Gali Guleiyan movie review: Manoj Bajpayee and Om Singh in otherwise drab, slow film
Gali Guleiyan movie reviewPR Handout

Manoj Bajpayee's film Gali Guleiyan released in theatres on September 7 to dismal show by the audience. This kind of psychological thriller will have many takers on Netflix and Amazon Prime but not people who like to watch a film with their family with a popcorn and soft drink in their hand inside a cinema theatre. This film is not for family viewing.

The trailer of Gali Guleiyan was extremely intriguing. The movie is gripping enough, especially in the second half. However, it could have been shorter in terms of screen time, in spite of being a psychological thriller.

Nevertheless, the pace of Gali Guleiyan lets it down with the viewer losing interest in what could have been an excellent thriller in the concept of mind games.

Story

In Gali Guleiyan, Manoj Bajpayee is Khuddoos, a man trapped in his own world. He is a television repairman and is almost bankrupt, spending his time recording closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of his neighbours and observing them.

Khuddoos' family has forgotten him and he fends off his friend Ganeshi (played excellently by Ranveer Shorey). Khuddoos hears noises from his neighbour's house of a father beating a child. The entire life of this man revolves around worrying about the noises and the CCTV footage. He thinks it's all real, but is it?

Gali Guleiyan shows a parallel story of Idris (Om Singh), who longs for his butcher dad Liakat's (Neeraj Kabi) love but begins to hate him soon for cheating on his mom Saira (Shahana Goswami). Idris aka Iddu wants to get away from it all and tries to convince his mom to run away, himself landing up at a railway station alone once.

However, his strict father tells him that he will never leave this place (their home). And that's what happens as Idris or Khuddoos are never able to leave the home - mentally or physically.

Performances

Gali Guleiyan yet again shows what a fine actor Manoj Bajpayee is, with every frame being owned by him. His characters have been psychos in several of his films but one remembers Aks very well, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

A relatively new Manoj Bajpayee had excelled in his act in Aks, along with the legend Amitabh Bachchan. Manoj Bajpayee excels in Gali Guleiyan too but the real find here is child actor Om Singh, who plays Idris.

It is always good to see Shahana Goswami in the few and far movies that she does. The Rock On actress really shines in Gali Guleiyan and shows what a natural perfomer she is. She lives the character of the lower-middle class married Muslim woman.

The recent works of Neeraj Kabi - be it Hichki or Sacred Games or Once Again - will surely make people forget he is same guy in Ship of Theseus, Talvar, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy or Samvidhaan. Add Gali Guleiyan to it. This theatre actor just fits into any role you give him like nut and bolt.

Direction and other departments

Director Dipesh Jain should be lauded for his first time film that intrigues and keeps you on edge, but in the second half only. Chris Witt has edited it rather well but the already short film could've had some more cuts.

The cinematography by Kai Miedendorp shows old Delhi in a new light. The lanes and bylanes, the top shots, the aerial or drone shots in the end are all amazing. The close-ups will also stay with you.

The music by Dana Niu is apt for this kind of film. The costumes and set design is perfect.

Verdict: Gali Guleiyan is not for the faint-hearted. However, it is not outrageous either. It is slow and tries to play on the mind of the viewer just as the mind of Khuddoos is playing with him. Watch it only if you like psychological films or else you'll be bored to death.

Rating: 3 / 5 (Three stars out of five).