Exactly a year ago today, director Apoorv Singh Karki and actor Manoj Bajpayee collaborated on a film titled ‘Sirf Ke Bandaa Kaafi Hai.’ In that movie, Bajpayee portrayed a lawyer assisting a victim of the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu’s sex assault. Now, in ‘Bhaiyya Ji,’ Karki and Bajpayee take a literal approach – focusing on just one character. Whether this singular focus is enough or not remains to be seen. In a unique feat of filmmaking, Karki, as the director and co-writer, has crafted a movie that you can join at any point – without worrying about the beginning, middle, or end. The film starts off well with Bhaiyya Ji (Manoj Bajpayee) amidst his wedding celebrations in Bihar, anxiously awaiting his younger brother Vedant’s arrival from Delhi by train. As Vedant goes missing, Bhaiyya Ji’s concern escalates, setting the stage for what’s to come. The narrative then delves into a tale of revenge, especially when Vedant’s killer turns out to be Abhimanyu (Goswami), the ruthless son of the senseless ganglord Chandrabhan Singh (portrayed by Suvinder Vicky, known for his role in ‘Kohrra’).
But how can he seek revenge, and how many times should he do it? We’re uncertain if Bhaiyya Ji, who seemed to have left violence behind for wedded happiness with Mithali or for some other reason in the past (explained hastily at lightning speed), has truly embraced a non-violent path that he might now forsake.
Due to persistent urging from Vedant’s mother and stepmother, Bhaiyya Ji is compelled to confront Chandrabhan at his grand mansion in Delhi in pursuit of “justice.” Before this confrontation, a medallion featuring a lion’s face surrounded by sun rays is unveiled with great ceremony, creating fear and awe as it circulates through Bihar, evoking strong reactions. This ganglord’s reputation for dispensing justice with a shovel, amidst symbolic chaos, perhaps aims to highlight Bhaiyya Ji’s humble background in contrast to Chandrabhan’s opulent lifestyle and luxurious attire.
As the medallion is raised as a signal, supporters close their shops and rally behind Bhaiyya Ji, as he arrives in Delhi with his entire village in tow. There’s a suggestion by Karki that a hidden network connecting Biharis in cities like Delhi, unseen by many, could be Bhaiyya Ji’s greatest asset.
On another note, Manoj Bajpayee mentioned Prashant Kishor discussing film industry politics, showcasing his expertise in social media. However, the passage ends abruptly without further details.
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