Aurangzeb is one of those little surprises that makes you look forward to the director’s next venture, even if you aren’t completely satisfied with what was served this time. Just for the thought put in the story, just for making an otherwise done-to-death theme interesting, Aurangzeb is worth the watch.

Somewhere in the too-complicated strands of Aurangzeb is a film struggling to cohere. This is what we have: too many subplots with threads hanging, criss-crossing a main plot that is over baked and undercooked.

This is a movie that aspires to be about the mini-empires that exist within—and often work against—the Indian republic, but it scuttles its own ambitions midway through. It becomes yet another movie about twins separated by circumstance and brought together by Hindi cinema.

Although, the attempt in terms of contextualizing history in modern day film format is worthy of appreciation but as a piece of work the film leaves audiences dissatisfied, if not completely dejected.

While the ambition of Aurangzeb is to be lauded, there just isn’t enough steam to see it through till the end. And at well over two hours, that end seems very far off. Try it then, for its complexity and Kapoor and Shroff.

Too many characters, too little exploration, many loopholes, very little emotional connect. Aurangzeb is a story of potentially epic proportions (and near-epic run time), but it struggles to be coherent and its final conclusion is unable to match the build-up and premise.

Overall, Aurangzeb is a tightly written, well researched drama that demands more mature treatment and little more complexity. A slick new-age cop drama masquerading as a big commercial film, it is among the finer dramas made in Bollywood in recent times.

Aurangzeb has an epic sweep to its storytelling. But it’s also an intimate portrait of family values gone to waste. It is really the sound of stifled sobs that we carry home of characters who thought they knew it all only to realize at the end that they somewhere lost track of their inner self in pursuit of distant dreams.

A better treatment, a more sharply edited film and this story could have been turned into a thrilling fare. But unfortunately, the movie moves at such a meandering and self-indulgent pace that after a point you stop caring if it moves forward or sideways.

‘Aurangzeb’ is an engaging saga but it is very dialogue heavy where music or humour hasn’t been used effectively to provide some respite. Arjun Kapoor and Prithiviraj Sukumaran rise above the slightly flawed execution.

Sadly, Aurangzeb isn’t the bad movie that’s so bad it becomes good. It’s an average gangster movie that packs low on action ammunition and high on predictable double crosses and character developments.

The writers of Aurangzeb borrow plot-points and lines from Deewar, Trishul, Naam and you also see slight similarities to Hollywood cop capers like Pride & Glory and Departed.

The classic second-half gaffe. You have a cracker of an idea, the build up is great too, and then gross lack of imagination turns everything into a mangled mess post interval.

Dialogues are apt and well timed in the movie. Cinematography by Kartik Ganesh is quite laudable and makes the movie really interesting. The movie does live up to its name and fame until before the climax which is totally predictable.

The first half is strong, but the climax and focus on the family ties and relationship dilutes the hardcore gangster flick that it set out to be.

Whether all kids inherit their parents’ moral temperament I do not know but where Bollywood is concerned, its conditioning on filmmakers is undeniable. And going by what the inspired but engaging Aurangzeb has to offer, it’s not such a bad thing.

Aurangzeb had the potential to be a much better film. Alas it only comes across as a TV serial sans the melodrama!

On the whole, AURANGZEB has a great premise, but great plots don’t, generally, translate into great films. This one’s way too lengthy and mediocre [second hour] to leave any kind of an impression whatsoever. Disappointing!

Aurangzeb could have been so much better, perhaps even a classic. It is Atul Sabharwal’s faulty treatment that leaves it shaky. There is immense passion and thrill in the story, which its actors remit strongly. I am going with an average 2.5/5 for the film. The thrill ends up flaccid killing all that could have been sensational! Optimistically, I expect something more stirring and less misplaced from the team sometime soon!

Overall, ‘Aurangzeb’ is a fun thriller with a racy first half and a dragged climax. It’s not devoid of any essential ingredient of a ‘masala’ film and you can watch it for depicting the dark underbelly of the illegal land deals.

It would not be wrong to term AURANGZEB as the Indian version of Godfather for hits sheer power in script and performance. What’s more you are involved in the game as you try to figure out who is the ultimate good guy. Verdict: Not to be missed

The ensemble cast will lift the credibility of the film even higher with its performance. ‘Aurangzeb’ is a film worth a watch for all its complexities!