Jeetz Filmworks’ Chengiz (dubbed from the Bengali film of the same name; UA) is a gangster drama set in Calcutta. It chronicles the journey of Chengiz alias Jaidev Singh (Jeet) who ruled Calcutta’s underworld in the 1970s, 1980s and till mid-1990s.
Neeraj Pandey and Rajesh Ganguly have written a half-baked and oft-repeated gangster story which doesn’t offer novelty. Rajesh Ganguly’s screenplay is predictable and, therefore, quite boring. There are several scenes which are so lacklustre that they don’t fit well in an underworld film. Dialogues are monotonous.
Jeet does an average job as Chengiz. Rohit Roy is fair in the role of ACP Samir Sinha. Susmita Chatterjee is alright as Nandini. Shataf Figar is okay as gangster Omar Khalid. Ayush Das lends fair support as young Jaidev Singh. Others fit the bill.
Rajesh Ganguly’s direction is routine. Music (Kaushik-Guddu and Aneek Dhar) is functional. Lyrics are ordinary. Imran Sardhariya’s choreography is so-so. Anbu Selvan’s background music is average. Camerawork (by Manas Ganguly) is fair. Stunt Silva’s action and stunt scenes are not very thrilling. Ananda Addhya’s production designing is alright. Malay Laha’s editing leaves something to be desired; the film could’ve been shortened by at least 15-20 minutes. Dubbing is proper.
On the whole, Chengiz will go largely unnoticed in Hindi.
Released on 21-4-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over.