Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is that kind of movie that will either leave you in awe or make you feel disappointed. The movie is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and stars Harshvardhan Kapoor in the lead. Harshvardhan Kapoor has earlier made in his debut in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 2016 film Mirzya, which was a dud at the box office. Working with the director of Udaan and Lootera is definitely is a game-changer for Harshvardhan, and it shows that Anil Kapoor's son is not playing safe by taking breezy, romantic roles.
Coming back to Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, it is an unusual superhero movie that works better as a social and political commentary than as a straight action thriller. In fact, the action scenes in the movie could be its weakest portions, innovatively shot but dragged out. Bhavesh Joshi Superhero works far more as a mirror to our society and in capturing the anguish of the socially conscientious youngsters in today's era.
There are moments of brilliance in the writing (Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Abhay Koranne) that takes digs at how our society is sowing seeds of hate and promoting ideologies, while turning a blind eye to the real issues. Like these seven scenes noted below. If the movie had more such gems (and less runtime), it would have been a masterpiece.
Vigilante for YouTube Views
During an argument between the hero and his crusading friend, the former tells the latter to not be on his high horse because he had made those crusade videos online and therefore, is responsible for the views and likes. It reflects the attitude of our times - even social causes comes to be defined by how much likes and views the videos have got!
The Anti-National accusation
The hero inadvertently ousts his friend as a secret crusader to the world by uploading a video of him angrily blasting all the corrupt people and saying he wants to destroy them. The political goons use the video to portray the friend as an 'anti-national' and beat the shit out of him, while the police stand by watching silently. With one scene, Motwane shows how much we are encouraging this 'anti-national' sentiment as well as mob violence.
Tulip Star
It is with a twinge of sadness that I saw the scenes involving the hotel Tulip Star, having once interned there. There was a time when Tulip Star was considered one of the best hotels in the city, but due to gross and corrupt mismanagement, is lying in a state of shambles. While it serves as the hero's hiding hole when he moonlights as a vigilante, it also symbolises what our city could be if we don't call out on malpractices affecting the society.
A Goon's ringtone
Is it too whimsical to hear a goon in the movie having Saare Jahaan Se Achcha as his ringtone?
Is that a Bentley?
When the hero follows a corrupt government employee, he finds that he lives in a flat in a humble government quarters. Then to his surprise (and ours), the official takes the cover off his car, which is revealed to be a Bentley! The car actually stands out like a sore sight in the residential area, making us laugh at the irony of the whole scene.
The Monsoons
Talking of irony...
The main plot of Bhavesh Joshi Superhero revolves around the uncovering of water-stealing by the corporators. The villains steal water from the pipelines and later sell them to the public at exorbitant prices from tankers. And as they carry out their nefarious schemes and the city reels under water-shortage, it is raining! Oh, you cruel twist of fate!
Master-stroke!
When the water shortage strikes, the Chief Minister is forced by his evil cabinet member to use the tankers in his possession. In a snide hint at how certain media channels praise the big leader heading our country, a news channel is shown in the movie calling this move by the CM a 'master-stroke'! Sigh!
Have you seen Bhavesh Joshi Superhero? Do you feel that this needed more love that it is getting from the reviews?
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2018 08:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).