Bombay Velvet Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor-Anushka Sharma Takes Us Back In Time

Updated: Friday, May 15, 2015, 15:35 [IST]

Rating:

2.5/5

Bombay Velvet, a period crime drama set against the backdrop of 1960's stars Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles. Karan Johar debuts in Bollywood and as an antagonist in this film.

Bombay Velvet directed by Anurag Kashyap is the most awaited film of this year. The film is produced by Viacom and co-produced by Fox Studios in partnership with Anurag's Phantom Films.

Bombay Velvet Plot

Bombay Velvet based on Gyan Prakash's 'Mumbai Fables' is set in the backdrop of 1960's.

Johnny Balraj (Ranbir Kapoor) a street fighter who turns a mobster and Rosie Noronha (Anushka Sharma) a beautiful and aspiring jazz singer meet and the sparks fly. Kaizad Khambata (Karan Johar) is a flamboyant, quick-witted media tycoon who tries to resurrect his empire.

The narration goes back to 1949, two years after India became independent, when little orphan Balraj lands up at the docks of Bombay. Soon he befriends Chiman, a petty thief and is sucked into the underbelly of the city.

Over a period of time, Balraj becomes street-smart. He soon graduates to being a street boxer who also indulges in petty crimes. Starved of love and a sense of belonging, his only aim in life is to make it big.

Balraj's chance encounter with the dubious media baron and entrepreneur Kaizad Khambatta has him baptised as "Johnny". Seeing Johnny as an enthusiastic opportunist, Khambatta offers him an opening of a lifetime -- to manage his restaurant-cum-pub, Bombay Velvet, in exchange of nefarious favours. An ever-obliging Johnny Balraj accepts the offer.

The plot gets complicated when Rosie, once a choir singer and now a wannabe crooner, is planted in Bombay Velvet by an influential editor, Jimmy Mistry, to thwart Khambatta's business interests.

Romance brews. Egos clash. Greed and aspirations take centre stage in the backdrop of city politics. With fine characteristics borrowed from the Theatre of the Absurd, Anurag Kashyap blends two genres to create an unexpected noir film.

Bombay Velvet Cast

Ranbir Kapoor plays Johnny Balraj the street fighter, Anushka Sharma plays the beautiful jazz singer Rosie Noronha, Karan Johar plays the media tycoom kaizad Khambata. The film also features Kay Kay Menon, Manish Choudhary, Vivaan Shah and Siddhartha Basu in supporting roles.

Bombay Velvet Script and Direction

Bombay Velvet is written by Vasan Bala, Gyan Prakash, Anurag Kashyap and S. Thanikachalam. The film is directed by Anurag Kashyap.

Producer Vikas Bahl of Phantom films says, "Bombay Velvet is intricately researched and beautifully fictionalized by Anurag as to how one of the greatest cities of the world was created amidst loads of action, romance, pain and huge drama. We are looking forward to working together with Fox Star to create a phenomenal cinematic experience of this story for the big screen..."

Bombay Velvet Songs And Background Scores

The music for this lovely film is composed by Amit Trivedi. He has done a wonderful work and the music is reminiscent of the golden sound of 60's and jazz era of Bollywood.

Bombay Velvet is touted to rock the box office. Will it hit the right chord or not? Let's wait and watch!

Bombay Velvet which excels in its genre fails to make an impact!

Anushka, Ranbir And Karan

Anushka and Ranbir Kapoor share the screen for the first time and they have got the right chemistry. Karan Johar as antagonist debuts in Bollywood.

Ranbir Kapoor

"I was not Anurag's first choice to play the lead in the film. Anushka was his first choice, and he got back to me only later," says Ranbir Kapoor.

Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma feels her character is different. She said, "I am very different from Rosie Noronha, the character, I play in the film. In Bombay Velvet, my interpretation of a jazz singer is genuine."

Karan Johar

"I am really nervous about it because it's my first proper foray into acting," says this 43-year-old.

Kay Kay Menon

He says, "I play someone investigating the huge land scam. I play a crime branch chief Vishwas Kulkarni. Incidentally I had played super-cop Rakesh Maria in Anurag's Black Friday. In Bombay Velvet it's a character based on a real person but still semi-fictional.

Johnny Balraj

Ranbir Kapoor said, "The script of Bombay Velvet just fell into my lap. I read it and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of Anurag's grand vision, his innovative storytelling, his moviemaking process - everything that he does so perfectly.