“Sanju” is his fifth block-buster in a row and Raj Kumar Hirani is being justifiably feted as the film-maker with the Midas touch. His formula of injecting emotion ,drama or laughs into every other scene has paid off handsomely. His creativity is being discussed across TV channels, news media and at other forums.

It is a clever film. The performances of Ranbir Kapoor in the eponymous role and Vicky Kaushal as his close buddy are excellent. The screenplay and editing is sharp and keeps the audiences engaged. The tabloid type serving of masala has hooked the cine-goers.

But does it qualify as a credible bio-pic. ‘One Man….Many Lives’ is a good tag-line. However, the movie faithfully spins Sanjay Dutt’s take on his own life. He is this well-meaning guy with a big heart- a victim of unfortunate circumstance, a fall-guy for a sensationalistic media. Hirani becomes a willing accomplice to this project. After-all the star has been his friend and collaborator over three successful films, going back to that first hit-‘Munnabhai MBBS.’

To get sympathy for his seriously flawed protagonist, Hirani performs a delectable sleight of the hand. We are quickly introduced to the two most likable characters –the noble father and the endearing friend. The redoubtable Sunil Dutt and the very funny Kamlesh play the perfect foil to the troubled Sanju and down-play the dark sides of his personality.

The producer-director-writer strongly rebuts that he has’ white-washed’ the character. He has shown the ‘drugs , guns and girls’. What more do the critics want?

Let’s start with the drug addiction to which a considerable amount of screen-time is given. Sanju cannot come to terms with the tragic loss of his mother and falls prey to an unscrupulous, drug-traffiking friend. His father being a strict disciplinarian does not help matters. Give us a break! Sanjay Dutt is a privileged, spoilt star-son and a weak person. Period.

Next. The illegal possession of an AK-56 for which he went to jail. He procured this assault weapon to protect his family. Threatening calls after the Mumbai riots had left him with no other option. So say Sanjay Dutt and his friend Hirani. What is left unsaid is that the weapon was supplied by the underworld, which masterminded the bomb blasts in the city. Yusuf, whom Sanju appeals to recover the gun from his house and destroy it was sentenced to 5 years behind bars for this helpful deed. The real Sanjay Dutt has shown his fascination for guns and hunting in TV interviews. His close bond with the underworld is in public domain. Listen to his recorded conversations with gangsters on You-Tube. He is on comfortable, first name and even family terms with some of these criminals.

But Hirani chickens out. The only bizarre reference is to a Hindu hoodlum who wants Dutt’s presence at a Ganpati Mandal event which he is organising. The film-maker again goes for the soft target. He does not have the guts to call-out the real underworld dons who are now notified as international terrorists.

The film hits other narrative lows especially when Sanju admits to an author (Anushka Sharma) that he has slept with more than 300 prostitutes and sundry more women. Anushka’s (a surrogate for Hirani himself) broad grin is cringe-worthy. It is as if our hero has done something medal-worthy. His frankness deserves our admiration. The light music in the back-ground makes light of the situation-trivialising this objectifying and conquests of women.

He continues with this wink and shrug approach. When Sanju sleeps with the girl his friend Kamlesh wants to date, he passes it off with, “She is not fit to be my Bhabhi (sister-in-law).” Look, who’s talking!

The film is already one of the biggest hits of all time. Hirani is laughing all the way to the bank. At the small cost of compromising on his professional integrity.

Raju Hirani will be reuniting with his ‘Sanju baba’ soon. For the third instalment of the lovable Munnabhai  franchise.