Review: 'Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster', a fitting tribute to a classic tale

Film: Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster
Director: Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Randeep Hooda and Mahie Gill
Rating: ****

Guru Dutt Films' Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was a classic. Directed by Abrar Alvi, it told the story of a neglected wife who struck an unlikely friendship with a simpleton, while her aristocratic husband spent nights away at a courtesan's.

Tigmanshu Dhulia pays tribute to one of Hindi cinema's most poignant films in Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. It can't really be called an adaptation, and surely not a remake.

Dhulia makes the film distinctly his own, a tad irreverently perhaps, purely taking inspiration from the central plot of Bimal Mitra's novel, Shaheb Bibi Golam. It's somewhat similar to what Anurag Kashyap did with Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's material in Dev D.

Jimmy Shergill plays Aditya Pratap Singh, the Saheb of a province in UP, but bereft of any riches. His monthly expenditures are taken care of by his stepmother, who was his father's keep. In an interesting history-repeats-itself sort of situation, Saheb spends most nights with the other woman, while his biwi aka chhoti malkin (Mahie), pines for him and finds refuge in alcohol.

Saheb's enemies plant Babloo (Hooda), a goonda charged with murder, in Saheb's haveli as an informer. Babloo is appointed driver to the temperamental chhoti malkin, and finds himself attracted to the whimsical woman. She too reciprocates, and a passionate affair ensues.

Dhulia keeps the sexual tension simmering, the tempo fast, and laces the story with cracking dialogue ("Aap patang achha uda leti hai, iska matlab nahi ke humein bhi hawa main udaati rahein"). There's a good mix of romance, action and humour, all of them complementing each other as the story unfolds.

While his script is clearly the film's USP, Dhulia as director does full justice to the written matter, extracting some superb performances, and making a technically polished film. Little embellishments, like the orchestra sound in a raunchy item number, add to the film's charm.

SBAG shows how far good casting goes in making a film work. Jimmy Shergill seems to have finally found his groove you've been hoping he settles into since his Maachis days. As Saheb, he pulls off what is probably the film's most crucial character with admirable maturity.

Randeep, who impressed in a small role in Once Upon A Time In Mumbai last year, plays the guitar-playing gangster with charming ease. He manages to strike the right balance between bad and likeable. Mahie Gill is very good as the sultry wife (although, she's probably the only replaceable actor in the film) and fits in well. Each cast member, including Deepal Shaw, Vipin Sharma, the bumbling mantri, Saheb's faithful bodyguard, et al, leaves a mark.

Dhulia displayed immense promise in his debut film Haasil (although the film petered out in the last few reels), but followed it up with some mediocre attempts. With SBAG, he delivers and how. 

Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster draws you in at the very start, keeps you hooked throughout, and ends on a high. In other words, you have very little reason to miss the film. Don't.