Nupur Jha
Manoj Bajpayee completed his 100th movie in the film industry with “Bhaiyya Ji.” And the only question you ask is, why? Why did he pick this film as his 100th movie, especially given his track record of delivering outstanding movies and performances?
The film was directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, written by Deepak Kingrani, and stars Manoj Bajpayee, Survinder Vicky, Jatin Goswami, and Zoya Hussain. It’s even more disappointing to know that the film was made by the same director and team behind “Sirf Ek Banda Kafi Hai.”
Here is a spoiler-free review of Manoj Bajpayee’s “Bhaiyya Ji.” Should you watch it or skip it?
Story, Characters & Cringe
The premise is simple: it’s like “John Wick,” but imagine it in a Bhojpuri version with bizarre action sequences and over-the-top acting — not in a good way. Instead of a dog, it’s the hero’s younger brother who dies.
The story starts with Ram Charan (Manoj Bajpayee) preparing for his wedding after a 10-year wait in Bihar. On this important day, he hears that his brother Vedant has been killed during a spat over a paratha, outside of the Delhi Railway station. The filmmakers try to portray Ram as a meek, middle-class man. However, once his brother’s last rites are done, Ram unleashes his monstrous side.
A monologue reveals that Ram is actually a Robin Hood-like figure, someone everyone from the politics had once feared. He had retired from his crime world and his ‘Bhaiyya Ji’ persona. When Ram discovers that his brother’s death wasn’t caused by a simple gun-toting bully but by a politically powerful man and his unhinged son, Abhimanyu (Jatin Goswami), he brings out his dark side once more as he sets out to fight against those responsible.
The movie is a blend of old South Indian movie tropes with a Bhojpuri twist, unfortunately picking the worst elements from both. The revenge-based story is riddled with so many plot holes that logic seems to drain away. The choices made by the characters, and their monologues make zero sense.
There are some scenes that aim for high drama but miss the mark, to the extent that even Manoj Bajpayee fails to deliver the caliber of performance he’s known for. It becomes so jarring that you have to wonder if the actors left their skills at home.
As for the direction, the film is overloaded with slow-motion scenes and a deafening background score. One particularly egregious scene shows Ram Charan falling into a river in such a fake manner that even a child could point it out. Funny thing is that he survives a shotgun wound as well as falling into the river, and starts fighting against the thugs again, making a miraculous recovery in a short time. The film also makes a mockery of geography, treating the distance between Delhi and Bihar as a joke.
Considering this as Manoj Bajpayee’s 100th film is depressing in itself. For those who believe he can’t choose a bad movie or deliver a poor performance, “Bhaiyya Ji” will be an eye-opener.
Manoj Bajpayee is undoubtedly a gem of an actor, but he should reconsider his choices, even if it’s just to pay the bills. This film is neither worth your time nor worth discussing. It’s best forgotten.
Rating: 1/10
