Bhaiyya Ji: A Revenge Saga that Fizzles Out
Bhaiyya Ji, a revenge saga that fails to deliver
In a bold experiment, director Apoorv Singh Karki brings together two seasoned actors, Manoj Bajpayee and Suvinder Vicky, in a revenge saga that promises to be a bombastic entertainer. However, despite its promising premise, Bhaiyya Ji fails to deliver, succumbing to a predictable narrative and a tone that’s unsure of itself.
A Different Beast for Hindi Cinema
Bhaiyya Ji is a unique blend of Bhojpuri and South Indian masala movies, attempting to reach out to the single-screen audience in the Hindi heartland who crave their desi hero and rustic milieu in the multiplexes. The film boasts of two actors who are known for their subtlety, but in this outing, they seem to have walked into the set of a Salman Khan actioner.
“After reveling in realism where they make their silence heard, Manoj Bajpayee and Suvinder Vicky seem to have walked into the set of a Salman Khan actioner this week, with their toolkits of method acting.”
A Revenge Saga that Runs Dry
The film’s narrative is based on the internecine battles between Brahmin and Rajput satraps in Bihar and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. Ram Charan (Manoj Bajpayee) alias Bhaiyya Ji seeks violent revenge for the murder of his stepbrother Bhola by the son of Chandra Bhan Singh (Suvinder Vicky). The premise sets the stage for a revenge saga, but the narrative takes a predictable shape, with an archetypal mother seeking an eye for an eye, a would-be wife who can pull the trigger, and a slimy police officer who shifts sides.
Manoj Bajpayee shines in an otherwise disappointing film
The problem lies in the tone, which is unsure of itself. The film’s attempt to give commercial tropes a realistic touch results in a mishmash. The dialogue-baazi and bombast that pull you in initially start sounding hollow, and the colour, charisma, and claptrap that the film promises reduce to caricature and cacophony.
A Disappointing Outcome
The editing and pacing issues in the second half make the storytelling feel patchy, repetitive, and disjointed. Despite Manoj Bajpayee’s brilliant performance, Bhaiyya Ji fails to leave a lasting impact, making it a disappointing watch.
Bhaiyya Ji, a film that promises more than it delivers
