"Besharam" Movie Review - Ranbir Failed To Save Film

Ranbir Kapoor is often hailed as the next big thing in Bollywood — a young star who knows what he is doing, chooses his scripts with care and delivers top-notch performances nearly all the time. If that is the case, Kapoor must have had a very bad day at work to say yes to “Besharam”.

Abhinav Kashyap’s second film as director is crude, packed with toilet humour, and has no semblance of a plot. “Besharam” is a case study in lazy filmmaking, one that lowers the bar on good taste just to make money at the Bollywood box office. It insults the viewer’s intelligence and is an example of the Hindi film industry’s reluctance to let go of hackneyed storylines that were all the rage two decades ago.

Kapoor plays Babli, the protagonist in this Indian version of Robin Hood. He is a thief who steals swanky cars, sells them and donates the proceeds to the orphanage where he was raised. His talent catches the attention of a gangster (Jaaved Jaffrey) who hires him.

But one day, Babli unwittingly steals and delivers the car of the girl he loves. Once he realizes this, there is only one thing to be done. Steal the car right back. Tara (Pallavi Sharda), who spends half the time delivering holier-than-thou speeches about how Babli should give up a life of crime, agrees and accompanies him on this mission.

There is also a subplot about a squabbling couple (Ranbir’s real-life parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor), who are in the police, and have made unsuccessful attempts at catching Babli during his earlier capers. Even this does not work, mainly because Kashyap saddles them with vulgar dialogue and a series of gross-out sequences involving actor Rishi Kapoor — including a defecation scene.

Watch: Trailer of Besharam 

Kashyap doesn’t even attempt to inject any creativity into this flimsy plotline, relying on toilet humour and mediocre songs to stretch the running time to two-and-a-half hours. The dialogue is pedestrian, as are the performances.

Ranbir Kapoor does not look too convinced himself about the film or its outrageous plot. He’s no Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar. Those two actors could have pulled off “Besharam’s” slapstick genre but Kapoor can’t and that’s the film’s main failing. Unless you like the feeling of being hit on the head repeatedly with a hammer, avoid this one.

Ranbir Kapoor Seeking Katrina Kaif in ‘Besharam’?

The latest buzz to grip the tinsel town is that of Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. That Kat wants to work with Ranbir is no news, but now we hear that the Kapoor lad is equally gung-ho about teaming up with his ladylove, and is recommending her name to his directors. 

Sources claim that Katrina Kaif could have romanced Ranbir Kapoor in Besharam as the actor wanted her in the movie. But, apparently director Abhinav Singh Kashyap was stuck on the newbie Pallavi Sharda, last seen in Heroine. 

It’s said that Ranbir was not keen on Pallavi to be a part of this ambitious project, which also stars his parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor. Thus the actor strongly recommended Katrina’s name to Abhinav. 

Photos: Katrina's Private Moment With Ranbir In Bikini - Leaked!

However, for the director, Pallavi was best suited for the role of female protagonist in his film, and he didn’t change his decision. 

Also, it’s being said that Abhinav and Pallavi share a special bond and are more than just good friends. Clearly, by sticking on to his decision, Abhinav has taken this bonding to a new level, claim sources. 

Earlier, too, there were rumours that Ranbir pushed Katrina Kaif’s name to Imtiaz Ali for his new venture. Kat was also more than eager to work with the director, which even meant that the lovebirds will get some time together on the sets given their hectic schedules. Coincidentally, the actor’s ex-flame Deepika Padukone was also in the running for the same role, and by now, you know who has bagged the plum project.

First Trailer Of Ranbir Kapoor's Besharam Out: Watch!

After having played multi faceted characters in Barfi, Rockstar and the very recent Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Bollywood's emerging superstar Ranbir Kapoor is now a Besharam.

The trailer opens with the shot of Ranbir Kapoor answering nature’s call in a sarson ka khet while crooning the Yashraj song “Tennu Vekhya toh yeh jaana sanam”. Next, he’s seen grooving in a discotheque -- pelvic thrusts and all with complete abandon. 

Ranbir plays Babli, a street smart car mechanic living in a Delhi orphanage. He is charming and lives life to the fullest. He also steals cars to support his orphanage. He has no sense of right or wrong till he unwittingly hurts the love of his life, Tara (Pallavi Sharda). 

Babli realizes that there is no right way of doing the wrong thing. He sets out to fix all the wrongs in his life and he continues to be shameless about it. And he has two cops Chulbul Chautala (Rishi Kapoor) and Bulbul Chautala (Neetu Kapoor) on his trail. 

The trailer of Besharam will find its takers and haters. It has humour that is decidedly indecent and unfunny. There’s much crotch scratching and pelvic jerks, and in one shot Ranbir Kapoor takes out a sock from his crotch, used as a padding to impress the girls with his manliness. No wonder the trailer her got more dislikes than likes on YouTube at the time of this story. 

Watch the trailer of Besharam below and let us know if you find it funny. Also check out some stills on the following pages.

Release Date: October 2

Directed by Abhinav Kashyap

Produced by Himanshu Mehra, Sanjeev Gupta & Reliance Entertainment

Starring: Ranbir Kapoor,Pallavi Sharda, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor 

Music: Lalit Pandit