Singh and Kapoor click, but a tired script keeps Gunday from firing on all cylinders.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Gunday was mixed, with most reviewers finding it a watchable but flawed entertainer that fails to live up to its potential. The on-screen chemistry and camaraderie between Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor was the most frequently cited strength, along with the film's nostalgic evocation of 1970s Bollywood atmosphere. However, critics widely took issue with a weak, derivative, and predictable script full of clichés, with several noting that the second half loses momentum through unnecessary songs and an overlong climax. The film was broadly seen as a case of squandered potential, caught between homage and imitation without the inspiration to distinguish itself.
8 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 27 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
The story is both implausible and clumsy but sheer attitude - or tevar as we are reminded repeatedly - pulls it together. It's the second half, when Bikram and Bala are at each other's throats, that the film loses its spell. The narrative momentum is broken by unnecessary songs and a prolonged Bikram-Bala fight, in which Zafar succumbs to the Salman Khan rule - eventually shirts come off and well-oiled chests hurl against each other.
Top critic
Film review ·
Gunday isn't unwatchable, but it's certainly a case of potential squandered. The film has an authentic look and feel of 70s Calcutta, some robust cinematography, and a few good tunes. It's also got two live-wire leading men whose on-screen chemistry sadly isn't mined for enough laughs. Watching it is a lot like eating the same thing for dinner four times in a week.
Top critic
Film review ·
It really is difficult to keep a two-and-a-half-hour film from losing its wheels when its engine room is bereft of the propellant of genuine inspiration. Gunday is like the dusty minefields it is set in. Its loud explosions deliver loads of coal, but no trace of any diamonds. It is certainly not the ideal date film on this Valentine's Day weekend.
Top critic
Film review ·
'Gunday' is as generic as its name suggests: even that old phrase 'luchchhe- lafangey' had more character. In the name of plot, we get a mash-up of many popular blockbusters, several of them belonging to Yashraj, the producers of this one. In the name of acting, we get pumped up beefcake and one number plumped-lip eye candy. There are a few solid supporting acts, and they are the ones that keep you watching, but they get buried in the sludge. What you get is what you've been getting. Over and over again.
Top critic
Film review ·
Director Ali Abbas Zafar has directed a monstrous film, one with a repellent 70s-set storyline that makes no sense whatsoever, and a cast who should all hang their heads and offer up a minute's silence for assaulting their respective filmographies.
Top critic
Film review ·
There is a good film somewhere within Gunday, and I wish it showed its face fully. This is the film where a shootout in the movie theater ends with Bala firing a bullet through the screen and Alisha Chinoy's 'I love you' echoing as the screen literally tears apart. I wish they made that movie instead of this uninteresting one.
Film review ·
GUNDAY has a credible story to tell, is packed with unexpected twists that keep you on the edge and offers entertainment in large doses. This racy, gripping masala fare is sure to hit the pot of gold at the box-office!
Film review ·
Gunday is an entertaining film. It's old wine in a new bottle and it tastes awesome! Not sure if it's a perfect film to watch on Valentines Day but let me assure you that you won't regret paying for the ticket of this film. It's packed with action, emotions, friendship, drama and some terrific performances.
Film review ·
Gunday gets hammy on multiple occasions and in over 2 and half hours of its run time, it fails to swell to the height that was expected of it. It is only Ranveer-Arjun's easy chemistry, a spirited effort of not resorting to remakes and Irrfan Khan's subtle rendering of the astute cop that works for me here. Gunday rocks for not resorting commercial crassy mores. It is no Sholay but it is just as over-the-top as any 70s' caper. Now it is up to you to classify it as good or bad. For me the film is a 3.5/5 for its fervor for all it accomplishes and a hope that it will open up avenues for more of such sprightly writings.
Film review ·
Gunday's heart is in the right place but the plot gets overwhelmed by its own voluptuousness, its slick torsos and slow-motion slaps, its extended Durga Puja which leaves it lost between Calcutta's cabarets and Dhanbad's dark mines.
Film review ·
With strong characters and a story filled with twists and turns, this movie takes us on an adventure.
Film review ·
Gunday is entertaining despite being a masala fair. This old wine in a saucy new bottle works!
Film review ·
The film is watchable, yes, but less for the unimpressive story and mainly for the Ranveer-Priyanka-Arjun combo. And it's well worth the effort!
Film review ·
Despite its flaws, the various elements in 'Gunday' somehow come together and bring you a watchable film.
Film review ·
The entire look and feel of the movie is of 80s Bollywood. It`s like travelling back in time, where there were no metro-sexual heroes and the modern heroines. It is not a Valentine day date, but the men should make a day out to celebrate their friendship with this movie. The film has nothing new to offer, but one can watch it for nostalgia sake once!
Film review ·
Gunday is an action film. Naturally it has a certain element of frivolity. But it could've been more. The scenes needed more gravitas. The telling of the tale needed more spirit. When Bala's and Bikram's worlds collide the proceedings become dramatic. But the drama is all mechanical and not emotional enough. It needed to stop and allow the audience to empathise with the protagonists.
