Electricity theft, lack of basic infrastructure, facilities and growing turmoil among the common citizens is a pertinent issue. Director Shree Narayan Singh, whose last film - Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, discussed poor sanitation and lack of hygienic facilities, is back with yet another tale that presents a hard hitting reality. Singh's latest offering - Batti Gul Meter Chalu, is a relevant film which highlights the issue of electricity frauds and scams, without being too preachy or dull. 

Set against the stunning backdrop of Uttarakhand, the film traces the journey of three best friends - Susheel K Pant [Shahid Kapoor], Sundar Tripathi [Divyendu] and Lalita Nautiyal [Shraddha Kapoor]. While Sunder turns entrepreneur with his own factory, Susheel loiters around as a 'corrupt' lawyer, while Lalita aspires to be the ultimate 'Lakmé Fashion Week' designer. The three make merry, and have a gala time, just when a strange twist of fate changes their lives forever. Susheel takes it upon himself to change the course of action, and vows to fight for his best friend against all odds. In a bid to create awareness around electricity frauds and thefts, which becomes one of the prime reasons behind Sundar's ultimate fate, Susheel tackles the issue by discussing similar problems with thousands of locals and organising multiple activities. Ultimately, SK fights the case for his friend in a rather impressive court room drama climax. Will he win the case and bring justice for his friend? For that, you will have to watch the film. And, I strongly suggest you do!

Music of this film deserves a mention, as some of the songs have already created massive buzz before the release, especially Dekhte Dekhte and Gold Tamba (wish the former played a little longer in the film, though). It was an absolute delight to watch Shahid dance on the big screen again, almost after a gap of 2 years. Full marks to Ganesh Acharya for the peppy moves, straight from the 90s, in Gold Tamba. The BG score is decent. Anshuman Mahaley's cinematography captures the real beauty and essence of Uttarakhand; making it one of the strong pillars of BGMC. So much, that one is bound to feel like visiting the beautiful state on their next vacation. Siddharth-Garima and Vipul K Rawal's writing is another strength, with the Kumaoni laced dialogues creating a powerful impact. There are scenes where one just cannot go without whistling or at least, clapping to laud the moment. Of course, a huge part of that credit also goes to the performances, but gotta say - the dialogues were simply incredible. They add an essential charm to the characters and their respective personalities.

Performances, especially by the lead cast, are undoubtedly the strongest pillars of this film. Even the ensemble cast, including Farida Jalal, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Atul Srivastava among others, perform well. However, the film belongs to the lead trio, with Shahid Kapoor clearly dominating the scene. As the meek and humble Sundar, Divyendu Sharma makes a mark. His character becomes the crux of the film's plot, and Sharma does complete justice with an emotionally charged act. Shraddha's Nauti aka Lalita is a quirky and feisty young girl, who believes in justice and provides unconditional support to her partner, throughout the struggle. She performs well in certain emotional scenes, and her chemistry with the duo is really interesting. Yami Gautam makes an important appearance as advocate Gulnaar, and does a fine job.

However, the film [especially the second half] belongs to Susheel Kumar Pant aka Shahid Kapoor. He wonderfully displays myriad emotions - ranging from envy to vengeance, love and misery. If there is anyone who believes that one needs a larger than life character to create an impact, then Kapoor's portrayal of SKP is here to prove you wrong. He adds an extraordinary personality to an otherwise simple [add to that - corrupt], yet flamboyant boy next door. Right from the court room sarcasm to friendly humour and the perfect attitude with which he approaches the authorities at SPTL, Kapoor nails it just right. He shines with an impeccable dialogue delivery (the dialect was on point) and the perfect body language, making it difficult for anyone to believe that he is not a Tehri local for real. Of course, the costumes and his over-zealousness helped add a good flavour to the character. One can't help but marvel at Kapoor's monologue during the climax of this film, which is clearly one of the strongest highlights of BGMC. That scene is bound to walk away with maximum cheers! As an avid cinephile, I could clearly witness glimpses of Senior Kapur sir's impeccable act from 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla' in Shahid, especially during some of the emotional scenes. Kapoor is the soul of this poignant yet entertaining drama, and his performance is simply effortless!! 

As a viewer, the film pushes you to step out of your comfort zone and look at the world with the POV [point of view] of a citizen, who hasn't lived with the privilege of having electricity 24x7. The story instantly reminded me of Elephanta Caves, a little away from India's financial capital Mumbai, where the locals got 24x7 electricity connection for the first time ever in 2018, almost 70 years after Independence. Conditions get even more miserable for individuals in small towns, who are forced to study and work in poor light and sometimes, end up suffering losses or consequences too. Now, while the social message of saving electricity and creating awareness around the lack of basic facilities available for a majority of the population in India is one of the prime aspects of this film, Batti Gul Meter Chalu also wonderfully explores other facets of life - that of friendship and unrequited love. Susheel, Sunder and Lalita's equation is beautiful, and their friendship makes you wanna call up your BFF gang right away. It also showcases the other side of love, which remains a rather one sided affair. All this, without being too over-dramatic, which certainly helps maintain a good flow of the film and makes it an entertaining watch. Singh does a good job of putting together this delightful film. A special mention for the distinctive narration, which was rather interesting!

