By now almost everybody knows that the movie was an adaptation of the Play Macbeth by Shakespeare; hence I will not try to analyze the similarities and differences in the movie vis-à-vis the original play.
The movie explores certain very Indian dimensions, while trying to retain the background of play. Also it is one of the very few movies in which a supporting actor’s role has been etched in a far greater detail than that of the protagonist. I will try to discuss these aspects in this review.
Plot
The movie explores certain very Indian dimensions, while trying to retain the background of play. Also it is one of the very few movies in which a supporting actor’s role has been etched in a far greater detail than that of the protagonist. I will try to discuss these aspects in this review.
Plot
An under-world aged Don; Abbaji (played by Pankaj Kapoor) trusts his right-hand man Maqbool (played by Irrfan Khan) implicitly and has a paternal affection towards him. Maqbool also understands and reciprocates his trust. The twist in the tale is caused by Nimmi, the mistress of the aged Don, for whom Maqbool has fallen. Nimmi hates Abbaji and propels Maqbool to take over the control of the Mumbai underworld as well as of her by finishing off Abbaji. Maqbool’s lust and ambition finally overcomes the loyalty for Abbaji. Maqbool finally takes over the empire and also Nimmi. However, the feeling of guilt pushes him onto a slow path of decline.
Relationship of Abbaji, Maqbool and Nimmi
Relationship of Abbaji, Maqbool and Nimmi
Above three relationships form the gist of the film called Maqbool. While the basic plot of Macbeth has been retained, the screenplay has been adjusted according to Indian sensibilities.
In the movie, the latent desire of Maqbool to own Nimmi is far greater than his desire to imagine himself as the head of Mumbai underworld. Here Maqbool slightly varies from Macbeth, where the utmost desire is to own the kingdom. In more than one scene, Maqbool is seen seething with rage, when Abbaji touches Nimmi. Infact Nimmi herself often taunts Maqbool about his inability to own the woman he loved openly.
Infact it is this aspect of making Nimmi as Abbaji’s mistress that the Indianization part comes in. In a subtle manner an incestuous relationship develops between Maqbool and Nimmi. In my view the screenplay writers rightly adjudged that if Maqbool had killed a father-figure only for power, the enormity of his crime would have been reduced. However for an Indian mindset killing a father-figure for lust of a woman, (and that too mistress of father-figure) is as bad a thing as can be thought of. It is this aspect that almost raises the enormity of his crime. And to remind all of us of this fact, the character has been named Abbaji (i.e Father)
As in the play, the movie explores the relationship between the mentor and his protégée. Abbaji trusts Maqbool completely. He loves him like his own son. This love and affection of his father-figure torns Maqbool with conflict. He feels ashamed of himself. Irrfan’s eyes speak volumes in these scenes.
The role of Pandit and Purohit:
These two characters bring an element of drama into the movie and are the unmistaken link to the great play in this adapted movie. Naseer and Om Puri have been simply brilliant. These two characters bring about an environment of nastiness in the movie. Their provoking predictions further propel the devil in Maqbool. Their unscrupulous attitude and clownish devilry fills the audience with hatred as well as with fearful anticipation. As one by one their horrible prediction come to be true, Maqbool starts loosing his balance.
In the movie, the latent desire of Maqbool to own Nimmi is far greater than his desire to imagine himself as the head of Mumbai underworld. Here Maqbool slightly varies from Macbeth, where the utmost desire is to own the kingdom. In more than one scene, Maqbool is seen seething with rage, when Abbaji touches Nimmi. Infact Nimmi herself often taunts Maqbool about his inability to own the woman he loved openly.
Infact it is this aspect of making Nimmi as Abbaji’s mistress that the Indianization part comes in. In a subtle manner an incestuous relationship develops between Maqbool and Nimmi. In my view the screenplay writers rightly adjudged that if Maqbool had killed a father-figure only for power, the enormity of his crime would have been reduced. However for an Indian mindset killing a father-figure for lust of a woman, (and that too mistress of father-figure) is as bad a thing as can be thought of. It is this aspect that almost raises the enormity of his crime. And to remind all of us of this fact, the character has been named Abbaji (i.e Father)
As in the play, the movie explores the relationship between the mentor and his protégée. Abbaji trusts Maqbool completely. He loves him like his own son. This love and affection of his father-figure torns Maqbool with conflict. He feels ashamed of himself. Irrfan’s eyes speak volumes in these scenes.
The role of Pandit and Purohit:
These two characters bring an element of drama into the movie and are the unmistaken link to the great play in this adapted movie. Naseer and Om Puri have been simply brilliant. These two characters bring about an environment of nastiness in the movie. Their provoking predictions further propel the devil in Maqbool. Their unscrupulous attitude and clownish devilry fills the audience with hatred as well as with fearful anticipation. As one by one their horrible prediction come to be true, Maqbool starts loosing his balance.
However, I feel that this unconventional characterization would have irritated many viewers, who were not familiar with the original play.
More Focus on the role of Abbaji:
The protagnist may be Maqbool, but in this film the character of Abbaji has been etched in far more detailed manner than that of Duncan in Macbeth. In fact the film somehow is not the story of Maqbool, it is the story of Jahanagir Khan a.k.a Abbaji.
Behind all his power the Don is completely besotted by his mistress Nimmi. He knows that he has to fulfill all her whims and fancies. The way he expresses his irritation: Saari Kayanat Hamare pass hai yeh bitte bhar ki ladki nahin sambhalti hamse......... (I have all the worldly possessions in my control, but I cannot find a way to control this woman). Kapoor’s pauses, his baffled and irritated postures are just too good to miss.
The outcome of this detailed etching of Abbaji’s character reflects on the protagonist and somehow the inherent conflict of Maqbool remains could not come out to that extent as was desirable. In my view it was a folly of the director alone that an average person wants to see more of Abbaji, not so much of Maqbool.
Effect of Godfather:
There was just one scene in which I hated like hell. It was actually a meaningless scene and was an exact copy of scene of the classic Godfather, when he rejects the lucrative proposal. This left a bad taste in my mouth and somehow lessened the quality of the movie.
More Focus on the role of Abbaji:
The protagnist may be Maqbool, but in this film the character of Abbaji has been etched in far more detailed manner than that of Duncan in Macbeth. In fact the film somehow is not the story of Maqbool, it is the story of Jahanagir Khan a.k.a Abbaji.
Behind all his power the Don is completely besotted by his mistress Nimmi. He knows that he has to fulfill all her whims and fancies. The way he expresses his irritation: Saari Kayanat Hamare pass hai yeh bitte bhar ki ladki nahin sambhalti hamse......... (I have all the worldly possessions in my control, but I cannot find a way to control this woman). Kapoor’s pauses, his baffled and irritated postures are just too good to miss.
The outcome of this detailed etching of Abbaji’s character reflects on the protagonist and somehow the inherent conflict of Maqbool remains could not come out to that extent as was desirable. In my view it was a folly of the director alone that an average person wants to see more of Abbaji, not so much of Maqbool.
Effect of Godfather:
There was just one scene in which I hated like hell. It was actually a meaningless scene and was an exact copy of scene of the classic Godfather, when he rejects the lucrative proposal. This left a bad taste in my mouth and somehow lessened the quality of the movie.
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This posting is an edited version of one of the reviews I wrote on the site mouthshut.com (user-id- adiagr). I plan to post those articles here along with a some new ones.
