POSITIVES…
An engaging story that takes you to some enjoyable fun or darkly cynical places with the plot.
This is not your typical romanticized rags to riches story that relies on the usual plot tropes, and it’s only greater because of that.
With the way this biographical story is bookended, you may know it’s inevitable conclusion, but the journey there is absolutely worth the watch.
Adarsh Gourav as our main protagonist Balram, is incredible in this! Absolutely captures the determination, joy, naivety, cunning, and anger, of his character. It’s really not hard to empathize with him here.
Supporting cast of Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Vijay Maurya, and many others, help provides some challenging and complicated angles to the story.
The settings and locations feels as real as it should be, and enhances the experience of watching this story play out.
Tonally plays around with your emotions deliberately, as there are scenes between certain characters that feel hopeful, but then is able to wake you up to the harsh reality of how it really is with other scenes.
Running commentary about the social class warfare is very compelling and insightful.
Educational in the sense that it shows a side of India you don’t normally see in Western films, especially as it relates to the caste system there.
If there’s only one thing you should learn from this, it’s that you shouldn’t take the service industry for granted.
NEGATIVES…
As it goes with biographical tales, you’re going to have to put up with all the characters and story set ups during the first act, before it gets to the actual interesting meat of the story.
Depending on your expectations, you may not like how the movie ends.
lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible
