2.5 / 5
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns takes off from where the first part left off in 2011. Saheb Aditya Prathap Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill) is wheelchair bound and he has a growing number of enemies who are out to further compromise his already reducing power and influence as a king in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Politicians are out to split the state which will further push Saheb down in the power stakes. Even in his own clan, there are people who wish to see his downfall.
His wife Madhavi (Mahie Gill) is now a politician but her addiction to alcohol continues unabated as Saheb doesn’t pay much heed to her and instead sets his eyes on Ranjana (Soha Ali Khan). Sahib wishes to marry Ranjana and is prepared to go to any extent for her sake. We also have the gangster element provided by Indrajeet Singh (Irrfan Khan) who has a really old score to settle with Saheb and is also in love with Ranjana.
With so many players and a lot at stake, there is a whole lot of one-upmanship battles and scheming going on. Adultery is also a part of the game. Who survives this intense battle between human minds and hearts? Catch the flick to find out.
The film moves along at a slow clip but there is a certain tension and grip in the proceedings for sure. Mahie Gill continues being the unconventional heroine who isn’t averse to drinking and indulging in other immoral acts on screen. Jimmy Sheirgill, though wheelchair bound, is majestic and puts his gestures and voice to great use. Jimmy continues to grow in stature in film after film.
The ever dependable Irrfan Khan has another of those cunning and spiteful roles which he pulls off with ease. The baby-like Soha Ali Khan is the ice element among all the fire around and her role gains in significance towards the end. Raj Babbar as Soha’s father is also among the characters who wish to see Saheb’s fall. Mugdha Ghodse appears in an item number and her plastic expressions take the fun away from the number. And Pravesh Rana as Irrfan’s younger cop brother seems to be a promising find indeed.
There are just a few songs in the movie and Sandeep Chowta’s background music is apt for the drama that unfolds on screen. Yogesh Jani’s cinematography is functional and captures the rustic setting well.
To sum up, director Tigmanshu Dhulia is becoming an expert at crafting dramas involving characters who have shades of grey in their psyche and this one is another proof of his abilities. But since we already know what to expect thanks to the first movie, the second one doesn’t have any major spike as the template is followed consistently. Still, it is a pretty taut affair.
VERDICT: Slow paced but gripping …
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