Movie Review: Gangs of Wasseypur..waise not so special

Gangs of Wasseypur could have been special. It had all the ingredients – a nice long plotline spanning multiple generations, multiple characters, stellar performance by a not so A-grade star cast, contextualized music and songs that would pipe in every now and then and add meaning to the scenes being shown and finally, original and thoughtful direction in the masterful hands of Anurag Kashyap. Yet, it ultimately falls short.
The beginning of this movie is solid. Right from the first scene, the stage gets set and you gear up for a nice long (oh yes its long..180 minutes) drama with adequate thrills and chills all the way through. The narrative is crisp and the voice over keeps you posted especially in times when the movie practically gallops in between. The language is crude and very authentic to the setting of the movie and the visual display also matches the tone.
The big issue with Gangs..is that after the initial focus on character development, it becomes very evident to the viewer that this is going to be one long drawn and sometimes tedious ride. Initially one is able to follow the main characters, their complexities and shades..then one begins to get lost in a myriad of under-developed characters suddenly popping up from nowhere. Some scenes are unusually long when they give no additional message or meaning to the script and story and one gets the feeling the maybe the director got just too carried away with the saga he wanted to tell and the canvas he had for it.
Further, there is no sense of urgency, especially in the second half and there is no telling when one can expect a climax or if at all, there will be one. The initial tension that was built up in the air, just dissipates and one is just waiting for it all to be over, irrespective of who wins or loses
This is really a pity because there is otherwise a lot of good work that Gangs..has to offer. Music and sound has been used exquisitely with slight undertones to every melody/ lyrics one gets treated to. As the movie progresses, however, that too becomes one song too many and one practically cringes towards the final music sequences. The performances of the entire cast are noteworthy and probably what really lifts the movie despite the long runtime. Scenes are also masterfully shot and despite their rustic setting, sport a distinct sheen
At the end of it all, what Gangs of Wasseypur offers is fine cinema per se, but gets too long lost in telling its story. To think, that is only half of the saga and there is another 3 hours of this mafia family to expect..unfortunately doesn’t generate much excitement especially if its going to be like its first instalment. That said, I missed the trailer of part 2 which I believe, comes after the credits of part1 (wish I'd known earlier :(..and from what I've heard, it really sets expectations from part 2 of the movie..so who knows..the Gangs..may have kept the best for the last
As for the verdict on part 1 - Go for Gangs..if you are a huge Anurag Kashyap fan, have a genuine appreciation of good cinema and are willing to spend a visibly long time in the theatre.