Film Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster Review

Film: 'Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster'; Cast: Mahie Gill, Randeep Hooda, Jimmy Sheirgill; Director; Tigmashu Dhulia;

Unlimited power corrupts totally. And the power to create cinema that takes the prevalent language of narration into the domain of the dark and impulsive is an opportunity belonging to some filmmakers. Sudhir Mishra is the no. 1. Tigmanshu Dhulia follows the footprints of these types of filmmakers.

'Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster' is an audacious tongue-in-cheek homage to Guru Dutt's timeless classic 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'. Don't believe the director's protestations to the contrary. Dhulia's movie even opens with an unabashed tribute to Guru Dutt's film.

Tigmanshu Dhulia's Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is violently erotic take on the classic built around a brilliant script and performances to match, in a film that keeps you entangled till the very last twist in the story is discovered.

Tigmanshu's newest is a thrilling drama of crime and romance set in an erstwhile princely household, led by the titular Saheb of the manor. He is a raja without rupee who has to beg his despised step-mother, the queen, for dime, even as he bloodies his hands to land lucrative government contracts in his kingdom of Deogarh. Though his money may have abandoned him, the royal mannerisms haven't, and even in his depressed state, he manages to keep a concubine, Mahua, on the side, driving his Biwi, the Choti Rani of the house, to drink. This Biwi has airs of her own, constantly challenging the writ of the Saheb, in an effort to gain his attention and her rightful place in the household, an effort that has driven her to the edge of insanity, seemingly. In the midst of this power struggle, enters the 'Gangster', a small-time crook who's been sent to Deogarh by the Saheb's industrial rivals, to pretend to be a driver and bump off the big fish. This 'Gangster', however, has plans of his own, to seize the spoils of the land for himself, as he finds himself falling in love, or lust, with the mysterious Biwi of the house. Between the three, the 'Saheb', 'Biwi' and 'Gangster', finds themselves being drawn into a game of romance and deceit, culminating in a tragic, twisted climax of Shakespearean proportions.


Tigmanshu's characterisations are as captivating as his settings, every player in this pastiche etched to perfection. Tigmanshu truly dazzles with his ink here, penning characters and dialogues worth remembering and repeating.

Dhulia's detailed vision is only complemented by his casting choices, each one of which can only be described as pitch-perfect. Jimmy Shergill is brilliant as the threatening, menacing Saheb of the house, who, though not above common violence, thinks everyone else in the picture to be beneath him. Shergill is a genuinely talented actor, and that is what he puts on display here. And if Shergill's Saheb is menacing, then Mahie Gill's Biwi borders on the psychotic. The talented actress finds an opportunity to show her skill as the drunk and dangerous Rani of this film.

Randeep Hooda is great; who’s 'Gangster' exudes an appealing loutishness in the early parts of the movie, but quickly takes on darker overtones as the movie proceeds. Apart from the three main leads, Tigmanshu also populates his movie with a host of peripheral characters, all of them played by actors seemingly made for their roles. Vipin Sharma as Gainda Singh and Deepraj Rana as Kanhaiyya, as the Saheb's criminal rival and bodyguard respectively, are superb in their roles. Deepal Shaw is a revelation in her short role as the spunky Bijli, and amuses with her enunciated 'Babaloo'. Shreya Narayan doesn't need to emote much, but is quite scintillating in her role as the Saheb's moll, Mahua.

The film's brilliant visuals find a counterpart in its soundtrack, in tracks like the sweet but erotic raat mujhe or the pumping saheb bada hatila, the theme of the movie. The interesting thing about the film's score is how Tigmanshu has picked out anachronistic melodies as well, to perfectly complement the out of place, out of time settings of his subject.

All in all, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is a clear masterstroke from a gifted film-maker. As for Tigmanshu Dhulia, the film is also a triumph for its three lead stars, Jimmy Shergill, Mahie Gill and Randeep Hooda, all three of whom find a perfect platform to exhibit their substantial, though underappreciated skills.

Overall, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is a must-watch!