Once Upon A Time In Mumbai

"Once Upon a Time in Mumbai" is a sprawling cinematic exploration of the underworld situation in the city of Mumbai during the late 1960s and 1970s. Director Milan Luthria delivers an exquisitely designed and delicately balanced movie that allows the audience to immerse themselves in a world of chaos and crime, all while capturing the essence of an era gone by. The movie was released in 2010 and produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor.

The narration of the story has been designed in a highly sophisticated manner where the plotline seamlessly oscillates between past and present and offers vital insights into the lives of two dreaded gangsters. The first-half revolves around the rise and dominance of Sultan Mirza, a character which Ajay Devgn embraced with faultless aplomb, and the second-half magnifies his clash with a new-comer called Shoaib Khan played by Emraan Hashmi. Throughout the film, the tableaus of crime against the background of a rapidly evolving city unravel a tale of power, ambition, and bitter relationships.

Ajay Devgn plays Sultan Mirza, the undisputed king of the underworld who, despite his illegal operations, has a heart of gold and follows a certain code of ethics. Devgn displays imperious resilience as an actor effortlessly conveying depth and nuance in Sultan Mirza's character that invites a strange sympathy and respect from the viewers. His rise from a mere street worker to a reigning don of Mumbai's underbelly has been poignantly depicted, with every area of darkness patrolled by his charisma and presence.

Emraan Hashmi stuns the audience with his role as Shoaib Khan – the brazen, brash apprentice of Sultan who eventually turns into his biggest arch-nemesis. His character is mired in traits of treachery, unabashed ambition, and recklessness. Hashmi brilliantly portrays the shades of a man caught in the manic pursuit of power, betraying his own mentor in the process. The tale of his ascendancy to power unfolds amidst romantic rendezvous with Mumtaz, played by Prachi Desai, whose innocent charm further enhances the dynamic nature of Hashmi's character.

The women in the movie play significant roles as well and Kangana Ranaut as Rehana, an actress, masterfully renders an exceptional performance. Ranaut seamlessly merges the elegance and frailty of Rehana, ardently in love with Sultan Mirza, bringing out the fragility and resilience of her character simultaneously. Prachi Desai, on the other hand, impresses with her striking subtleties as the woman who is head-over-heels in love with Shoaib Khan, unaware of his treacherous leanings.

The cinematography of the movie beautifully captures the soul of Mumbai and squares perfectly with the contrast of opulence and destitution, virtue and vice, loyalty and treachery that haunts the city's underworld. A meticulously designed production design adds to the atmospheric persuasiveness of the movie. Pritam's music score deserves a special mention as it manages to evoke an irresistible nostalgia and helps align the narrative rhythm with the overall mood of the movie.

In sum, "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai" is not just a movie, it is a time machine that transports viewers to an era in the past, exploring the vicious realities of Mumbai's underworld while delivering engrossing character studies of two of the most notably dreaded individuals, Sultan Mirza and Shoaib Khan. Viewers should brace themselves for a rollercoaster journey into the forgotten lanes of Mumbai which was simultaneously charming as well as notorious, with the rich tapestry of complexities and conflicts central to the politics of power in the underbelly of India's city of dreams. Lavishly mounted and beautifully framed, this movie is a visual spectacle with a resonating, compelling narrative that lingers well after the end credits roll.