PremiumMirza review: Oindrila Sen sparkles in Ankush Hazra’s action drama that is a bit too long
Mirza is not perfect. But it is a valiant effort to bring unpretentious commercial Bengali films back into business. That effort is genuine.
Last Updated: 02.46 PM, Apr 11, 2024
Mirza story:
Rishi Kaushik – a narcotics control officer – chases the top three drug lords – Sultan (Kaushik Ganguly), his son, Azhar (Shoib Kabir), and Mirza (Ankush Hazra). And for the rest, go and watch the film in a theatre.
Mirza review:
Mirza seems like an outright commercial action drama from the ’90s and hence, slightly outdated. Hardcore action films have moved forward since then but the Sumeet-Saahil’s film seems to have got trapped in a time capsule. However, that does not take away the fact that Mirza is worth a watch for what it is.
The is a high-octane drama that revolves around a man, Mirza (Ankush). It is not clear in the beginning who he is loyal to and that makes him a mysterious persona. Part 1 of the film, as it promotes it to be, is all about this Joker of a pack of cards. The film has swag, sleek action sequences, and occasional comic punchlines that make people laugh. In all honestly, Mirza puts an effort to deliver what it promises – action-related entertainment.
The film is well shot. With the abundance of fire and smoke, the male actors look mostly sizzling while flexing their muscles. Fight sequences are well choreographed and shot. However, unlike the display of gore and violence in recent films across the country (including in Bengal), Mirza doesn’t go overboard with bloodbath and cruelty.
Mirza is of Ankush, by Ankush, for Ankush. Wearing ‘Raees-glasses’ he keeps his swag intact, throws punchy dialogues, fights like a pan-Indian hero, romances, dances, and entertains. He looks great in the film.
However, Mirza is also about Oindrila Sen. Her on-screen attitude has blended well with the way her character is written. Muskan (Oindrila) is the most interesting and undergoes an unpredictable journey in the film. She is a badass character and boy, Oindrila stuns with her performance. The actress has an X-factor that works in her favour. It has been a while since we watched such a delectable and sexy female character in a Bangla commercial film that often uses heroines as props to glorify heroes. Oindrila’s action sequences are delightful. There is a scene by the end where Muskan (Oindrila) returns a pair of payal to Mirza. The sparkle of swag in the actress’s eyes shows that she is smart and she knows it.
Kaushik Ganguly, on the other hand, is a letdown. Sultan is boorish and gluttonous. However, Kaushik’s swag looks superficial. His dialogues to attributed him are weakly written and anemic. Overall, his portrayal of Sultan doesn’t do justice to his acting calibre. Rishi Kaushik, on the other hand, is smart and fitting. However, his character is cliched with zero shades to make any impact on the viewers whatsoever. Shankar Debnath shines bright like he usually does.
Weak writing makes the film banal. There are promises, twists and turns. But the dialogues are blah and there is no sense of time. The ending alone stretches 15 minutes far too long. The BGM attacks your eardrum like carpet bombing. And the songs leave zero impact after the film is over.
We are often told not to find logic in commercial films. But what about those silly little questions that keep bugging you? Such as, why should Rishi Kaushik wear a leather jacket in Kolkata when others are comfortable in light T-shirts? Then there are children handling Molotov cocktail-looking bottles. Why should anyone hold such bottles for far too long risking it to burst in their hands? Let’s be wise and not ask these questions. Mirza takes a well-tested path of commercial film that used to do wonders at the box office in the yesteryears. With the abundance of smart commercial films across OTT platforms from all over India, a little more care on the script would have done no harm.
Mirza verdict:
Mirza is not perfect. But it is a valiant effort to bring unpretentious commercial Bengali films back into business. That effort is genuine. Most importantly, Mirza is surely more watchable than many Bengali films in recent times. Go, watch it.