Bullett Raja movie review: Tigmanshu Dhulia hits the bull’s-eye with guns and gore!

Challenging brainless action movies that our B-town directors have been selling blatantly with alarming regularity-in the name of blockbusters or crowd pullers-Tigmanshu Dhulia gives us a delicious blood-battle saga. The intelligent filmmaker blends high-octane drama and power-packed action beautifully with a concrete plot, taut editing and excellent writing to produce an engaging watch!

Do Rs 100 crore movies have to be brain-dead mass pullers? Do stories have to be crafted keeping in mind ‘what’s in’ with an air of arrogance that tends to take cinegoers’ wisdom for granted? And most importantly, is it mandatory for movie buffs to leave their brains at home when they walk into a movie theater and then invariably get served mindless masala flicks in the name of entertainment?
In this day and age when entering the glamorous club of Rs 100 crore seems to be the only motive of our directors, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullett Raja should ideally be served as a template especially to those who believe that the business of entertainment is trend-driven as opposed to logic-driven. In his attempt to engage the audience, Dhulia comes up with an electrifying entertainer that demands you to use your brains!
For those who have been cringing at the alarming flourish of Dabangg kinda productions, where the protagonist is larger-than-life; someone who keeps the audiences glued to the seats with his relentless high flying starry kicks and power-packed punches, Dhulia’s Bullett Raja comes across as a breath of fresh air. It certainly is a time for our high profile film directors to watch Dhulia’s latest endeavour to get a clear idea about how a fine cinematic experience can be creatively crafted. In this one, even if our hero wanders around with the machismo of a desi cowboy while totting guns, his antics never defy your ability to think. The director certainly has a grip on the narrative and he knows how to draw the proverbial laxman rekha between fiction and facts without going overboard.
Moving over the Rowdies and the Tigers and the Singhams –who should, by now, die a shameful death-thanks to the arrival of the new age Raja..err Bullett Raja who keeps you entertained without taking your IQ for granted. This tale is rustic, raw and unapologetic with lots of believable twists and turns that leave you wondering what will happen next. Dhulia keeps both the intensity and intrigue element of his earlier movies like Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and Paan Singh Tomar intact as he portrays his story set in the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh’s goondaraj.
Following the trajectory of hot headed Raja Mishra aka Saif Ali Khan Bullett Raja’s story should not be unraveled in words, for the attempt may dilute the essence of the action thriller. Instead we give you a list of pluses (and a few misses) that makes this flick an entertaining watch.
Amidst the showers of bullets being sprayed in almost every second frame (to exaggerate) this movie follows a definite path to unveil the story in a gripping manner.
Fiery and impactful dialogues will make you giggle and think at the same time. For instance when Saif Ali Khan is suggested to think twice before seeking revenge against his opponents our hero goes- Bhai mara hai hamara, badla lena parampara hai. Koi corporate culture nahin hai ki agli deal mein profit ya loss adjust kar lenge. The lines are really quirky and stay true to the situations and believable for the characters who mouth them, throughout the film.
Possibly the best role Saif has played ever after Langda Tyagi in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara. Saif’s Raja Mishra aka Bullett Raja is rooted and raw.
Jimmy Shergill has once again made us ask the pertinent question-why has the good looking Punjabi lad has remained underrated in our movies despite his commendable acting skills? Shergill is never off key in any of his scenes.
Sonakshi Sinha has played her part well. Raj Babbar is fine with his portrayal of an influential politician, while Vidyut Jamwal looks impressive with his solid screen presence and his impossible to match action moves if not exactly with his acting chops.