Baadshaho
2017 · Directed by Milan Luthria
Original language: Hindi
- action
- thriller
The story
Emergency has been declared in India. Maharani Gitanjali from one of Rajasthan's princely states has already lost her privy purse. Now, she fears that she will lose the last treasure chest of gold which has been forcibly taken away from her. So she asks her trusted lieutenant, Bhawani to step in and plan a heist.
What it’s like
Rich, saturated color and ornate period detail carry most of this film: sunlit Rajasthani palaces, dusty desert roads, and the glossy sheen of gold bars against dark vault interiors. Its look leans on wide, symmetrical frames and a fair amount of sweeping camera movement, with the 1970s setting rendered through flared silhouettes, Ambassador cars, and lamplit government offices. The score is loud and percussive, with brass and dhol-driven bursts that swell into chase sequences, and the mood moves between brash playfulness and grit. Vibe: swaggering, bright, and caper-slick, the kind of thing for a Saturday afternoon or a group watch when you want energy over quiet. Pacing is brisk and episodic, built around planning, reveals, and set pieces rather than slow character study; the central figures are a loyal fixer and a proud widow with a stubborn, sometimes comic, loyalty between them. Violence is frequent and fairly stylised: gunfights, fistfights, and explosions, with blood present but not lingering, and some crude humour and a brief romantic thread. For viewers who want a big, flashy heist with a retro edge, not something gentle or contemplative.
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