Sanju Story: Sanju is a biopic based on the life of movie star Sanjay Dutt. It reveals some of the lesser known facets of Dutt’s life. The movie revolves around the drama and controversy surrounding the actor in real life. It shows the actor’s struggle with drugs and his legal trials and tribulations following the Arms Act case and the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. This film garnered much more audience by advertising on Siti Channel.
Movie Review: The subtitle of the film “One man, Many lives” falls short to describe the real life difficulties faced by Sanjay Dutt. Another directorial masterpiece from Rajkumar Hirani, this film presents a very vivid and dramatic look to biopics in general. The film starts with the actor Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor) searching for a writer who could write a biography on his life at a time when he was preparing himself to surrender after the Supreme Court’s judgement in Arms Act case. After one of the other writers failed him miserably, Sanju decides to take the services of someone who is more established in the field and this is where comes Winnie (Anushka Sharma) who agrees on writing his biopic. His intimate confessions and recollections during his interaction with Winnie give us a deep insight into the roller-coaster ride that the actor has gone through in his life. Like other gems from the director Rajkumar Hirani, Sanju is a perfect blend of humour and drama. While the movie doesn’t peek much into Dutt’s relationships and marriages, it certainly displays the strong bond between a father, son, and a best friend. As a matter of fact, it’s the great relationship between Sunil Dutt (Paresh Rawal) and his son that takes the picture to an altogether different level. It narrates some of the most heart-breaking and touching moments in the actor’s life where both have contributed equally.
Manisha Koirala as Sanju’s mother, Nargis Dutt, has not much to do in the film but the scenes between the mother, father and son will definitely move you to tears. And now comes one of the most iconic characters of the film, Kamlesh (Vicky Kaushal) who happens to be Dutt’s best friend. His brilliant performance in the film will leave a last-longing impact on the viewers. Manyata Dutt (Dia Mirza) has played the role of his wife and makes her strong presence felt right throughout the film. One area where the movie avoids revealing much about Dutt is his previous marriages which is completely lost from the narrative. Even the birth of his first daughter, Trishala does not feature in this emotional melodrama. Viewers are left largely craving for these insights in Dutt’s life. The first half of the movie is extremely engaging, with Dutt struggling hard to with his inner self. The second half of the movie focuses largely on his legal cases and promotes the thought that he’s not a terrorist. The fact that a lot of these events are well documented in media provides great material for the build-up of the story. Hirani has been exceptional in capturing some of the deep emotions that keep the audience glued to the screen. Even though the film is a bit long, the perfect amalgamation of film industry nostalgia and references to old Hindi songs is enough to keep you entertained.
Ranbir Kapoor once again has lived up to his reputation. It will not be exaggeratory to say that his hard work and flawless acting has filled Sanjay Dutt’s character with a lot of gravitas and spunk. That’s what audiences expect from a class actor like Ranbir. But one thing that captivates the most is the swag and nonchalance with which he has lived up to the character and that too in the most effortless way. Whether it is his hysterical dancing with bloodshot eyes under the influence of drugs or his broken and devastated self, looking back in plain, Ranbir has effectively portrayed each one of them with utmost finesse and shades of grey. Apart from Ranbir, another actor who has displayed his class acting in this movie is Vicky Kaushal. He has pulled out a stunning performance as Ranbir’s best friend who stood by him, no matter what.
The stellar music from the music maestro AR Rahman and Vikram Mont rose will set your mood right. Songs like Kar Har Maidan Fateh and Ruby Ruby come at right time and adds to the experience of the film. The background score is also up to the mark. The drug infested phase of Sanjay Dutt’s life has been the most impressive as it has been given the right amount of exposure that the scene deserves. You can also book an ad with siti channel to increase your field of reach and attract more audiences.
Preparing a biopic on man who has pulled out his life from so many extremes is no child’s play. It took someone of the calibre of Rajkumar Hirani to take us through this remarkable journey with all the detailing that this picture needs. There is a moment in the film where Dutt’s wife describes him as the king of bad choices and Hirani has certainly been successful in portraying that on screen. Although this film leaves its audience with a lot to desire, even then it is a treat to go through the incredible journey of a person and a star that has gone through so many ups and downs in his life and still emerged a winner.