Overall, Batti Gul Meter Chalu is engaging and highly entertaining. It comes with the perfect blend of humour, drama and some really strong, poignant moments, while highlighting an important issue that needs immediate attention. The performances and dialogues prove to be the biggest strength, with Kapoor's act being the star of this show. I am definitely adding an extra star, just for that monologue!

Verdict: Highly recommended for it's exemplary performances (with Shahid Kapoor leading the pack) dialogues and the stunning landscape of Uttarakhand!

⭐⭐⭐1/2

Have you seen Batti Gul Meter Chalu yet? What are your thoughts on this film?

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Love,

The Dancebee

The trailer of Shree Narayan Singh's much anticipated social drama - Batti Gul Meter Chalu was finally launched earlier today. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam and Divyendu Sharma in the lead; the film is a social drama based in Northern India. The main plot focuses on electricity woes and theft, faced by the common man in the country.

Batti Gul Meter Chalu is based in Uttarakhand, where the locals face power cut and electricity theft almost everyday. The three friends [played by Shahid, Shraddha and Divyendu] make merry and have fun, until things take a crucial turn and change their lives forever. Kapoor is seen playing a lawyer, whose life is all hunky dory [one can also see some shades of corruption in the initial stage of his character], until things go awry in his friend's life, thanks to a huge electricity bill slapped on the latter's face. Unable to make ends meet or find a solution, the friend [Sharma] commits suicide, and that is when Kapoor decides to take matters in his own hands, in order to teach the authorities a lesson. While the film largely focuses on a social issue, it has some light hearted moments and a good dose of entertainment as well.

We felt the trailer is hard hitting, and manages to impress with every frame. It pretty much presents the main crux of the film, and creates curiosity. The characters look fresh. One could see a pattern set by colours in the trailer, ranging from myriad colours to monochrome tones towards the end. We like the cinematography, which brings the scenic locales of Uttarakhand to life. From whatever we saw during the 3 min long trailer, it was evident that Kapoor is all set to impress with yet another brilliant performance. Yet again, the actor is seen sporting a fresh look, with a different personality and new dialect. We see him showcase an impressive range of emotions in a short span, which speaks volumes about his fabulous calibre as an actor. Needless to say, we are sure the actor will deliver a memorable performance, and impress us with his act. Shraddha plays the feisty Lalita, while Yami would be seen as a lawyer in the film. Both make a mark with their respective characters. Divyendu's pivotal character is something to watch out for, and the actor stands out with his act as well!

Helmed by Singh [whose last film - Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was a smash hit of 2017], Batti Gul Meter Chalu promises to create an impact with a strong message, without being too preachy, thanks to some light heartedness in the form of dance numbers and humour. The screenplay and dialogues have been written by Sidharth - Garima, while the film is based on 'Roshni' written by Vipul Rawal [who had earlier written the Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom]. Anu Malik has been roped in to compose the music of this film, making it a comeback of sorts for the 'Shahid - Anu' combo after a long time. The film has been largely shot in Uttarakhand. BGMC also brings the 'Haider' jodi of Shahid and Shraddha together after four years.

#BattiGulMeterChaluTrailer 💡@TSeries https://t.co/28077kdBsH

— Priya Adivarekar (@priyaadivarekar) August 10, 2018

After a few initial hurdles during the early stage of production, the film got rolling as soon as Bhushan Kumar's T-Series stepped in to support and release the film. With the trailer crossing several thousand views every minute and the title trending on social media, the film has managed to create a good buzz and excitement. Batti Gul Meter Chalu is scheduled to release on September 21, 2018. Well, September looks 'power'ful already!

What are your thoughts on the BGMC trailer?

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Love,

The Dancebee

There are times when 'experiencing' a film may require watching it twice. I usually prefer watching some films at a multiplex and then, at a single screen (preferably one show with the family. Their reactions are always real and priceless). However, with just a few single screen cinemas remaining, it is not always possible to get tickets, as they sell out faster than a hot & crispy vada pav. But, as luck would have it, I got my tickets well in advance this time. Needless to say, my decision to watch this week's much anticipated release - Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, with the 'super cinephiles' of single screen cinema, was a terrific one. Watching the film amidst constant 'seetis', cheers and applause for Akshay Kumar's strong stand against open defecation, made for quite an experience. Something that a real cinephile at heart will always enjoy. That, apart from the joy of watching of a well made, entertaining film, where even the audience was happy to wait back right till the end of credits (a rare scene in today's times).

