373. Mogul Mowgli; movie review

 

 

MOGUL MOWGLI

Cert 15

90 mins

BBFC advice: Contains very strong language

Why do film-makers feel the need to go off at 'artistic' tangents?

Mrs W and I were frustrated from watching Mogul Mowgli because it had a potentially engaging premise and fine cast but far too much time was spent spinning into surrealism.

I get that there will be those who are excited by such diversions but, in our opinion, they diluted from serious, interesting subjects.

We had been reeled in by the presence of Riz Ahmed in the lead role and he didn't disappoint.

Ahmed plays Zaheer, a rapper who is about to get his big break after being given a support slot on a major European tour.

His new direction means that he receives the elbow from his girlfriend (Aiysha Hart) so he decides to make the rare trip home.

This is akin to stepping back two decades and, as his mum burns peppers to see if has 'the evil eye', he rummages through old cassettes.

And, of course, there is tension with his father (Alyy Khan) who sees life through a traditional lens.

This background defines the characters until Zaheer realises that his legs are not working properly and their world is turned on its head.

Bassam Tariq's movie follows Zaheer as he tries to come to terms with his life being threatened while being robbed of a lifelong dream by his own body.

Inevitably, in times of such crises, the family is to the fore and his business associates melt into the background.

This has its pluses and minuses because they want to look after their offspring but may not always have ideas which are tunes with his.

Meanwhile, he remains in denial about the possible outcomes of his condition and his impossible hopes for the future.

This narrative would be enthralling but the film goes off in myriad unexplained dream sequences just when the movie hits crucial points.

Almost all of these tangents include a bearded man with a face covered in beads who appears to taunt the rapper.

These scenes serve to dilute, turning what could have been an engaging family drama into a dollop of the abstract.

That's a pity. As said, the cast and premise were there but, in my view, the director needed to bring his imagination into check to ensure a truly memorable movie.

Reasons to watch: At its heart is a heartrending story

Reasons to avoid: Goes off at inexplicable tangents

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? Riz Ahmed really can also rap. He goes by the name of Riz MC for his solo songs but he also is a part of a rap group called ‘Swet Shop Boys’. 

The final word. Riz Ahmed: "Mogul Mowgli is not so much about the culture, it’s about family. It’s about how we chase the things that are hollow and the things that matter we are, essentially, running away from all of the time.”

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