Shor in the City (2010) Reviews

• Mind-blowing Chaos

  cyriac-thomas2011-05-11

  "When the noise is deafening, can you really hear yourself?" (If you can't hear it, you're OBVIOUSLY dead) The whole movie is about a chaotic scenario that occurs during the Ganapathi Mahotsav in Mumbai. It's told in a multi linear narrative as there are mainly 3 stories happening the same time… But no attempt is made to forcefully intertwine the stories and that's one interesting and distinct aspect of the film. All the characters are very well tailored… Undoubtedly Tusshar's best movie till date… But the actor who dazzles here is Pitobash Tripathy as the eccentric small-time goon Mandook, who steals every scene he's in… He is the epicenter of most of the chaos and his role is just a masterpiece… It's surprising and disturbing and has a vein of rich, dark humor coursing through it. After the unforgettable comedy '99', directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK continue their great job with Shor. The script is crisp, tight and spattered with some smart, funny one-liners and is consistent till the end. There are many occasions to laugh out loudly especially the time bomb sequence. The movie also boasts a rivetingly smart climax. In short, Shor in the City is a total buzz on! And one note: Do wait till the end credits finish rolling... The surprises don't end with the film...

• A Modern masterpiece..indeed shor (noise) is good sometimes...

  rangdetumpy2011-05-08

  Two years ago a movie released without much of hype and promotion that was '99" directed by Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK .. there was something weirdly brilliant in the film which has some restless characters like we often come across in a Guy Ritchie films... Coming to 2011 the same director duo took restlessness in a metro city to another altitude in "Shor in the city".. Shor means "Noise" and the concept of noise has been depicted very well throughout the film..Without giving any spoilers there are 3 stories running parallel in the heart land of Mumbai and the stories get connected in the end. It is one of the awesome dark humorous films of India which keeps you involved with the three stories and how noise plays a imp role internally as well as externally creating a metamorphosis of each protagonist ... The restlessness has been portrayed with a sharp editing in the beginning going to and fro with each stories thus building the tension and that elevates to higher decibel till the climax happens. Watch it for the unique treatment of the director duo, the awesome camera work of Tusshar kanti Ray (who did a superb job earlier this year with urban classy Dhobi Ghaat) and equally commendable sound design by Jordi Cirbian which plays the crux of the execution.. And coming to acting department Pitobash is a new talent to watch for.. Hindi cinema is changing from it routine over the top execution and I sincerely hope more films like Shor in the City are being made which are technically brilliant as well as entertaining. Also Ekta Kappor should be applauded for backing this kind of cinema. (previous year she backed the technically brilliant Dibakar Banerjee's Love Sex aur Dhoka)..Go for this Noise , you will not regret. Thumps up to the director duo. P.S: For those who love song n dance.. well there is no dance but a beautiful romantic song Saibo which has been shot beautifully..

• SITC made all the right sounds

  chatterjee_sun2011-05-07

  Another slick Mumbai stories about a bunch of people trying to make things work in this mad city. The story has five main characters a small time publisher of pirated books, couple of small time thugs, an NRI trying to start a business in India and a young boy trying hard to make his name in corrupt cricket world. The lives of all the characters intertwine during the course of the plot. Tushar kapoor's acting is just on par at best and so are most actors, including Senthil Ramamurty who plays NRI Abhay in fact seems to be overacting in parts. The surprise element was Pritosh Tripatht playing 'Mandook' he is a revelation very believable in his role of a dumb goon/ sidekick. The movie has a fresh feel and the song 'Saibo' very melodious. Overall a good attempt by directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK.

• Hilarious Chaos in the Sheher

  Chrysanthepop2011-08-30

  I wasn't expecting much of Krishna D.K. and Raj Nidimoru's 'Shor In The City'. Despite the rave reviews, I was under the impression that this would be another one of those slick-wannabe crime thrillers. I'm glad that I was wrong because the film positively surprised me. Intertwined stories are becoming quite common in Hindi cinema and I enjoy them when they're told well. Here the link between them isn't significant in the sense that it's not what the story focuses on. The connection is shown smoothly. Each story has its own strength but for me the best one was that of Tilak which was refreshing and it had a wicked sense of humour. The sequence with the child and the bomb and the scenes that follow (concerning the child) still make me laugh. The scenes between Tilak and his wife are also amusing. The Sawan story presents an interesting theme but I felt the romantic angle was a little melodramatic. The Abhay story has a deja vu feel to it but it's well told and engaging. The cinematography is stunning. It captures the rawness and authenticity of the title city and citylife very well. The background score, sound and art direction are brilliant. The pacing is slightly uneven as it tends to go slow in the middle. The performances of Zakir Hussain, Sendhil Ranamurthy, Tusshar Kapoor, Nikhil Dwivedi, Sundeep Kishan and Pitobash are good too (in the given order). The women hardly get any scope but Radhika Apte is a delight to watch. The main highlight of 'Shor In The City' is its detailed screenplay which is also co-written by D.K. and Nidimoru (who have done a fantastic job as directors). Overall, 'Shor in the City' has been a pleasant and funny surprise.

• Decent watch

  attarwala-anees2011-06-24

  Instantly liked the movie. Unarguably, one of the better Bollywood movies of the year. I would count "Phans gaya re Obama" and "Shor" as some of the finest products of coming of age Indian cinema. If I may take the liberty, I perceive "Shor" as a "Dhobi Ghat" (DB) on crack. While DB is very subtle, understated and subdued, "Shor" is pulsating, vibrant, chaotic and tantalizing. Snippets of dark humor here and there, but nothing surmounting to the backdrop of Mumbai. Again, unlike DB the story lines never cross, nor do the characters inter-wine. However, the crisp editing and repeated cuts to cyclical plots make it seem that way. The film essays eleven days worth of events in the lives of three different sets of inhabitants trying to slug it out in Mumbai City leading up to the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi. Three bootleggers (Tilak, Mandook and Ramesh) live off cheap thrills, carrying out petty crimes, and following up with debauchery in local bars. An expatriate Abhay, relocates to Mumbai to start a business. And an aspiring cricketer, Sawan, looks to make a big name for himself. It is hard to say weather these guys seek out troubles or is it the other way round. Abhay faces local turbulence in the form of street ruffians who demand protection money, and cannot seem to make the city welcoming. He wants to like it, but can't seem to like it. The cricketers' despair is to overcome the extraordinary competition by bribing the officials with money. And Tilak has a plan for future and sees his business expanding if he takes up more responsibilities. The only common thread which resonates with the" Shor in the city" is the metamorphosis of these inhabitants. Abhay, does he what he has to do; grows out of his mainstream sophistication and grabs the bull by its horns. Sawan, disowns the loot, that he so meticulously plans, for something better than his obsession. Tilak gets a breather and walks out unscathed, as he watches the kid dance to the tune of Ganesha in full glory. Mandook and Ramesh, cannot seem to let go of their tomfoolery, which leads to their predicaments. In doing so, all of them find themselves closer to their hearts and lovers. The music is quite good. Most of the tracks play when people are running around or riding their bikes. Then there is beautiful depiction of disorder, as the city itself morphs into a loud and tumultuous world. Edgy direction and low-key actors, excluding Tusshar Kapoor, bounce off the screen as every day folks which are very identifiable in sync with the script. Sendhil Ramamoorthy (Abhay) looks radiant and very different from his Mohindar of "Heroes". Shor is a different movie in a very real sense and a very decent watch.