A shocking, loud, over-the-top revenge drama is scaring fans already, Riteish Deshmukh’s hideous and cringe worthy avatar reflects the dwarves in bad light
By Mayur Lookhar
Sidharth Malhotra and Riteish Deshmukh in Marjaavaan (2019)
A poor content can still work. Few mindless comedies, over-the-top action dramas especially those featuring super stars have rode their luck to achieve commercial success, However, not many of them have earned respect. Those producers have always given two hoots for respect and flaunted their box office collection. Credit has to be given where it’s due but it’s next-to-impossible to give respect to regressive content.
In 2014, director Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain rode all the criticism to emerge as a surprise hit earning well over Rs100 crore nett at the domestic box office. Yours truly was left cringing and cursing his friend Gokul Nag who cajoled him into buying tickets for that film. Five years on, Riteish Deshmukh and Sidharth Malhotra are squaring up against each other in Milap Zaveri’s Marjaavaan (2019). There’s no Shraddha Kapoor but young Tara Sutaria plays the female protagonist.
Ek Villain saw Deshmukh play an unstable man who kills Shraddha Kapoor’s character with Sidharth Malhotra avenging his girl friend’s death. That tragedy was down due to culmination of unfortunate series of events. However, that doesn’t appear to be the case in Marjaavaan with Ritesh Deshmukh’s character, a notorious don, a dwarf deriving great pleasure in killing.
Milap Zaveri has given a Raavanesque shade to Deshmukh’s character. While Ek Villain had its huge flaws, but it was the fine performance by Deshmukh and Aamna Sharif that perhaps helped the film. However, this miniature devil avatar looks cringe worthy. Dwarves have long been subject of poor stereotypes and this shocking, over-the-top portrayal is unlikely to amuse them.
If you thought that Sidharth Malhotra was poor in Ek Villain, then looking at his exploits in the trailer, the sane minds are already banging their heads. A Karan Johar discovery, Malhotra only seems to be going from bad to worse with each film. He gave a terrible performance in his last two films – Jabariya Jodi (2019) and Aiyaary (2018). His outrageous, over-the-top character [goon] in Marjaavan looks another suicide. Truth be told, Marjaavaan is coming across as a poor Ek Villain 2.0.
Sutaria was found wanting in her debut film Student Of The Year 2 (2019). She has a tremendous screen presence, but her fans will hope for a better effort in Marjaavaan. Based on the trailer, it appears the girl only has a limited role. Rakul Preet Singh appears to be playing someone close to the dwarf. Much like Sutaria, Rakul Preet Singh, too, is looking for genuine respect in Bollywood.
The trailer smacks of melodrama, loud, over-the-top action, campy dialogues, gory expressions. Wonder after watching it, how many would seriously consider spending their hard-earned money to buy a ticket for Marjaavaan? Perhaps, the Ramayanesque shade may appeal the Ram Bhakths.
With all due respect to Zaveri, the actors, but the thought of watching this film might be akin to a death wish. But then again poor content can work too. The producers would be hoping Marjaavaan does an Ek Villain.
Watch the trailer below.
Marjaavaan is set to be released on 8 November.
