Movie Review: Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma, Shabana Azmi and Arya Babbar

Liqour can have quite a variety of effects on the people who consume it. Not everyone knows the kind of euphoria it can create. But almost everyone is aware of the mayhem it can make. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola captures the beauty of an intoxicated slur. If at first go the name doesn't quite make complete sense, it’s because you aren’t high enough. Its characters are enviously colourful, its humour is spectacularly random. Not all of it makes sense but perhaps that's the beauty of it. Perhaps.

The first half of the film is like a Haryanvi adaptation of The Hangover. Comedy sequences are unique and bizarre to the extent that only those people who’ve ever tasted the headiness of desi daru will truly comprehend their beauty. How else would you make sense of a pink buffalo called Gulabo? Hukum Singh Matru (Imran Khan) is a young Haryanvi who works for the filthy rich and madly eccentric Harry Mandola (Pankaj Kapur). And their idea of dealing with uncooperative liquor store owners is to mow down their stores with a limousine. Funny thing is, Matru's job is to stop Mandola from drinking. Their chemistry, their spirit, their wildness is the heart of this madcap comedy.

A perfect complement to this heady duo is Bijlee (Anushka Sharma). Daughter of Mandola and every bit as complex as her personality shifting father. Vishal Bhardwaj's penchant for Shakespeare shines through when like his literary idol he introduces every character through their quirks. You have to give it to Bhardwaj and his writer collaborator Abhishek Chaubey for an imaginative film. But let this be a statutory warning, as is the case with alcohol consumption, not everything makes sense in Matru... and its remarkable unique world. The humour is downright silly and borderline juvenile. But it works because the rural setting and characters lend a naive simplicity to the situations. So when Mandola slurs out dialogue like "dil agar saand ho toh har ladki bhains lagti hai" a chuckle seems inevitable.

The film even has a socially relevant surprise up its sleeve. The second half deals with village farmers and their constant discourse with the capital minded Mandola and his scheming Minister Aide Chaudhari Devi (Shabana Azmi). Their altercations with a third mysterious character called Mao are reference to the age-old communist versus capitalist disagreement. To sneak in a message like that and dialogue on bourgeoisie and commies is a cinematic master stroke.

Vishal Bhardwaj's music and dialogue are the strengths of this film. But even they pale in comparison to the film’s actors. Imran Khan delivers a perfectly rough performance of a Jat. Of course there are moments of pristinely spoken English which add to the fun. Ditto for Anushka Sharma who brings her characteristic energy to the role. But what does one say about Pankaj Kapur? Cheers! He shows that magic can be made in a drunken state. He murmurs his lines, he mumbles his words and you absolutely love him for it. Shabana Azmi and Arya Babbar play the heels in the dramatic parts and even their quirky performances are impressive.

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is oddball entertainment at its best. Characters shine with one liners like, “Mao? Nihao?” and South African tribe people dance to North Indian numbers. Bhardwaj in an indulgent streak, sneaks in a quote from Macbeth and you know he’s had a ball making this film. The best part is, watching it seems to be an even more delightful experience. Bottoms up!