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What is the plot?
What is the ending?
Is there a post-credit scene?
What are the main challenges the protagonist faces in his quest to become Maalik (owner) from being a servant?
The protagonist, Deepak, faces numerous challenges including betrayal, injustice, and personal loss as he navigates his transformation from a poor farmer's son to a powerful figure known as Maalik. He contends with violent rivals, corrupt politicians like Minister Shankar Singh, and relentless law enforcement officers such as ACP Vishnu Kumar who is determined to bring him down. His journey is marked by a struggle against these forces while trying to protect his family and maintain some semblance of morality.
How does the relationship between Deepak and his wife Shalini influence the story?
Shalini, a journalist by profession and Deepak's wife, serves as his emotional anchor throughout the story. Their relationship adds vulnerability and tension, providing a counterbalance to Deepak's spiraling violence and the harsh realities he faces. Shalini's support is crucial in helping Deepak navigate the dangerous and morally complex world he inhabits.
What role do the antagonists like the police officer and politicians play in the story?
The antagonists include a suspended police officer, Prabhu Das (also called ACP Vishnu Kumar), who is not entirely above board and is determined to capture or kill Maalik. Additionally, corrupt politicians such as Minister Shankar Singh and his mentor Shankar Singh urf Dadda challenge and manipulate the power dynamics. These characters create a hostile environment that Deepak must survive and outmaneuver, driving much of the conflict and tension in the film.
How is the setting of late 1980s to 1990s Allahabad depicted and how does it affect the story?
The film is set in late 1980s to 1990s Allahabad, capturing the raw and rustic locales of the time. The setting provides a backdrop that reflects the socio-political environment of the era, though some reviews note that it neither significantly adds to nor detracts from the storyline. The cinematography effectively portrays the period and place, grounding the narrative in a realistic milieu that complements the themes of power struggle and social upheaval.
What is the nature of Deepak's character and how is it portrayed?
Deepak is portrayed as a complex character who is overtly sadistic, rebellious, arrogant, and violent, yet deeply fond of his family including his parents, wife Shalini, and friend Badaun. His character arc follows a transformation from a simple farmer's son to a notorious gangster figure. While Rajkummar Rao's performance is noted as strong, some critics feel he was miscast as the character required an inherent swagger that was missing. Deepak's dual nature as both a ruthless figure and a family man is central to the story's emotional and moral tension.