Plot
Mirza
(Amitabh
Bachchan)
is
constantly
at
loggerheads
with
Baankey
Rastogi
(Ayushmann
Khurrana),
who
is
one
of
the
tenants
at
his
dilapidated
haveli,
Fatima
Mahal
in
Lucknow.
While
the
rundown
mansion
belongs
to
Mirza's
wife
Begum
(Farrukh
Jafar),
the
old
man
is
always
scheming
to
evict
Baankey
and
his
clan,
since
they
often
avoid
paying
their
measly
sum
of
rent.
Mirza
tries
every
trick
from
his
book
to
get
rid
of
Bankey,
but
the
latter
matches
him
insult
by
insult
and
ploy
by
ploy.
However,
soon,
the
duo
unknowingly
become
pawns
of
a
larger
game,
when
their
paths
cross
with
Gyanesh
Shukla
(Vijay
Raaz),
an
official
of
the
archaeological
department
and
Christopher
Clarke
(Brijendra
Kala),
a
lawyer.
Will
Mirza's
life-long
romance
with
Fatima
Mahal
be
cut
short?
The
rest
of
the
plot
holds
an
answer
to
that.
Direction
Shoojit
Sircar
has
a
knack
for
using
simple
plot
devices
when
it
comes
to
storytelling,
and
it
reflects
in
his
latest
outing, Gulabo
Sitabo
as
well.
At
times,
the
filmmaker
reminds
you
of
the
late
Basu
Chatterjee
and
Hrishikesh
Mukherjee,
when
he
focuses
his
lens
on
the
mundane
lives
of
his
characters,
and
makes
the
audience
a
part
of
their
world.
You
laugh
with
them,
you
cry
with
them.
Further,
Juhi
Chaturvedi's
detailed
writing
makes
the
characters
relatable.
Besides
Mirza
and
Baankey,
she
gives
the
other
players
their
own
set
of
quirks
too.
Sircar
and
Chaturvedi
brilliantly
disguise
a
social
message
in
between
the
banter
and
the
laughs.
On
the
flip
side,
the
languid
pace
of
the
film
might
not
work
for
some
people.
The
banter
between
Mirza
and
Baankey
gets
a
bit
repetitive
at
places.
Performances
After
being
in
the
industry
for
more
than
half
a
century,
a
thespian
like
Amitabh
Bachchan
continues
to
surprise
us
with
his
acting
prowess,
and
that's
one
of
the
highlights
of
Gulabo
Sitabo.
The
superstar
easily
slides
into
the
character
of
Mirza
with
his
Dumbledore-beard,
protruding
nose,
thick
glasses
and
a
hunchback-walk.
Right
from
the
first
frame
till
the
last,
he
makes
sure
that
his
real-life
persona
and
aura
doesn't
rub
off
on
his
reel
self.
It
is
not
easy
to
hold
your
own
against
a
powerhouse
of
talent
like
Mr
Bachchan,
especially
when
juxtaposed
in
the
same
frame.
But,
Ayushmann
Khurrana
manages
to
sail
smoothly.
His
banter
with
the
veteran
actor
is
quite
entertaining,
and
it
keeps
you
glued
to
the
screen.
Shristi
Shrivastava
as
Baankey's
acid-tongued
sister
Guddu
leaves
a
lasting
impression.
Vijay
Raaz's
Gyanesh
Shukla
and
Brijendra
Kala
as
Christopher
Clarke
deliver
what's
written
for
their
characters.
Farrukh
Jafar
as
Begum
has
a
surprise
in
store.
Technical
Aspects
Abhik
Mukhopadhyay's
lens
playfully
flirt
with
the
old-charm
of
Lucknow,
and
give
Shoojit
Sircar
a
rustic
canvas
to
craft
his
story.
Chandrashekhar
Prajapati
has
a
good
grip
on
his
editing
scissors.
Music
The
songs
in
Gulabo
Sitabo
are
majorly
a
part
of
the
narrative,
and
they
lend
a
wise
word
to
the
audience
while
reflecting
the
journey
of
the
two
protagonists.
Shantanu
Moitra's
music
is
soul-stirring.
Verdict
In
one
of
the
scenes,
Baankey
asks
Mirza
why
he
married
Begum
when
she
was
15
years
older
to
him.
To
which,
the
latter
quips,
'haveli.'
A
surprised
Baankey
further
probes
him,
"Aur
begum
ne
kya
dekh
liya
tumhme?" Pat
comes
the
reply
from
the
old
man,
"Humari
jawaani."
Even
in
situations
of
pathos,
Shoojit
Sircar
succeeds
in
keeping
the
humour
intact,
and
that's
what
makes
this
Amitabh
Bachchan-Ayushmann
Khurrana
starrer
an
engaging
watch!
We
give
3.5
stars
out
of
5
for
Amitabh
Bachchan-Ayushmann
Khurrana's
Gulabo
Sitabo.