BOTTOM LINE
Slow, Sincere Manhunt Drama
PLATFORM
ZEE5
RUNTIME
2Hrs 30Mins
What Is the Show About?
Set in the Hindi heartland, Bundelkhand, Ghamasaan delves into the conflict between a powerful dacoit named Maharaj (Arshad Warsi) and a fearless officer, Aditya Singh (Pratik Gandhi). As Aditya tries to dismantle Maharaj’s reign, he needs to rise above deep corruption, taking stock of power struggles and the thin line between the law and the outlaws.
Performances
Pratik Gandhi is decent as an approachable, earnest cop and gives it relatability. And, after a while, Arshad Warsi sheds his comedy image and brings an earthy flamboyance to a ruthless, proactive dacoit. Rajpal Yadav bags a unique role, and among the supporting cast, Deepraj Rana, Jatin Goswami and Ishita Dutta make a mark.
Analysis
Ghamasaan, inspired by the hunt for Bundelkhand’s infamous dacoit Dadua, marks Tigmanshu Dhulia’s return to heartland cinema after a brief sabbatical. True to his strengths, the director treads the volatile backdrop with restraint and caution. He brings nuance to the portrayal of power politics in the crime-infested land, with a straightforward, frills-free narrative.
Maharaj is a dacoit who’s never stepped beyond his jungle and hasn’t ever been photographed in his entire life. It serves as an interesting seed for a story of a man whom most don’t recognise and yet dread for his towering presence. All that the ATS squad, led by Aditya, knows about him is his broad build, a beard, and that he’s middle-aged.
The film refuses to offer a black-and-white take on the battle between an earnest cop and a crooked thug. Instead, it reflects on the various socio-political factors driving Maharaj’s reign and fall. From the mounting pressure on men in power to take him down, to an insider’s quest to settle scores over a personal loss, and the squad’s gritty mental persistence to overpower him, there is a lot to absorb.
The slow-burn drama benefits from its grounded approach to the conflict, avoiding the glorification of either side of the law. Gradually and effectively, it establishes the stranglehold Maharaj holds over the region and its power centres, outsmarting any attempt to silence him from any quarter. In response, the cops adopt a calculated, hush-hush approach to dismantle his might.
Aditya is a sincere officer, good at his work but hardly larger than life. He treats his wife as an equal, never tries to be the boss, is ready to lend an ear to his colleagues, and trusts his instincts over a textbook approach to the operation. The way he employs multiple insiders to tear into Maharaj’s army, a traumatised Angad and the cheeky acting aspirant Kalika, is one of the film’s major highlights.
While depicting the simmering tension, angst and danger enveloping the setting, there’s no unnecessary sensationalising of the conflict through the action, music and cinematography. The primary focus is on the human drama, ever-changing political equations and the mind games leading to Maharaj’s capture. The unblemished old-school approach to a complex issue reflects its sincerity.
Yet, what hampers Ghamasaan is also its academic and, at times, dry, cinematically unexciting filmmaking. While the verbal exchanges among Aditya, Maharaj, the bureaucrats, and the Bundelkhand locals, alongside the slow decline of Maharaj’s reign, serve a pivotal purpose in the narrative and brim with authenticity, they do not always translate into equally compelling sequences.
The climactic action segment has all the adrenaline rush and tact the film needed more of. The subplot that lingers is undoubtedly Kalika’s, a man left one-eyed as a statement by Maharaj. Played by a superb Rajpal Yadav, the role has a quirky charm as a man who is innocent, always finds ways to get into trouble, has big dreams of being a film star, and also serves a crucial purpose in the story.
Ghamasaan is a rooted manhunt drama that prefers groundedness over cinematic flourish. If you look past its slow pacing and a few dry, repetitive stretches, you may appreciate it.
Music and Other Departments?
The minimalistic background score complements Tigmanshu Dhulia’s academic filmmaking style, which uses silences as much as Indian instruments for authenticity. The cinematography is raw and sharp, building tension in its atmosphere both with human drama and the action (avoids gore).
As a film, it had scope to be a more precise narrative, as several themes and character traits are re-emphasised time and again. The characters, apart from Maharaj and Kalika, needed more charisma and appeal to sustain a viewer’s interest.
Highlights?
Good performances
Neat execution
Detailing of grassroots politics in the heartland
Drawbacks?
Dry and repetitive at times
Some characters lack texture
Slow pacing
Did I Enjoy It?
Mostly, yes. It’s decent, well-made, though it could’ve been more gripping.
Will You Recommend It?
If you like slow, sincere manhunt dramas with good performances, you can give it a chance.
Ghamasaan Zee5 Movie Reviewed by M9 News
