Shor In The City 2011 Movie Review

Movie: Shor In The City 2011

A major chunk of the film industry is under the misapprehension that when a film makes it to the festival circuit, it holds zilch prospects at the box-office. It isn't for the aam aadmi; these films are sans entertainment. Tags such as offbeat and unusual are attached to it, even before the audience can give its mandate. But the perception has gradually changed with time, with more and more people getting cinema literate. These films have been successful in striking a chord with the festival crowd as well as passionate moviegoers. Most importantly, these films have quashed the notion that they aren't commercially viable.

SHOR IN THE CITY, which won tremendous acclaim at various international festivals, takes this legacy forward. Like some striking films in the past, this one has the power to mesmerize and fascinate the festival crowd as well as those looking for an intelligent film while planning a trip to cineplexes. Yet, it is not one of those regular entertainers that we churn out with amazing regularity and which insult the intelligence of the viewer.

Get ready for a film that keeps you on the edge, but at the same time is one helluva entertaining film. As a film, SHOR IN THE CITY absorbs you into its world in no time. It is slick, has a lot of nervous energy and also has its share of fun moments. This one actually stands out in the crowd due to its unconventional plotline as well as execution.

SHOR IN THE CITY revolves around three stories in the midst of the noise and grunge of Mumbai. It has the gangster backdrop [but that doesn't make it dark and depressing] as well as the thriller quotient that keeps you on the edge. The three stories run concurrently - the characters are not connected with each other, they don't cross paths and nor is the film episodic. It's not like watching one character/story first, followed by the second and then the third. Nope, not at all! And there lies the beauty, for the characters never meet till the very conclusion, but there's a commonality or cohesion that can't be disregarded.

Does SHOR IN THE CITY bear an uncanny resemblance to the British black comedy FOUR LIONS? That's a misconception again, for FOUR LIONS was about four jehadis, while this one has a brand new story to tell.


SHOR IN THE CITY revolves around three loosely interconnected stories set in the midst of the noise and soot of Mumbai during Ganeshotsav festival. Abhay [Sendhil Ramamurthy], an outsider, is forced to come to terms with the fact that he is alone in an unwelcoming city, which he thought was home.

Tilak [Tusshar Kapoor] is an honest bootlegger who pulls scams with his unruly buddies Ramesh [Nikhil Dwivedi] and Mandook [Pitobash]. They chance upon a rare loot on a local train, which opens up new, dangerous avenues for them.