The only reason to watch Madhur Bhandarkar’s films is for the way they go behind the headlines and show us the dirt and the hurt that’s usually brushed under frayed rags headlines and show us the dirt and the hurt that’s usually brushed under frayed rags and burnished carpets.

In his better moments, Bhandarkar has let us see the stuff that’s crawled out from underneath clearly, and we’ve overlooked the tackiness that’s crawled out from underneath clearly, and we’ve overlooked the tackiness because it has added to the understanding of the subject. ‘Heroine’, Bhandarkar’s pass at Bollywood, does none of this. It remains a string of drab cliches, despite a strong performance from leading lady Kareena Kapoor. because it has added to the understanding of the subject. ‘Heroine’, Bhandarkar’s pass because it has added to the understanding of the subject. ‘Heroine’, Bhandarkar’s pass at Bollywood, does none of this.
It remains a string of drab cliches.

‘Heroine’ has every single stereotype associated with Bollywood that we are familiar with, from our newspaper supplements, tabloid gossip, sensational TV programmes fanzines, social networking platforms. And that is its problem, because we know too fanzines, social networking platforms. And that is its problem, because we know too much about Bollywood. It is all-encompassing. Everywhere we turn, there it is. Nothing that the film does is shockingly new, which goes against it : some news channels have long outdone Bhandarkar in tell-all, show-all luridness, the very qualities that were the USP of his films. ong outdone Bhandarkar in tell-all, show-all luridness, the very qualities that were the USP of his films The only way to hold us is to give us more. To turn the searchlight on the characters mercilessly. To incisively peer through the layers. To give us insight into the troubled tumuluous lives of the protagonists. Instead, the director skims surfaces, and stretches everything interminably in his desire to stuff everything in. The result is exhausting and, yes, depressing. I see Mahi Arora’s life unfolding before me for well over two and, yes, depressing.

I see Mahi Arora’s life unfolding before me for well over two hours, with her spending most of her time scheming, shouting, pouting and crying, and I feel very glum indeed. hours, with her spending most of her time scheming, shouting, pouting and crying, and hours, with her spending most of her time scheming, shouting, pouting and crying, and I feel very glum indeed.

http://m.indianexpress.com/news/%22review-heroine%22/1005968/