Bombay Velvet
2015 · Directed by Anurag Kashyap
Original language: Hindi
- crime
- thriller
The story
An ordinary man, who goes against all odds to forge his own destiny and become a star in the glittering sky of 'Bombay,' thriving on jazz and violence.
What it’s like
Warm amber lamplight and smoky nightclub haze give way to cold, rain-slicked streets in a 1960s Bombay rebuilt as a lavish period fantasy, all glossy sheen and saturated colour. Wide, sweeping camera moves drift through jazz clubs, opium dens and crowded boulevards, with lush brass-heavy orchestral cues and swinging period jazz tying the scenes together. The texture is polished and theatrical, closer to a stylised studio dream than gritty realism. The vibe is seductive, grandly melodramatic and noir-tinged, suited to a late evening with a drink in hand or a stylish night in when you want glamour with a hard edge. Pacing is deliberate and melodramatic, with long romantic and musical interludes punctuated by sudden bursts of violence. The emotional register is ambitious and operatic, following a rising, ambitious man whose rise is bound up with compromise, loyalty and a turbulent romance. Violence is present and sometimes brutal, including shootings, beatings and boxing-ring fights, but it is intermittent rather than constant and the sexual content is romantic rather than explicit. It is for viewers who enjoy period crime sagas, jazz-age glamour and Kashyap's maximalist style.
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