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List of Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Reviews
Ratings:2.5/5 Reviewer:Rajeev Masand Site:IBNLive
Visit Site for MoreDirector Milan Luthria revisits the familiar tale of a powerful don and his fallout with his ambitious protege. In setting the film in the 70s, Luthria borrows much of that period's cinematic style. Every line is a punch line, every dialogue a clap-trap. The nostalgia is enjoyable initially, and the film successfully evokes the spirit of those Amitabh Bachchan starrers of the 70s. But you become numb to the impact of the dialogues when even supporting characters and bit players speak in clever quips. I'm going with two-and-a-half out of five for director Milan Luthria's Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai. The film is watchable and enjoyable in parts even, but it doesn't quite pull off the retro chic tone it was going for. Gangsta Rap? More like Gangsta Nap!
Ratings:4/5 Reviewer:Taran Adarsh Site:BollywoodHungama
ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is a fascinating story that talks of how the mafia came into force for the first time in Mumbai. A thriller that depicts the crime scenario in Mumbai during the 70s and 80s. The rise to power of two young boys, in different age-groups, who grew up to 'rule' the streets of Mumbai. Besides the gangster chapter, one enjoys this film also because of its riveting drama and the power play. The rise and subsequent fall of the King and the emergence of the Prince as the super power is what makes this film a compelling watch. On the sidelines of the power play, a game of hearts is being played and that's what makes ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI a wholesome movie experience. Final word? ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is not to be missed. Set everything aside this coming weekend and watch this one. Strongly recommended!Visit Site for More
Ratings:4/5 Reviewer:Nikhat Kazmi Site:TimesOfIndia
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai might just take your breath away with its iridescence and engaging quality. director Milan Luthria chooses to anchor his film in the emotional heartland rather than dabble with guns and gore. Refreshingly, the film goes low on violence and focuses more on the emotional quotient, throwing light on how Sultan Mirza (an awesome Ajay Devgn) rose to his Shahenshah-esque status in the underworld and how he tried to tame the roguish new team member, Shoaib Khan (an edgy Emraan Hashmi). Alas, in vain! And here-in lies the dramatic core of Rajat Arora's dynamic script which catapults the two lead characters as a study in contrast. Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai offers you both substance and soul, even as it dabbles with a slice of reality. Don't miss it.Visit Site for More
Ratings:4/5 Reviewer:Syed Firdaus Ashraf Site:Rediff
Once Upon A Time in Mumbai there was Ajay Devgn who floored us with his role of Malik Saab in Ram Gopal Varma's Company.Once again he returns to top form with his role of Sultan Mirza.Once Upon A Time in Mumbai there was Emraan Hashmi who acted brilliantly and smooched girls with aplomb.Once again he has acted brilliantly as Shoaib. The smooches, however, are missing this time.Once Again, you're still reading this review. Stop and go buy a ticket. Now! Once Upon A Time in Mumbai there was a director Milan Luthria who made Kacche Dhage with Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan and then lost it.Once again, he is back. Thank You, Milan.Visit Site for More
Ratings:2/5 Reviewer:Khalid Mohammed Site:PassionforCinema
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the opening reel is a zinger, thanks to a tensely shot action sequence on railway tracks. After that, though, the dramaturgy goes downhill. Feeling ill.Post-intermission, the pace drags till you start reciting your prayers. Please lord, do prompt Luthria to avoid that predictable ending, please, please. Alas, your prayers go unanswered. Bottomsigh: Once Upon a Time Waste.. in Mumbai.
Ratings:4/5 Reviewer:Komal Nahata Site:Koimoi
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The film, set in the 1970s and 1980s, is an entertaining commercial fare from the word ‘go’. Rajat Arora has penned an interesting story and padded it up with a highly engrossing screenplay that doesn’t let the viewer lose grip for even a moment. Arora’s dialogues, of course, are absolutely fantastic, many of them clapworthy.Although the film is about the underworld, the love stories of Sultan Mirza and Shoaib Khan have been presented so sensitively that it is a sheer delight to watch them unfold. Interwoven into these love stories are wonderfully warm and cutely funny moments which will be loved by the audience.OUATIM works for all age groups, for men and women, for cities and towns, for masses and classes.
Ratings:4/5 Reviewer:Gaurav Malani Site:Indiatimes
Right from the early action sequence where a train derailment is averted, the film gets on track and sets the tempo right..The film presents to you two equally powerful protagonists who are so strongly written charismatic characters that at no point they lose their onscreen heroism. And then it gives you the more difficult task – to choose between these two glorified gangsters. The pacing is swift and never lets you pause to ponder over what’s already happened. Rather you look forward to what will happen next. The end however seems somewhat abrupt.Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai is revival of good old Hindi cinema. As Mumbai goes rewind, you look forward to a dynamic and gripping entertainer.Visit Site for More
Ratings:2/5 Reviewer:Shubhra Gupta Site:IndianExpress
The challenge in a film like this, which entwines mobsters and `mehboobas’, is to make it all new, because of the past classics which have soared with the same dramatis personae. Milan Luthria rises only partially to it : he starts off well, and carries on as he means to, but then falls into the trap of the familiar. `Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’ doesn’t match up to that spectacular scene where the city lies below, in all its glittery splendour, never quite becoming the great retro chic gangster flick that it sets out to be.The second half gets lost in patchy writing and the creakily done conflict of the principled mob boss vs the unscrupulous rebel. Everyone talks and talks in aphorisms and the dialogue which makes you smile with pleasure when you first hear it turns tiresome. It’s well begun but not done, just like the film.Visit Site for More
Ratings:3/5 Reviewer:Mayank Shekar Site:HindustanTimes
Mumbai’s underworld dons, though for all you know, their real lives may not be fractionally as exciting as their fictional ones on screen. The subject is immediately exhilarating still. As is this film.Luthria rightly recreates retro from the ‘70s. And this is not just in the low angles of the shots; strange prints on expensive nylon shirts; or trumpets for a background score. It’s most importantly in the sense of the big screen occasion, and a throwback to smart, terse dialogue.This one's the best effort I’ve seen in long.Visit Site for More
