Bhaiyya Ji is Manoj Bajpayee's 100th film in a career full of fabulous character roles, most of which have achieved the iconic status over the time. However, this one, quite unfortunately, doesn't even qualify as one of his memorable ones. Published: May 24, 2024 3:49 PM IST By A dhoti-clad Manoj Bajpayee cuts a striking picture when he holds a shovel in hand, spewing rage from his eyes as he decides to avenge his brother’s death.
As Bhaiyya ji, the former vigilante, he holds a certain command not just over his henchmen but also over the audience who has celebrated him as Bhikhu Matre and Sardar Khan, his other rowdy avatars, over the years. However, in this film directed by Apoorva Singh Karki, for the first time perhaps, doesn’t look effortless on-screen. It is as if he’s putting too much of everything into becoming this grief-stricken man.
His transformation from a peace-loving Ram Charan to the larger-than-life Bhaiyya ji lacks ease and remains more dependent on the heavy dialogue in his introduction than himself. The idea of the character is perfect – to have this man who has sworn off violence turn into a beast when one of his own is attacked or rather, mercilessly killed. The smooth execution, or its lack thereof, is the problem.
begins with a tragedy. The shock, pain and brutality in the scenes nudge the most rigid of hearts. And then we are slowly eased into the God-like image of Bhaiyya ji, the man with ‘Bagh ka kareja’, the ‘baap of Robin Hood’ and .
