Bombay Velvet

Much to my surprise, Bombay Velvet is a beautiful yet dark film, that looks fantastic but lacks substance. Inspired by the works of Martin Scorsese and Danny Boyle, Anurag Kayshap's crime drama set in the fizzy and dramatic times when the English roamed Indian streets, and everything was a business, Velvet wants to captivate you in a steamy and beautiful Bombay. Everything from Cars to people to Buildings have time and money put into them to make them look fabulous and time setting. The story plays out as, Young Balraj and his mother arrive on the Bombay railway station with hopes to do something great in a new city. They ask around for work, and soon find out that work comes in little places. Balraj's mother is promised a job and she takes him there. Later, we find out that the man who promised her a job makes her work in a brothel as a prostitute. We see Balraj meet with a young kid named Chiman who takes him under his wing and teaches him how to do various crimes. Now, the story fast forwards to Balraj's adult years. This is the time Ranbir Kapoor fits into Balraj's shoes. Balraj gets in fights, a lot of them. Till he meets a smuggler that wants him to smuggle for him for top dollar, Balraj obviously agrees. The scene takes place in a dark night, where Balraj is smuggling gold biscuits and a police inspector shoots the man who ordered Balraj to smuggle. Balraj takes the gold and runs away in return. He hides it in the brothel, where his mother works. Balraj later falls in love with Rosie, a singer by night and a parlor worker by day. The rest of the film rests on Balraj meeting Khambatta, a ruthless dealer who changes Balraj's name to Johnny Balraj and Johnny trying to be a big shot while killing and dealing away. Velvet is very dragging and long, and Karan Johar as a bisexual dealer was disappointing. The film, even though it has a solid premise falls short of many expectations. But, Bombay Velvet is a shallow but mildly entertaining gangster flick with amazing performances and lavish detail.