'Daddy' review: Weak narrative overshadows Arjun Rampal's applause-worthy performance

Movie: Daddy

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Aishwarya Rajesh, Nishikant Kamat, Farhan Akhtar , Rajesh Shringarpure, Anand Ingale

Director: Ashim Ahluwalia

What's it about

Based on the life of notorious gangster Arun Gawli, Daddy is a biopic shot in the style of a docudrama. Arjun Rampal plays Daddy - the gangster who can't be labelled or put in a box. The film chronicles his journey from being a small time thug to forming his own gang to taking on the kingpin Dawood Ibrahim who in the film has been named Masood (Farhan Akhtar). Besides the criminal side of Gawli's life, Daddy also throws light on his human side — showcasing his vulnerability and his God fearing nature. As the film nears its climax, we are given the option of deciding if Gawli is a gangster or a messiah, and the choice isn't an easy one to make.

What's hot

Director Ashim Ahluwalia successfully recreates the 80s and 90s of Mumbai which helps the film look real. A lot of attention has been paid to make Daddy a technically sound movie. Dagdi Chawl which later turns into Gawli's fortress has been beautifully captured by the camera. A performance heavy film, Daddy is a challenge that Arjun Rampal tackles with utmost ease. His scenes in the second half, where he plays the older Gawli, are remarkable. Also, he avoids falling into the trap of making his gangster a caricature. The supporting cast of Nishikant Kamat, Anand Ingale, and Rajesh Shringarpure are all apt in their roles. There is ample tension and thrill in the second half when the pace picks up to keep you engaged.

What's not

Daddy falters because it fails to connect with you on the most basic level — story telling. The narrative and format that Ahluwalia attempts are disjointed and incoherent. You want to stay with Daddy and follow his journey, but the random shooting encounters, episodes showing Gawli's gang at play and then the shift to his personal life are all very frustrating. For a biopic like this, where one doesn't know much about the early life of the gangster, there should have been a linear format in building up the drama leading up to the present day. Arjun does look like Gawli, but in some scenes, he just looks like any other gangster from the 80s. It would have paid off had the script focused a bit more on the decisions which resulted in him being locked up in the prison. Also, the biggest casting blunder in the film is Farhan Akhtar who plays Dawood. His character seems like a misfit, almost a parody of who he should be. The scenes between Arjun and Farhan are flat and some of the lowest points in the film. Music is average and doesn't really take the story ahead. The makers could have easily trimmed the film by 20 minutes to make it more audience friendly.

What to do

Technically, Daddy is one of the best films to come out this year with an applause worthy performance by Arjun Rampal, however, it fails to leave an impression on you with its weak narrative and sluggish pace.

Rating: **1/2