Watch Shanghai

Shanghai is a dramatic political thriller movie directed by Dibakar Banerjee and was released in 2012. The movie stars Emraan Hashmi, Abhay Deol, and Prasenjit Chatterjee as the main leads. The storyline of the movie revolves around the lives of three men who are brought together in the city of Shanghai, each with their own motives, but all fighting against the corrupt political system in their own ways.

The movie is set in the metropolitan city of Shanghai in China, where a massive infrastructure project called the International Business Park (IBP) is being inaugurated by the ruling party officials. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and transform the city's skyline.

Jogi (Emraan Hashmi) is a videographer hired by an opposition party member to film the entire IBP inauguration event. Jogi is a carefree, alcoholic, and womanizer who lives the life of recklessness. He is also a mute spectator to the political system's corruption and has no interest in what might happen to the people around him.

Krishna (Abhay Deol) is an upright, no-nonsense government employee who is appointed as the inquiry officer to investigate a hit and run case that results in a senior bureaucrat's death. Despite strong pressure from his superiors, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of truth and justice.

Shalini (Kalki Koechlin) is the widow of the bureaucrat who died in the hit and run case. She is a socially conscious, young activist who wants to use the platform provided by the IBP inauguration to protest against the rampant corruption in the country.

T.A. Krishnan (Prasenjit Chatterjee) is a retired IAS officer who has become disillusioned with the political system after he discovers evidence of corruption in the system. Krishnan uses his political connections to fight against corruption in his own way.

The paths of Jogi, Krishna, and Shalini cross when the latter two men begin to investigate the hit and run case that killed the bureaucrat. As Krishna delves deeper into the case, he uncovers evidence of corruption and political intrigue, which inevitably leads him to the IBP project. Meanwhile, Shalini's protest against corruption provides the perfect background for Jogi to capture the ugly truth behind the IBP project on his camera.

The movie has a slow pace that steadily builds up the tension while the story progresses. There are a few unexpected twists and turns that keep the viewers engaged in the story. The themes of corruption, politics, and social inequality are dealt with brilliantly through the characters' lives. The characters are well-crafted and well-acted, their personalities are distinct and relatable, and their struggles with their inner conflicts are portrayed realistically.

The cinematography is noteworthy, with the aerial shots of the city and the beautifully shot scenes of the city's streets and alleyways creating a vivid depiction of the city of Shanghai. The movie's background score is another significant aspect that complements the movie's tone and atmosphere.

Overall, Shanghai is a gripping political thriller that showcases the ugly side of politics and corruption in a unique and captivating manner. It is a well-directed, well-acted movie with well-crafted characters and an impressive storyline. It leaves a lasting impression on viewers, emphasizing how the people who believe in the power of truth and justice can come together to bring about change in society.

Shanghai is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.