Review: Bikram Singha – The Lion Is Back Bangla

Director: Rajeev Biswas

Music: Bappi Lahiri

Cast: Prosenjit,Partho,Richa Gangopadhyay,Anusmriti,Supriyo Dutta and Mahek Chahal

The remake of a remake raises excitement among Poshenjit as he is known in the villages fans especially when he is returning to his masala avatar after a two-year gap. Prosenjit is in fine mettle in a double role. He fares better as Bikram Singha than as Gupi,the petty thief who is intelligent but pretends to be stupid. Bikram Singha comes much later after Gupi to create the suspense and strike an emotional chord when a little girl identifies Gupi as her lost father and he is not even married. But romance is in the air and he falls in love with Madhu Richa Gangopadhyay at a wedding he goes to with his partner Bagha Partho planning to pilfer the bridal jewellery. Madhu is fascinated with the way Gupi revives an unconscious man with a simple sleight of hand.

Madhu,however,leaves him as she does not wish to marry a man with a daughter. Bikram Singha,the honest police officer,intent on bringing peace and harmony makes his appearance. We are told that he did not die and that his grave is empty. He was believed to have been killed by the brother of the head of the police state of Deogarh run by Supriyo Dutta. Bikram Singha dies in the end vesting the responsibility of his daughter on Gupi.

Cinematic magic plays a very important role in Bikram Singha – The Lion is Back. Bikram pulls out a modern version of Sudarshan Chakra off the terrace of a building to demolish the villains. He also survives a direct stabbing into his abdomen and bullet wounds till the director decides to draw the line. Bikram Singha dies,leaving his flag behind; possibly for Gupi to carry forward. Madhu reappears like magic in Gupis life,who is suddenly fine with his little kid.

Richa looks attractive. An import from Southern films,her voice is dubbed as she does not speak Bengali. Prosenjit as Bikram Singha is very good,making his statement with the twitching of his connoisseur moustache,speaking mainly with his muscles,hands and legs to vanquish all those who represent and practice evil. Gupi offers him a good counterpoint but the character needed a bit more of fleshing out and some history. Partho is very good as Bagha while Supriyo Dutta is wasted as the villain. N. K. Salils tagline for Gupi that goes chotke choddo does not make much sense.

Bappi Lahiris music for the title song with nonsense lyrics is a disappointment. The visuals of a pair of hands beating to the rhythm of the title song,though,are impressive. The song-dance numbers have now become like stock shots picked from an audio-visual clips library.

RATINGS : The three stars are for Prosenjit,Partho and the little girl,for the music and for the action scenes.