Film review ·
It helps that in the midst of all the intense action and drama, Gunday doesn't take itself too seriously. It's unpretentious in its aim to appease at all costs and be an entertainer with doses of action, drama, romance, humour and yes, bromance.
Film review ·
Gunday attempts to bring back that time, that bravado and a whole mish-mash of action sequences from films such as Deewar and the like. Unfortunately, everything rings as false as the mile-long eyelashes of the cabaret dancer Nandita, played by Priyanka Chopra.
Film review ·
There are some poignant moments in the friendship between the two heroes - and that's the crux of the film. This is what you call in movie terminology a guy's film - loads of action, attitude and masala. Abbas is superb when it comes to projecting heroism of his lead protagonists.
Film review ·
Most landmarks of Hindi cinema have invariably been buddy flicks. Though not always blessed with technical bravado, their hearts have been in the right place. Gunday fails to fulfill that basic aspect- leaving you mildly enraged with the hope of what could have been, especially given the inexhaustible resources at hand.
Film review ·
For all its swagger and insolence, the script is full of silly loopholes, annoying clichés and glaring superficiality. No matter how hard director Zafar tries to create an action hero that speaks Amitabh Bachchan/Anil Kapoor/Raaj Kumar, he fails to substantiate it with charisma that goes beyond surface value.
Film review ·
Film rides largely on the camaraderie between the two main leads, and while the actors do put in all they can into their roles, there's little that oiled physiques, buttoned-down shirts and pectoral muscles can achieve without a decent script or good direction. Gunday has neither.
Film review ·
It attempts to pay a tribute to vintage films right from Sholay, Kaala Pathaar, Deewar and there's also Mr. India playing in a theatre where a fight sequence is choreographed (the only admirable scene). The rest is so very mind numbing and the finale which has a Salman type lets-take off-our-shirts-and fight is in super slow motion. Actually a lot of the film is in slo-mo, had it been shot it normal speed, the duration would reduce considerably.
Film review ·
Gunday is one of those films that make you wonder why it was made at all. The action is plain and pretty much boring. The performances are overtly stylish and overbearing. The dialogue delivery by one and all is too focussed on making an impact without having any support from the dialogue itself. The writing is so predictable that even if you haven't seen the trailer you can tell what's going to happen next.
Film review ·
Although the run-up to 'Gunday', what with foot-tapping music tracks and tightly edited trailers, was promising, the movie didn't quite match our expectations. Sadly, this one doesn't get our "thumb-print" but our thumbs-down!
Film review ·
If you dig those loud '70s capers, Gunday is right up your street.
Film review ·
Gunday is a few notches short of a one-time watch. You have to be a die-hard fan of either Priyanka Chopra or Ranveer Singh to enjoy this film.
Film review ·
The film is well-mounted and the production design is lavish though not necessarily real. The Calcutta setting is eye-catching and the cinematography is excellent. The climax captured in the coal mines of Dhanbad is powerful. Overall a story that you have seen in the countless films of the 70s is glossily packaged for the 2014 consumer/viewer.
Film review ·
The film, which has been directed Ali Abbas Zafar, has a strong hold on the story line and keeps the audiences glued on their seats till the end. This film is definitely an entertainer and a must-watch, which will not bore you.
Film review ·
...an ordinary fare with two aspects going hugely in its favour – very good music and the flying start it has taken. It will, therefore, prove to be a comfortably paying proposal for all concerned.
Film review ·
The film works as a half-hearted attempt at re-creating cinema of the past, but the temptation to sanitise that raw anger is what spoils it for "Gunday".
From our readers
4 ratings · user score 4.8
Gunday is a story about two childhood friends (Bikram and Bala played by Ranveer and Arjun respectively) who grow-up during the 70s. Out of extreme poverty, they adopt illegal practices of selling coal and becoming successful coal and other commodities' illegal trading mafia in Calcutta. Newly appointed ACP played by Irfaan Khan has been given the task to put these two 'Gundays' behind bars.Then the movie takes a new turn with both mafias falling in love with a local cabaret dancer - Nandita played by Priyanka which leads to a separation and enemity between the two friends. Frankly speaking, the movie is not able to take any particular direction. After watching the film you will wonder what exactly the movie wanted to portray? 60% of the movie show Ranveer and Arjun running together to beat up other mafias or to jump on coal wagons or running against each other to fight among themseleves. They do not speak a word of Bengali, rather Ranveer has that Gujrati accent (too much after effect of Ramleela) and does not miss showing off his abs. Arjun does not miss any opportunity to give wicked smiles. Priyanka looks extremely beautiful but when you see the entire movie, you will agree that her character is quite over the top but please! do not try to find any logic as you will be only wasting your time on that. Irfaan plays his part well as usual but after watching him in 'the lunchbox' and 'Paan Singh Tomar' , I want to know why he wanted to play this supporting role? Director tries to put forward a story which is full of Bollywood masala and melodrama. One needs a lot of patience to watch the movie especially, the second half. All in all the movie neither gets deep into the story of illegal trading nor it explores how the two illiterate mafias build an empire and exercise so much of muscle power. Alas! Sorry to say,few good songs and dhishum dhishum does not echo any 'ghantiyaan' in my heart!
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