Shanghai
CBFC Rating: AIn Theaters: June 8th, 2012
Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes)
First-class
Political
Thriller.
Don't
Miss
This!
Shanghai Review
- What's Good:
- The engaging script, superlative performances and direction.
- What's Bad:
- The screenplay is of the kind which might not appeal to the lay viewers.
- Verdict:
- Shanghai is a classy, compelling drama and entertaining tale.
- Watch or Not:
- Must watch for the striking performances.
Audience Ratings for Shanghai
Plot Summary
A political activist meets with an accident in an Indian city gearing up for elections. A lone girl believes it to be a murder. A porn film maker claims to have proof that will bring the government down. A high ranking bureaucrat is brought in by the government to damage control. The three of them blow the lid off the Indian dream called Shanghai.
Critics Reviews for Shanghai
100 Critics like this movie.
Reviews Counted: 9 | Positive Review: 9 | Negative Review: 0 | Average Rating: 3.9/5Shanghai is consistently watchable and a good film from one of Hindi cinema’s most exciting filmmakers, just not great.
Critic Score: 3.5/5
Shanghai warms up slowly, so you need to have patience -- especially in the first half. But the pleasure of the film is in the details. Shanghai doesn’t provide the comfort of answers or happy endings. But it forces us to ask urgent questions. It is the best Hindi film I’ve seen this year. I strongly urge you to make time for it.
Critic Score: 4/5
Finally, Emraan Hashmi has let go. Also of hot scenes, hot babes and Himesh-isms. Dibakar can take a bow for that. With crude body language, a pot belly, stained teeth and mawali moves, he perfectly looks the part and pulls off an act he should be proud of. Abhay Deol thoroughly impresses with his cold, restrained and authoritative performance. Add to that a subtle Tamil accent. He doesn't lose grip of his character for even a fleeting moment. Whether Shanghai is off-beat or mainstream is debatable, but if you thrive on rustic realistic cinema, however heavy-duty - this is your pick.
Critic Score: 3.5/5
SHANGHAI is undeniably one of the most politically astute films ever made. It keeps you involved and concerned right from its inception to the harrowing culmination. This is not your usual Bollywood masala film, but a serious motion picture that has a voice, that makes you think, that makes a stunning impact. A must watch!
Critic Score: 4/5
Shanghai is a Dibakar Banerjee show all the way. At first glance, the irony is staggering. Shanghai is all Dibakar, who we must lift on our shoulders with grateful pride. And we must exult in the fact that this D is never silent.
Critic Score: 4/5
Shanghai is a first-class political thriller. It deserves not to be missed.
Critic Score: 4.5/5
Quite frankly, the best Hindi film this year (so far). Shanghai is an angry outburst packaged well with wry humour. It is the heartland political thriller that several among the Bollywood lot have tried to make lately but didn't quite have the guts to. Just for that, this film is pure gold.
Critic Score: 4/5
Here at long last is a Hindi film that dares to defy the conventions of its chosen genre. Shanghai is a no-frills but searing political thriller that is under-wired with intelligence and nerve, both cinematic and ideological. The most striking aspect of Shanghai is its marvelous use of sound, both ambient and otherwise, to build up dramatic tension
Critic Score: 4/5
Shanghai is a story that one has witnessed several times before in cinema. What makes it a decent watch then is Dibakar Banerjee's offbeat take on the subject and impeccable understanding of the milieu. Dibakar Banerjee has consistently raised the bar with each of his releases. Though he doesn't outshine himself this time, Shanghai is a compelling watch!
Critic Score: Good
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©2012 PVR Pictures
