Bhardwaj's Romeo & Juliet: A Gutter to Grave Tale

Director Vishal Bhardwaj, known for his Shakespearean adaptations like Macbeth and Hamlet, returns with a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. This new film, however, deviates from a straightforward modernization, instead drawing inspiration from a grim true-crime account featured in 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai.' It aligns with Bollywood's recent trend towards lurid narratives.

The adaptation shifts the setting to Venice and introduces a morally degenerate Romeo, portrayed by Shahid Kapoor as a hitman named Hussein Ustara. Triptii Dimri plays an aggrieved widow with her own dangerous agenda. Their encounter, initiated when Romeo saves her during an assassination attempt, quickly embroils them in powerful conflicts.

Despite commendable performances from Kapoor, Dimri, and Nana Patekar, the film's three-hour runtime is criticized for its jarring tonal shifts. It oscillates between crude and emotionally vacant, depicting an obsessive and abject love story. The film is seen as a distinctive misstep for a thoughtful filmmaker.

Bhardwaj's previous acclaimed adaptations include 'Maqbool' (Macbeth), 'Omkara' (Othello), and 'Haider' (Hamlet). This new work, however, has been described as a departure into a more lurid and less sensitive cinematic territory, potentially sacrificing artistic nuance for sensationalism.