Shahid Kapoor's O'Romeo Review: Violent, Lyrical and Unpredictable
Vishal Bhardwaj's O'Romeo delivers a vivid, violent revenge saga with Shahid Kapoor shining in a gripping underworld drama.
Director Vishal Bhardwaj’s latest offering, O'Romeo, is a three-hour Mumbai underworld epic that fuses vengeance, love, and crime into a visually striking and emotionally layered narrative. The film, adapted from Hussain Zaidi’s Mafia Queens of Mumbai, follows Shahid Kapoor’s Ustara, a razor-wielding anti-hero, as he navigates a world of gangsters, treachery, and personal redemption.
Shahid Kapoor delivers a compelling performance, oscillating between manic aggression and brooding intensity, while Tripti Dimri embodies Afshan Qureshi, a widow turned vigilante, whose quest for revenge drives much of the story. Their intersecting paths spark a tale of love, loyalty, and violent retribution set against the backdrop of Mumbai and parts of Spain.
Bhardwaj’s signature style shines in the film’s blend of genres—mixing crime, romance, and Shakespearean-inspired drama—enhanced by Gulzar’s evocative lyrics, a dynamic musical score, and immersive staging of song sequences. Music becomes both narrative spine and emotional anchor, weaving seamlessly through intense action sequences and tender moments.
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Cinematographer Ben Bernhard and editor Aarif Sheikh elevate the film’s visual storytelling, capturing a wide array of locales from docked ships and bullfighting rings to vibrant Irani cafes with distinct palettes and dramatic lighting. The production design, led by Mustafa Stationwala, complements the high-octane story, ensuring every scene feels meticulously crafted.
The film’s violence, though graphic, serves a moral context, exploring the cost of killing and the transformation of humans into monsters. O'Romeo successfully balances visceral action with tender lyricism, making it a crime saga that’s as emotionally compelling as it is thrilling, and solidifying Bhardwaj’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of mainstream Indian cinema.
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