Release Date: 17 June 2016
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt & Diljit Dosanjh
Directed by: Abhishek Chaubey
Produced by: Shobha Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Aman Gill, Vikas Bahl & Sameer Nair
Story: Sudip Sharma & Abhishek Chaubey
Music by: Amit Trivedi
Duration: 2 hr 30 min
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Censor Rating: A
About Movie Udta Punjab
As an Indian crime thriller, co-written and directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Udta Punjab is about drug abuse in the Indian state of Punjab. The movie features Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh in lead roles. The motto of this flick is to spread awareness about drug to the youth and the society as a whole. All the leading actors, including rockstar Shahid, a migrant labourer, Alia Bhatt, a doctor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and a cop, Diljit Dosanjh, have one thing in common i.e. Punjab. All four are fighting the menace of drugs in their own unique way.
Plot
Backed by an extensive research of four years, Udta Punjab is based on substance abuse in Punjab. The movie is a complete thriller with Shahid Kapoor(Tommy Singh), Alia Bhatt(Kumari Pinky), Kareena Kapoor Khan(Dr. Preet Sahani) and Diljit Dosanjh(Sartaj Singh) having four different tracks in the movie. Their stories are carefully interwoven into a single story that reflects the brutal reality of drug abuse in Punjab.
Director Abhishek Chaubey of Dedh Ishqiya fame has set the movie in Punjab and has drafted a brilliant script which highlights the impact and menace of drug abuse on the society. The movie opens up with flinging of a packet into a jungle in Punjab and the packet lands in the lap of the Bihari hockey player alias Kumari Pinki. From here, begins her tryst with the world of drugs. Next, there is the tattooed Tommy Singh who’s a rockstar, capable of making music only when he’s all ‘coked up’. Then there is a cop alias Sartaj, who realizes the outreach of drugs in Punjab only after finding his younger brother, Prabhjyot Singh as the victim. Finally, there is the Florence Nightingale doctor alias Dr. Preet who’s engaged in rehabilitating drug addicts and also intends to save the Indian state via her report on narcotics.
Performances
In Udta Punjab, Shahid Kapoor(Tommy Singh) can be seen in one of his best performances in years. As an immature and self-regarding Punjabi rockstar, Shahid has given all his passion and energy to the character.
Next is Alia Bhatt (Kumari Pinky) who’s put on brown makeup to fit into her character in the most outstanding way. Her gobsmacking performance is definitely a must-watch.
Then there is Diljit Dosanjh(Sartaj) who, in the role of an assistant sub-inspector with the Punjab Police, has done complete justice to his character. His intense dialogue delivery is surely going to leave the audience spellbound.
Last but definitely not the least is Kareena Kapoor Khan (Dr. Preet), who in the role of a doctor and anti-drug activist has showcased her character in a truly believable way. Her vanilla performance shouldn’t be missed out for sure.
Udta Punjab Music
Udta Punjab comes with a young and trippy music album, composed by Amir Trivedi. The first track “Chitta Ve” perfectly complements the movie’s setting. It is a peppy number, clubbed with funky lyrics. The Punjabi lyrics make the song even more energetic and refreshing.
Next there is “Da Da Dasse”, which has been beautifully sung by Kanika Kapoor of “Baby Doll” fame. The track connects with the audience almost instantly and has a Nucleya music kind feel to it.
Then, there is “Ikk Kudi” which comes in two different versions. While the original one has been superbly sung by Shahid Mallya, the reprise version has been impressively sung by the movie’s leading actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh. The track is a slow one and has been filled with meaningful lyrics.
After this, there is “Ud-Daa Punjab” which has been pumped up with the vocals of Vishal Dadlani and Amit Trivedi. Interesting lyrics like “Andar Ka Kutta” make the song a completed dance number and Shahid Kapoor’s acting has nailed it completely. Finally, there are “Hass Nach Le” and “Vadiya”, which are peppy tracks. While the former one revolves around self-exploration, latter one is simply high on beats. Both the tracks have a Punjabi feel to it and go well with the movie’s plot.
Details of songs in the movie
1. “Chitta Ve”
Singer(s): Babu Haabi, Shahid Mallya & Bhanu Pratap
Duration: 04:48
2. “Da Da Dasse”
Singer(s): Kanika Kapoor & Babu Haabi
Duration: 04:01
3. “Ikk Kudi”
Singer(s): Shahid Mallya
Duration: 04:35
4. “Ud-Daa Punjab”
Singer(s): Vishal Dadlani & Amit Trivedi
Duration: 04:35
5. “Hass Nach Le”
Singer(s): Shahid Mallya(Backing Vocals: Shadab Faridi, Suhas Sawant & Arun Kamath)
Duration: 04:30
6. “Vadiya”
Singer(s): Amit Trivedi
Duration: 04:29
7. “Ikk Kudi- Reprised Version”
Singer(s): Diljit Dosanjh
Duration: 02:44
What’s Good?
Backed by a gripping start, Udta Punjab has excellently portrayed the way in which the Indian state of Punjab is on the route of becoming another Mexico. The star performances are worth applauds.
What’s Bad?
Unlike the energetic first half, the second half of Udta Punjab has been outstretched into a fictional setup. There are scenes which are quite sluggish and can make you cringe.
Verdict
As an exhilarating watch, Udta Punjab is a movie you shouldn’t skip. Hard-hitting scenes in the movie will undoubtedly keep you engaged.
Udta Punjab Rating ***
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