When I walked into a theatre to watch Bhaiyya Ji, I was excited to see what Manoj Bajpayee was going to present in his 100th movie. However, as soon as the film ended, I was left wondering if it was worth the hype.
Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, Bhaiyya Ji revolves around a man who stands up for his family and seeks revenge for his younger brother’s murder. In the film, Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of Ram Charan aka Bhaiyya ji. He unleashes his inner gangster after his younger brother is burnt alive by a goon’s son in Delhi.
Bhaiyya Ji’s narration and techniques follow the template of that of a Telugu or a Tamil movie. The setting of the film, its characters, the way they act and the way Bhaiyya ji is introduced – everything in the film is what you see in every other South movie.
The film establishes Bhaiyya Ji as somebody who is committing crimes for a larger good, even if it requires killing 100s of men. The trait is often found in a Telugu or a Tamil movie. Just like any other South film, Bhaiyya Ji also uses a grieving mother whose only dream is to see her son taking revenge and killing their culprit. The film will also remind you of Yash’s KGF at several points.
However, this does not mean that the director hasn’t done his job well. Even if you accuse him of aping a particular template, he has done it remarkably. Even though he struggles to make the film intriguing, the director makes sure that nobody gets bored while watching his film. The action of the film is top-notch.
However, there are several loopholes in the movie. During the climax, Bhaiyya Ji fights his rivals at their residence. However, the setting keeps changing in almost every second scene. Manoj kills the first man in the Haveli’s hall but then enters a room which looks like it was closed and untouched for ages. Maybe, the makers should have paid more attention to the film’s setting.
Another problem with the film is its low budget – which is very explicitly visible on screen. The film needed VFX for very few scenes. Guess what? It ruined that too. SPOILER ALERT! The scene where Manoj Bajpayee falls into a river after being shot is so terribly presented. No effort has been put into the VFX there. It not only takes away the seriousness of the scene but also makes it look animated.
The film is also very predictable. There are scenes where you can easily guess what is going to happen next. For instance, when Bhaiyya Ji’s bride-to-be is attacked, you know exactly when and where he will enter the frame to save her.
Even though the plot of Bhaiyya Ji is simple, it looks stretched. In 2 hours and 15 minutes, the film hardly features any exciting twists. Although Manoj Bajpayee plays his role with utmost sincerity, he does not really fit the character.
