugs – A Take-off to Nowhere. Review on Udta Punjab

Punjab – The land of 5 Rivers and a key state in India, greatly contributes to the Nation but also flying high on drugs.

Though the film highlights the bitter truth of Punjab, it is a common problem that many other states in India are grappling with. Alcohol and Drug smuggling is not confined by any boundary, and hence is the issue of the Country and not the State alone.  Drugs & Alcohol even if banned eventually find their way to their consumers due to lack of commitment from corrupted few in the Administration.

The story revolves around four key characters, Tommy, Sartaj, Pinky and Preet, who are fighting a common enemy – Drugs:

Tejinder Singh alias Tommy Singh(Shahid Kapoor), a singer who hit stardom at the age of 22. He is also known as ‘The Gabru’, a revered icon of all the youths in Punjab. His addiction to drugs inspired him to compose songs promoting drugs and eventually it gets the better of him ruining his singing career.  In short, he is the Rahul Jaykar of ‘Aashiqui 2’.

Sartaj(Diljit Dosanjh) is an Assistant Cop whose extra earning of Rs.10, 000/- weekly is generated through ‘hafta’ by turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking.

Pinky(Alia Bhatt), a Bihari, is a district level Hockey champion but her search for job lands her in Punjab where she is accidentally in possession of heroin worth Rs.1 Crore and hunts for consumers.

Preet(Kareena Kapoor) - a Doctor, supports Anti-Drug Campaign and also runs a rehabilitation center.

It is only when your immediate family member or loved one gets affected by drugs/vice that you go into damage control mode and take action. Countering this invisible monster that has entered one’s home is a difficult challenge, however not impossible. Each of the four characters are shown independently fighting their own battles but the narrative is so superbly scripted, that these characters happen to cross paths making it a jointly fought battle.

Cast: The strength of the movie is the Cast. The performance of Alia Bhatt stands out. You have seen the maturity in her acting in ‘Highway’ and the role of Pinky was not an easy one but she proved that she is a versatile actress. Diljit will win hearts of the viewers. Kareena’s performance just added to the display of great talent. Shahid Kapoor as a singer rocked. Satish Kaushik had a brief but worthy role as Tommy’s Manager.  Kudos to the entire cast and crew.

Direction: Abhishek Chaubey is known for directing successful films'Ishqiya' and'Dedh Ishqiya'. He has great depth in visualization of characters making the screenplay look realistic ensuring it does not go overboard.

Pros: Brilliant performance, excellent screenplay, nice script & cinematography. Though there was no scope for comedy content, the dialogues were so skillfully written and delivered by the cast that even serious exchange of emotions generated amusement. The dialogues in local dialect were very effective and eloquently delivered. There are several scenes that will give you sincere hearty laughs.

Cons: Shahid Kapoor’s character appeared week and was overshadowed by the other key characters. I wish instead of running away, he had sung the song composed for ‘Anti Drug Campaign’ to show his commitment to fighting drugs. He had followers who were mostly drug addicts inspired by him. Moreover, the investigation carried out by Sartaj and Dr. Pinky though inspiring, did not come across as a fitting solution to the drug menace. It showed as if it is a crime supported by a very strong corrupt lobby with very few wanting to fight the system.

Conclusion: As a viewer, hardly anyone is interested in the micros of movie making or the post-production process before screening. Had the censor board passed ‘Udta Punjab’ without its bullying tactics, the film would have easily been viewed as any other contemporary but well-made film. We have seen mainstream big budget films on drugs such as ‘Janbaaz’ and ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ that provided glamour, thrill and action. In contrast, 'Udta Punjab' is a simple low budget, down to earth movie. Through effective screenplay, it touches the real social problems which is a result of corrupt system and provides raw entertainment by making you relate to each of the characters. The performances of the lead cast especially Alia and Diljit will demand viewership.

Bottom line: ‘Udta Punjab’ does strike a chord with the viewers and is a must watch for ‘Punjab’ & highly recommended for the'Rest of India'.