Vidya's scene-stealing act makes 'Bobby Jasoos' special

Film: "Bobby Jasoos"; Cast: Vidya Balan, Ali Fazal, Kiran Kumar, and Rajendra Gupta; Director: Samar Shaikh; Rating: *** 1/2

This is a very special film. As a detective comedy-drama (gosh, doesn't that sound over-ambitious!) "Bobby Jasoos" is filled with furtive delights and the ambivalent aromas of a city and a heroine that never sleeps.

If the truth be told, and it's the truth that our endearing Hyderabadi Nancy Drew is drawn to -- there are two heroes in "Bobby Jasoos". One, of course, is Vidya Balan. But the other more surprising hero is the city of Hyderabad. You can almost feel the unrehearsed jostle of a city always in a celebratory mood, the colours and gaiety, and yes, the biryani.

Oh yes, there is a whole mouth-watering section devoted to biryani where our lady snoop takes her extended family hand-in-hand on an eating expedition.

So may I add another hero, cinematographer Vishal Sinha to the ravishing roster of achievers in this film about a female under-achiever trying to impress her father into finally giving her some desperately-needed attention and affection.

Vishal captures the bustle, jostle, aromas and attitudes of Hyderabad with the same affection of a non-tourist as he did when he shoot "Raanjhanaa" and "Issaq" in Varanasi. You can almost touch the city's skyline and then willingly dive right into our heroine's over-whelmed heart as it searches for all sorts of clues for what humans do to and in a city mired in mystery and intrigue.

Debutant director Samar Shaikh is as proficient in bringing us the sleepless city's endearing as well as unspeakable transgressions, as he is in showing Bilkis, alias Bobby's home life.

The protagonist's family life is constructed with the affectionate diligence of a carefully built brick-and-mortar Taj Mahal. In no time at all we know every member of Vidya's filmy family. That they are played by some superb actors, notably Tanve Azmi (as a busybody match-maker) and Rajendra Gupta (Vidya's father), is just such a stroke of luck for this genre-inventing Bollywood entertainer.

"Bobby Jasoos" is that colourful kaleidoscopic surge of vibrant drama and humour, which we tend to seek but seldom find in our cinema-viewing experience. It's got the kind of bouncy effervescent energy that somehow eludes today's cinema.

That Vidya plays the inept detective trying so hard to prove her worth to self and dad, is providential. With her impeccable coming timing, faultless dialogue delivery (the Hyderabadi was last spoken with such effortless seductiveness by Shabana Azmi in "Ankur" and "Mandi") and eyes that don't only speak volumes, they chant reams of poetry on the hurt and healing process of existence, Vidya just nails her goofy free-spirited character.

This is her best performance to date. Yes, even better than "Kahaani" and certainly far superior to the over-rated over-sensationalized "The Dirty Picture". In the title role she sparkles, shines and shimmers providing us with more proof her versatility.

The mystery that surrounds Bobby's cryptic client Kiran Kumar's assigments for missing persons provides a kind of conspicuous backdrop to Bobby's free-wheeling relationship with the world at large.

I carried home a wonderful father-daughter love story between Rajendra Gupta and Vidya. It's good to see commercial Hindi cinema acknowledging the father-child relationship.

"Babby Jasoos" also left me with one of the most heartwarming romances in recent times. Bobby/Bilkis's brittle relationship with a television journalist Tssavur (Ali Fazal) grows in the plot with nurtured natural niftiness. Not for a minute does the relationship appear unreal or manipulated.

There is this lengthy wonderful episode in a narrow lane between Bobby and Tassavur where they discover their true feelings for one another.

This is the kind of romantic writing that cinema today sorely misses. And when was the last time we heard the Santoor playing in the background in a romantic sequence? Slow clap for Shantanu Moitra's thoughtful dreamy and fluent background music.

That Vidya is partnered on screen by the striking Ali just gives s dizzying spin to the narrative. Though the film belongs to Vidya, Ali makes his own space and owns his part with pride and confidence. Make no mistake - he is star material, probably Vidya's most confident co-star to date.

"Bobby Jasoos" works so well because it creates a unique yet relatable world for its female hero without making her seem super-vulnerable (like Kangana Ranaut in 'Queen') or super-confident (like Shabana Azmi in her best roles).

Bilkis/Bobby in her salwar-kameez, sneakers and various super disguises, is a fearless, unabashed bundle of bumbling energy. Her infectious gusto and irresistible joie de vivre envelope this biryani-flavoured Hyderbadi delight of a film.

Like Vidya's multiple disguises, the film's ability to surprise never flags. If Bobby/Bilkis revels in a sense of adventure the narration doesn't lag behind. You can find flaws here. But you won't hold them against the film. That's a guarantee.

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Bobby Jasoos

Vidya Balan Pictures