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Banjo Movie Review: Nargis-Riteish's ABCD-Marries-Rock-On story is a bore
Strangely, the last thing one would expect from a National Award winning director like Ravi Jadhav is a rehash film. Banjo is a simple story that doesn't demand your attention if you've seen the likes of ABCD series or even Rock On. The milieu of Banjo is somewhere the middle ground between the films of these spaces. The setting is of Mumbai slums and Banjo players who take their music off the streets to the real music circuit, an impossible feat. On paper, this must've sounded phenomenal, there is patriotism, class dynamics, and the politics of the music industry. In short, it is a potent story with multiple complexities to explore. But you wish Jadhav had focussed on detailing, his characters, story or the plot. In the case of any other debutant director, this would've been an excusable offense. But then Ravi stands for a more evolved, path-breaking cinema. Faltering like novices isn't what you expect of him. Maybe in such a scenario, it is safe to say, language is an important aspect of making movies; an area in which Ravi's discomfort has come apparently. One look at Marathi films Bal Gandharva or Natarang, and that will be reiterated.
An American DJ named Cris comes to India in search of local Banjo artists after her friend sends her a fantastic piece by the street musicians. She finds Tarrat and his boys and together they want to create chartbusters. It could've been like an offering from the Step Up series but the film is half baked and horribly dull. The actors don't do their best either in getting their best work to the fore. The film's screenplay is the biggest spoilt sport. There is a sheer lack of coherence that cannot be compensated by good intent. And yes, his actors are far from pitch perfect. Riteish Deshmukh tries his best to bring authenticity to his character but his massy persona is flat. Somehow, the charm and charisma of Lai Bhaari went grossly missing from this film. When it comes to Bollywood, neither is Riteish a superstar or a crowd puller. He is a pleasant actor who manages to surprise with his effortlessness whilst cracking you up. That's what he does the best. But in this film, he becomes the man of the soil. His intensity is commendable but his energy is sporadic, making it an uneven performance. Nargis Fakhri doesn't help the case either. She looks fantastic but she doesn't emote very well. Just a word of advice - Don't cry Nargis, you look terrible in the truest sense of the term.
After a point, when the narrative is set - tracing the story of underdogs making it big - the story begins to meander. You'll get the Rock On feels when the infighting within the band begins. As a template of the genre, this is still acceptable. But there is no logic to explain why the director loses himself in subplots dealing with a land mafia. A scene from Savdhaan India recurs because of a murder ploy. The film is a bag full of cliches that just ceases to catch your attention after a point.
As long as the film sticks to bantering, it does a good job. Ravi manages to bring smiles on our faces with jokes that ring true. There is silly humor done well, Riteish bringing in his innocence and charm, to woo people. Banjo's problem is that it bites in more than it can chew. Had the story stayed with the spirit of Banjo and music of the streets of Mumbai, it would've been fabulous.
The one thing Ravi does flawlessly is celebrating the city of Mumbai, its indomitable spirit, its unending vibrancy, its energy, all of these find a perfect homage in the movie. The camaraderie between characters is earthen. A special mention for Vishal and Shekhar who deliver a terrific, well-synced album after long. There are far and few moments of brilliance in the film but in its better parts, you see the glimpse of the maverick filmmaker who deserves to be given another chance by Bollywood.
We rate this film a 40% on the Pinkvilla Movie Meter.
