Actor Abhishek Bachchan’s career has seen many ups and downs. But it cannot be denied that he is a powerful performer, as evidenced by his work in films such as YUVA [2004], DHOOM [2004], SARKAR [2005], GURU [2007], DOSTANA [2008], PAA [2009], BOL BACHCHAN [2012], etc. After a hiatus of almost two and a half years, he returned to the big screen with a star act in MANMARZIYAAN [2018]. In the last year he has made his mark on digital with the web series BREATHE: INTO THE SHADOWS [2020] and the crazy comedy LUDO [2020]. He now he is back with another web company, THE BIG BULL. The trailer has been liked and there is a curiosity to see what he has to offer, even though the theme is similar to SCAM 1992, possibly the most successful web series in India. So does THE BIG BULL manage to stand out and impress audiences? Or does it fail? Let’s analyze.
“Jo kuch bhi hota hai na woh kissi ek aadmi ke wajah se nahi hota hai. Kahaani kirdaar se nahin, haalat se paida hote hai”, jokes Hemant Shah (Abhishek Bachchan) to one of the characters in Kookie Gulati’s financial thriller The Great bull that is loosely based on the life and times of controversial stockbroker Harshad Mehta. Unfortunately, the creators don’t pay attention to their own words, and that’s pretty evident in the film’s confusing script that kills some of the fun on this Abhishek Bachchan protagonist.
Story Set in the late 1990s, Hemant Shah (Abhishek Bachchan), a salaried middle-class man, discovers his Midas touch on the stock market when a tip from someone he knows earns him big. His brother Viren (Sohum Shah), who knows all the tricks of this numbers game, tries to dissuade him from new investments. However, Hemant ignores him saying, “Jeetne ki aadat daalnewaale hi jeetate hai.” Before long, his eyes are on the loopholes of the Indian banking system and he uses these systemic weaknesses to his advantage to shake up the financial fabric of the nation. However, Hemant and his meteoric rise catch the eye of a business journalist Meera Rao (Ileana D’Cruz) who believes there is more to this ‘bullfight’ than meets the eye. Additionally, it is discovered that one of Hemant’s own men is leaking his secrets, potentially disrupting his dream career.
Direction Unlike Hansal Mehta’s acclaimed 1992 web series Scam: Harshad Mehta Story (also based on the same plot), which was a slow process, director Kookie Gulati wastes no time directly establishing the ambitious nature of his protagonist. We rarely get a break here, perhaps, because the filmmaker had to tell his story in a limited amount of time. The flip side of this is that the script seems rushed as you barely have time to understand each character’s thought process. The film’s narrative picks up after a few important scenes, but one wished things had started on a very exciting note! Some tense moments in the movie keep you on the edge of your seat. Kookie Gulati takes some cinematic liberties for his dramatic storytelling, which probably explains why the movie turns out to be a roller coaster ride. He settles for fictitious names for his characters and one wonders the reason behind this!
Performances When Abhishek Bachchan was asked by a Twitter user why he should watch The Big Bull when he had already seen Scam 1992, the actor with his trademark witty style replied, “I’m on it.” Well to be honest Junior Bachchan is absolutely right with his answer. As a bad boy with a nose for picking up profitable stocks, the Guru actor plays his part wonderfully. Except for his maniacal laughter in some places that he puts you off.
Technical aspects The production value of The Big Bull falters in places and is evident in some CGI scenes. Pratham Mehta’s camera work is normal and has nothing new to offer. Dharmendra Sharma’s editing scissors seem to be blunt, failing to add more tension to a handful of well-written scenes.
Music Carry Minati ‘The Big Bull-Title Track’ is not recorded due to its forgettable lyrics. Abhishek Bachchan-Nikita Dutta’s romantic ballad ‘Ishq Namaza’, voiced by Ankit Tiwari, seems out of place in the narrative.
Verdict “Main udna jaanta hoon. Upar dekhne ki aadat dal lo ab” haughtily says Hemant Shah of Abhishek Bachchan to one of his opponents when he bumps into him in a temple. Like his character, Abhishek Bachchan also takes a giant leap into the sky with his serious acting. It’s the writers who have to be blamed for their not-so-smooth ride.
