Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai
Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of the vibrant and volatile underworld of 1970s Mumbai, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai captures the meteoric rise and inevitable clash of two iconic gangsters in a world where power is the only currency that matters. Directed with a gritty, retro aesthetic, this standout entry in the pantheon of Bollywood movies explores the transformation of the city from a bustling port into a hub of organized crime. The film features a powerhouse ensemble cast including Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Kangna Ranaut, Prachi Desai, Randeep Hooda, Gauhar Khan, Imran Hasnee, Avtar Gill, Naved Aslam, Sanjeev Wilson, and Mehul Bhoja, all of whom bring a sense of gravitas and style to this sprawling crime epic.
The narrative follows Sultan Mirza, played by Ajay Devgn, a man who rises from the docks to become the undisputed kingpin of the city. Sultan operates with a code of ethics, believing in the power of smuggling and diplomacy rather than mindless violence. He views himself as a protector of the city’s marginalized, maintaining an aura of grace and authority that commands respect even from the police. His life is defined by his love for the glamorous film star Rehana, portrayed by Kangna Ranaut, whose presence adds a layer of emotional complexity to his otherwise calculated life. Sultan’s dominance is absolute, yet his reign is threatened by the arrival of a brash, ambitious, and reckless young man named Shoaib Khan, played by Emraan Hashmi.
Shoaib is the antithesis of Sultan. While Sultan believes in rules and long-term strategy, Shoaib is driven by raw impulse and a hunger for immediate supremacy. He enters the underworld with a chip on his shoulder, viewing Sultan not as a mentor, but as an obstacle to his own greatness. As Shoaib climbs the ranks of the criminal hierarchy, he begins to manipulate the city’s delicate power structures, causing friction that the police, led by the relentless ACP Agnel Wilson, played by Randeep Hooda, are eager to exploit. The tension is further complicated by the presence of Mumtaz, played by Prachi Desai, a woman who finds herself caught in the whirlwind of Shoaib’s dangerous lifestyle, providing a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounds him.
The conflict between the veteran don and the hungry upstart forms the crux of the film’s narrative arc. As Shoaib begins to orchestrate internal coups and challenge Sultan’s authority, the film transitions from a story of rise and fall to a tense psychological drama. The director masterfully uses the setting of 1970s Mumbai to paint a picture of a changing era, where the old-school values of loyalty and honor are systematically dismantled by a new generation of criminals who know no boundaries. This shift is a recurring theme in many high-quality Hindi films, which often examine the generational divide within the criminal underworld.
The turning point occurs when Shoaib’s arrogance leads him to openly defy Sultan’s orders, sparking a cold war that threatens to tear the city apart. The police, meanwhile, watch from the sidelines, waiting for the two titans to destroy each other. As the stakes escalate, the film delves into the personal costs of their ambitions. Sultan finds his moral compass tested, while Shoaib discovers that the price of absolute power is the loss of his own humanity. The final showdown is not merely a physical battle but a clash of philosophies, marking a definitive end to an era.
Ultimately, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai stands as a defining work among Bollywood movies for its sharp dialogue, period-accurate costume design, and a haunting musical score that captures the essence of the decade. By the time the final frames roll, the audience is left with a profound meditation on the nature of ambition and the cyclical nature of power. The film remains a quintessential example of why Hindi movies continue to captivate audiences, offering a blend of high-octane drama and character-driven storytelling that resonates long after the screen goes dark. Through the performances of Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi, the film immortalizes the transition of the Mumbai underworld, cementing its place as a classic in the history of Indian cinema.
The allure of the underworld has long been a staple of Indian cinema, providing a canvas for tales of ambition, betrayal, and the fragile line between morality and crime. Among the many entries in this genre, Milan Luthria’s 2010 crime drama Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai stands as a stylistic milestone that successfully captured the retro aesthetic of the seventies while grounding its narrative in the grit of the Mumbai mafia. Set against the backdrop of an evolving city, the film explores the transition of power from the old-school smugglers who operated by a code of honor to the ruthless, fast-paced generation of gangsters who prioritized chaos and wealth over principles. It is a cinematic exercise in nostalgia, balancing the swagger of a bygone era with the high-stakes tension that defines the best of Bollywood crime thrillers.
The film is anchored by a sharp, punchy screenplay written by Rajat Arora, which breathes life into a fictionalized account of the rise and fall of two iconic underworld figures. The narrative structure follows a classic mentor-protégé arc, where the calm, calculated Sultan Mirza, played by Ajay Devgn, finds his legacy challenged by the volatile and ambitious Shoaib Khan, portrayed by Emraan Hashmi. The direction by Milan Luthria is deliberate and atmospheric, leaning heavily into the period setting to create a world that feels both authentic and larger than life. Luthria manages to avoid the common pitfalls of the genre by focusing as much on the interpersonal conflicts and the internal psyche of his characters as he does on the inevitable shootouts and territorial skirmishes. The pacing is measured, allowing the audience to steep in the milieu of 1970s Mumbai, complete with its vintage cars, flared trousers, and the distinct hum of a city on the cusp of a major cultural shift.
