Maqbool (2003)

An incredibly nuanced adapation of Macbeth, Vishal Bharadwaj's Maqbool is masterfully crafted and thoughtfully penned. It portrays a deep understanding of the psychology of the original piece. The lead performances are as good as they get and beyond that. Pankaj Kapur, Tabu and Irfan Khan are stellar in their roles. Tabu especially oozes the right amount of understated sensuality and is completely irresistible as she attempts to seduce the 'loyal' lieutenant. Her probing dialogue and eye contact is a viewer's delight. Stunning! Irfan with his smouldering appearance sets the screen ablaze. Charismatic to the core, he plays his role with a deep understanding and a slow burning fire in his belly. He is as impeccable as he tries to fend off Tabu's advances as he is while romancing her. As the guilt kicks in, both Tabu and Irfan get into the skin of the character and the audience just sits back and gasps in admiration. You feel empathy for the characters despite the hideous nature of their deed. Thoroughly engaging! Pankaj Kapur, playing the underworld kingpin, gets dialogues that would be a dream for any actor and sinks his teeth in the delivery of those. A performance and an actor par excellence returns and how! The film should be seen, focusing on the sheer intensity that Vishal Bharadwaj infuses in the plot and makes Macbeth relevant even in this day and age. One of the best adaptations of a book I have ever seen. Simply exquisite! Vishal is the best director that India has today. He is an even better writer. He has a great understanding of real life in India. Of life in the metros as well as the rural areas. His attention to the subtext and underlying psychology and emotion of each story is what makes him such a good storyteller. He has shown that to us through his films, through his music and dialogues. His screenplays are matchless as far as Hindi Film Industry is concerned. Looking forward to your next, Vishal!

when i see this movie not getting the recognition it so truly deserves it just disturbs me. on of the most powerful well scripted adaptation Indian cinema has ever witnessed. of course the cherry on the cake is the cream of Indian talent all showcasing their talent on screen. This is one movie that has some of my all time fav actors like Pankaj Kapur. Tabu.Irrfan Khan, Naseer and Om Puri.... and neither of them disappoints... watching Pankaj Kapur give the performance of a life time is sheer bliss....... It took a while for the DVD to hit stores and the day i got and watched it...it just simply blew my socks off.......ever since I'm in complete awe of the powerful scenes that this movie has which have forever etched themselves in my memory.... a must watch....

Irfan shines and shines. Tabu, Pankaj Kapoor are excellent, as are Naseerudin and Om Puri, but when Maqbool (Irfan) is on screen, he overshadows all. Yes even Pankaj (one of the finest actors of India). Vishal Bharadwaj has made an excellent adaptation. Why, oh why doesn't someone drag Sanjay Leela Bhansali to see this film. Anyone who has seen Irfan in 'The Warrior" or Haasil will certify that Irfan's utterly unconventional looks acts as a force multiplier, rather than a drag. He is a great talent, and Indian filmmakers would do well to use him much more than he is being used. Another victory for Bobby Bedi, one wonders why everyone in the industry seems to hate the man. He has already given us Bandit Queen and Maqbool. What more does a man have to do? Oh that's right, "Indian public wants films like Black and KKKG" (actual quote by a BB basher). Another word on Tabu, why don't more filmmakers give her real roles. But not Bhandarkar please. Page 3 has destroyed all faith in him.

For folks not familiar with the story of Macbeth (erm, me), this Bollywood adaptation most certainly make an interesting introduction. Questions abound for well-read folks or Shakespeare nuts; Was the film faithful to its source? Or was it bursting with invention? Is it just me or does anyone agree that the spiralling descent of this story gave off some pretty foul and nasty vibes? Maqbool's eerie, unnerving, frustrating and extremely feel bad elements all seem to crescendo into an oppressing tumult of feelings. There's also a foreboding sense of omnipresent evil in this flick's universe. An evil which takes corporeal form (instigating bitches), or not (Maqbool's own weakness of mind). An evil which plants seeds of doubts in our main man, fans his darkest desires and ultimately, pushing him towards his inevitable fall from grace. Gosh, negative energies premeate every inch of this doom enshrouded yarn....its very suffocating. That said, a well made film Maqbool is (or I would not feel the way I do now already).