Shree Narayan Singh's second directorial venture focuses on an important issue, that of open defecation and the non-availability of toilets in most households. The lead protagonist - Keshav (Kumar) is a middle aged guy, who lives in a village called Mandgaon. Despite repeated attempts (and affairs), Keshav is unable to get married, thanks to a few compulsions set by his orthodox father (Sudhir Pandey - brilliant as always). First, Keshav must tie the knot with a cow to get rid of his dosha, and next, hunt for a girl who has two thumbs (insert regular 'Hrithik Roshan' puns). While on the hunt, he meets and falls in love with a feisty, educated young girl - Jaya (Pednekar). Some initial hurdles (and a few 'jugaads' later), the two get married. However, things go haywire the very next day, as Jaya finds out that her 'sasural' does not have a toilet, and Babuji isn't too keen on building one either. That's where the struggle begins, as Keshav and Jaya fight against all odds (including superstitions) for their right to basic sanitation.

Watching the film amidst constant 'seetis', cheers and applause for Akshay Kumar's strong stand against open defecation, made for quite an experience

TEPK is real, raw and supremely entertaining. While the basic premise is a social issue (and also centres around PM Modi's Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan), there is not a single moment where the film loses out on the entertainment factor. It wonderfully blends the two aspects together, and delivers a strong message, without being too preachy. Though, one may find a few hiccups during the second half, they don't really appear as flaws. The high points, especially performances and superb writing, pretty much covers up for everything else.

While the music is average, it fits in to the narrative pretty well. 'Gori Tu Lath Maar' has been shot beautifully. Surinder Sodhi's background score is decent. Siddharth - Garima's writing is deft, and is certainly one of the biggest highlight of this film. Dialogues are superb, most of which even earn whistles and cheers. It has a great melange of humour, romance and drama, and a sprinkle of culture, thanks to sanskrit shlokas. Singh's direction is slick, and it is impossible to ignore the detailing that has gone behind even the most simple aspects. For e.g: Keshav's street-side fashion dupes that range from Naik (Nike) to Uima (Puma) or the fake Ray-Ban. Each and every detail has been designed or incorporated keeping the surroundings in mind, which is laudable.

Dialogues are superb, most of which even earn whistles and cheers. It has a great melange of humour, romance and drama

The lead pair and ensemble cast are the real heart of this social - drama. Casting is fantastic, with artists like Divyendu, Sudhir Pandey, Anupam Kher among others adding life to their respective characters with a flawless act. Divyendu has an impeccable comic timing, and the audience erupts in laughter, every time he comes on screen. Pandey as the strict and orthodox Babuji is brilliant.

Despite the film being her second outing, Bhumi Pednekar shines with an outstanding act. With the perfect body language, nuances and fabulous dialogue delivery, she breathes life into Jaya. She does not make the character look caricaturish. Jaya is relatable and real. Pednekar 's natural act (and look) is one of the strongest highlights in the film. It is impossible for anyone to believe that the actress is just one film old. There are portions where she outshines all the veterans around her. That's the mark of a talented artist, and with this flawless performance, Pednekar has proved that she is here to stay.

Bhumi Pednekar 's natural act is one of the strongest highlights in the film. It is impossible for anyone to believe that the actress is just one film old

Akshay Kumar is one of the very few actors who has managed to excel in different genres and has shown excellent range in all his films. There is no doubt that the actor is incredibly versatile. Film after film, he has raised the bar and taken things a notch above with his brilliant performance and vision. TEPK is no different. Kumar's portrayal of Keshav creates a strong impact. He starts off as a regular, confused local guy (with some serious stalking skills), but as the film progresses, the character grows into someone on a mission. Keshav's boy to man journey has been flawlessly essayed by Kumar. His chemistry with Pednekar's Jaya is fabulous, which is another strong highlight of the film.

Akshay Kumar is one of the very few actors who has managed to excel in different genres and has shown excellent range in all his films

Singh's Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is an important film of our times. It explores a love story, against the backdrop of several dark issues that the people of our country continue to suffer from. While focusing on open defecation as the larger picture, the film also touches upon other key issues, including superstition, societal pressure and narrow mindedness of the society. During Jaya's struggle against open defecation, she comes across women who pooh-pooh her decisions. Some even go on to question her education and state that women should not be given to much 'freedom'. It is commendable that Singh has highlighted the various evils that continue to poison our society, in a film that provides wholesome entertainment. It is difficult to find this perfect combination in a good film. Fortunately, TEPK has passed this litmus test with flying colours.

Verdict: A must watch for one and all! Highly recommended for it's flawless performances, excellent writing and the strong message, that creates an impact. Radhe Radhe!!
☆☆☆☆

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