Shootout at Lokhandwala released in 2007 and despite the negative reviews and average response, the film became a hit at the box office. 6 years later, Ekta Kapoor gets Sanjay Gupta to direct Shootout at Wadala. The film has been called a sequel to Shootout at Lokhandwala but both films have no connection. Shootout at Wadala is a more polished film with a better story but it still isn't a great film.
The film tells the story of Manohar Arjun Surve a good college student. However, circumstances turn him into a criminal. He gets framed for a murder his brother committed and it is in prison, Manohar losses his naive side and becomes a hardcore criminal. Known to talk big, Manya doesn't get accepted in Dilawar and Zubair's gang because he wasn't speaking politely. From here, the story is how Manya starts his gang and takes revenge against people like that one inspector who arrested him wrongly during his naive days. Manya and his gang of 6 people soon get into the bad books of Dilawar after they murder Zubair. Inspector Baagan is given the order to find and murder Manya Surve in an encounter and that forms the climax of the story.
Direction by Sanjay Gupta is good, after directing films like Aatish(1994), Kaante(2004), and Zinda(2006), Gupta gives his best film till date. However, there are still a number of problems with the film. The continuous shift from past to the present in the police jeep isn't effect narration. Certain people will definitely get confused. Another problem is the very first parts of the film. It was good there wasn't too much melodrama but the innocent and naive Manohar isn't shown for enough time. His life just moves fast and eventually he has to go to prison. The first half is slow but it feels fast in the first 20 minutes of the movie. It could've been more effective, but it was still not a major problem. Sunny Leone's item song seems forced but it was needed due to the scenes that happen after it. Other than that, the film is actually satisfying. Most scenes are well handled. Be it the prison scenes or the superb escape scene from prison. Even if Manya's transformation from a innocent and naive student to a ruthless and cold gangster isn't convincing, it is shown in a realistic way. The clashes between Manya and Dilawar are mind blowing, the Anil Kapoor scenes are good as well, the cops are also properly shown in the film.
Dialogues are decent, but the use of swear words isn't effective. The constant swearing in Hindi may be comedy and entertainment for some people but others might find it cringe worthy. However, the one liners and the dialogs during the clashes are well built.
Action is amazing, despite the hardcore violence in the film, it is solid action people are watching. Another thing to note is that the film doesn't have south style action which has ruined Bollywood nowadays. The film has proper action with no cheesy stunts. Although the murders Dilawar and Zubair commit to are extremely violent. However, those people who got brutally murdered deserve it.
John Abraham for once acts really well. Despite his shouting, he does a good job. He delivers the dialogs effectively, his expressions are good. This is definitely his best performance till date. Anil Kapoor is also one of the major highlights of the film. He makes the cops shine out, he also gets some of the best dialogs. The veteran proves he can also do good as a cop. Sonu Sood is good, his clashes with John Abraham is decent. Sonu Sood also acts properly and his expressions are decent. Manoj Bajpayee is decent, although he did better in Special 26. Here he does shine but he gets overshadowed by other actors whose roles have more meat. However, his death scene is good because his expressions make it look realistic. Ronit Roy doesn't have a huge role but he makes good use of his supporting role, he does a brilliant job supporting Anil Kapoor. Mahesh Majrekar doesn't have a meaty role, he gets overshadowed the most by others. Kangna Ranaut has very little to do, but she does good in the climax. Otherwise, her role doesn't give her much scope. Even if she's Manya's girlfriend, she doesn't have much to do. The rest provide decent support.
Music is fantastic, Babli Bandmash Hai is catchy and it is pictured well. Laila is also a catchy song but the song picturisation of that one isn't that good. Manya Ala is also a good song, it is pictured well. Dances are also choreographed well.
On the whole, Shootout at Wadala is a decent film but it could've been better. However, the film successfully shows gangsters and their lives in the late 70s and early 80s. The narration isn't effective due to the confusion it brings. However, the film is still considered a decent film. I'll go with a 7/10.
The film tells the story of Manohar Arjun Surve a good college student. However, circumstances turn him into a criminal. He gets framed for a murder his brother committed and it is in prison, Manohar losses his naive side and becomes a hardcore criminal. Known to talk big, Manya doesn't get accepted in Dilawar and Zubair's gang because he wasn't speaking politely. From here, the story is how Manya starts his gang and takes revenge against people like that one inspector who arrested him wrongly during his naive days. Manya and his gang of 6 people soon get into the bad books of Dilawar after they murder Zubair. Inspector Baagan is given the order to find and murder Manya Surve in an encounter and that forms the climax of the story.
Direction by Sanjay Gupta is good, after directing films like Aatish(1994), Kaante(2004), and Zinda(2006), Gupta gives his best film till date. However, there are still a number of problems with the film. The continuous shift from past to the present in the police jeep isn't effect narration. Certain people will definitely get confused. Another problem is the very first parts of the film. It was good there wasn't too much melodrama but the innocent and naive Manohar isn't shown for enough time. His life just moves fast and eventually he has to go to prison. The first half is slow but it feels fast in the first 20 minutes of the movie. It could've been more effective, but it was still not a major problem. Sunny Leone's item song seems forced but it was needed due to the scenes that happen after it. Other than that, the film is actually satisfying. Most scenes are well handled. Be it the prison scenes or the superb escape scene from prison. Even if Manya's transformation from a innocent and naive student to a ruthless and cold gangster isn't convincing, it is shown in a realistic way. The clashes between Manya and Dilawar are mind blowing, the Anil Kapoor scenes are good as well, the cops are also properly shown in the film.
Dialogues are decent, but the use of swear words isn't effective. The constant swearing in Hindi may be comedy and entertainment for some people but others might find it cringe worthy. However, the one liners and the dialogs during the clashes are well built.
Action is amazing, despite the hardcore violence in the film, it is solid action people are watching. Another thing to note is that the film doesn't have south style action which has ruined Bollywood nowadays. The film has proper action with no cheesy stunts. Although the murders Dilawar and Zubair commit to are extremely violent. However, those people who got brutally murdered deserve it.
John Abraham for once acts really well. Despite his shouting, he does a good job. He delivers the dialogs effectively, his expressions are good. This is definitely his best performance till date. Anil Kapoor is also one of the major highlights of the film. He makes the cops shine out, he also gets some of the best dialogs. The veteran proves he can also do good as a cop. Sonu Sood is good, his clashes with John Abraham is decent. Sonu Sood also acts properly and his expressions are decent. Manoj Bajpayee is decent, although he did better in Special 26. Here he does shine but he gets overshadowed by other actors whose roles have more meat. However, his death scene is good because his expressions make it look realistic. Ronit Roy doesn't have a huge role but he makes good use of his supporting role, he does a brilliant job supporting Anil Kapoor. Mahesh Majrekar doesn't have a meaty role, he gets overshadowed the most by others. Kangna Ranaut has very little to do, but she does good in the climax. Otherwise, her role doesn't give her much scope. Even if she's Manya's girlfriend, she doesn't have much to do. The rest provide decent support.
Music is fantastic, Babli Bandmash Hai is catchy and it is pictured well. Laila is also a catchy song but the song picturisation of that one isn't that good. Manya Ala is also a good song, it is pictured well. Dances are also choreographed well.
On the whole, Shootout at Wadala is a decent film but it could've been better. However, the film successfully shows gangsters and their lives in the late 70s and early 80s. The narration isn't effective due to the confusion it brings. However, the film is still considered a decent film. I'll go with a 7/10.