Ajay Devgn delivers a performance of remarkable restraint as Sultan Mirza. He portrays the character with a quiet authority that commands respect, eschewing the typical loud, aggressive tropes associated with underworld dons. His Sultan is a man who treats smuggling like a business and believes in a self-imposed moral compass, treating his subordinates with loyalty and his adversaries with a cool, detached irony. It is a career-defining performance that relies heavily on Devgn’s ability to convey volumes through his eyes and his steady, measured delivery. In stark contrast, Emraan Hashmi’s Shoaib Khan is a whirlwind of insecurity and unbridled ambition. Hashmi captures the transition of a young man who starts as a street-level hoodlum and evolves into a cold-blooded shark who sees no value in the ethics of his mentor. The chemistry between the two is the film’s central engine, driving the tension forward as the inevitable clash between their ideologies becomes clear.
The female leads, Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai, are tasked with providing the emotional anchor for these powerful men, and both hold their own against the heavyweights. Kangna Ranaut, playing the glamorous film star Rehana, brings a touch of vulnerability and melancholy to her role, effectively portraying the loneliness that often accompanies fame in the spotlight of the underworld. Prachi Desai, as Mumtaaz, serves as the grounding force for Shoaib, representing the life he eventually discards in his pursuit of absolute power. Their presence ensures that the film is not merely a collection of testosterone-fueled confrontations but a human drama about the collateral damage caused by the choices of dangerous men. The supporting cast, including Randeep Hooda, who plays a determined police officer, Gauhar Khan, Imran Hasnee, Avtar Gill, Naved Aslam, Sanjeev Wilson, and Mehul Bhoja, adds layers of texture to the world-building. Randeep Hooda, in particular, provides a necessary foil to the criminals, representing the legal system’s desperate attempts to curb the rising tide of lawlessness.
Visually, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is a treat. The cinematography by Aseem Bajaj perfectly captures the smoky, dimly lit interiors of illegal dens and the vibrant, bustling streets of the city. The use of color palettes—warm, sepia-toned hues for the past and sharper, more clinical lighting for the scenes of violence—helps to delineate the changing eras of the Mumbai underworld. This visual storytelling is complemented by a soundtrack that has become iconic in its own right. The music, composed by Pritam, captures the retro essence of the seventies with a modern sensibility, particularly the soulful and haunting tracks that underscore the film’s themes of love and impending tragedy. The background score is equally effective, heightening the tension during the film’s more explosive sequences without ever overwhelming the dialogue or the nuanced acting.
At its core, the film is a meditation on the nature of power and the cyclical nature of crime. It poses the question of whether a criminal can ever truly be "honorable" or if the system they operate within eventually corrupts everything it touches. The theme of the "gentleman smuggler" versus the "common criminal" is explored with depth, highlighting the shift from an era where the underworld had a hierarchy and a set of rules to one where the new guard cares only for the bottom line. This commentary on the evolution of crime mirrors the broader changes in society, where traditional values are often sacrificed at the altar of greed and rapid modernization. It is this intellectual depth, combined with the visceral thrill of the genre, that elevates the movie above a standard action flick.
One of the most impressive aspects of the production is its commitment to detail. From the costume design to the set pieces, every element serves to transport the viewer back to a specific moment in history. The film does not merely rely on the reputation of Bollywood’s fascination with crime to sell tickets; it earns its place by crafting a cohesive and immersive narrative. While the second half occasionally leans into the tropes of the genre, the strength of the performances and the clarity of the director’s vision keep the audience engaged until the final, inevitable confrontation. It is a film that demands to be watched for its craft, its performances, and its ability to tell a compelling story that feels both epic in scale and intimate in its character focus.
In conclusion, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is a masterclass in atmospheric filmmaking. It succeeds because it respects the intelligence of its audience, offering a story that is as much about the tragedy of human ambition as it is about the mechanics of a crime syndicate. Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi deliver performances that anchor the film, ensuring that the conflict between the old guard and the new is palpable and deeply felt. With a screenplay that remains tight and a visual style that captures the spirit of the seventies, the film remains a high watermark for the genre within the Indian film industry. It is a gripping, stylish, and ultimately poignant look at the cost of living by the sword. For those who appreciate a well-told crime saga that balances style with substance, this is an essential watch. I rate this film 8.5 out of 10.