Movie review: 'Raees' An immersive SRK entertainer

Set in the late 80s and early 90s and inspired from true events, Raees is a fictionalised story of the rise and fall of a bootlegger-turned-gangster,in the alcohol prohibited state of Gujarat. Told entirely from within the closed underbelly of Fatehpur in Gujarat, the script attributed to four writers does a brilliant conjuring act of inviting us into the life of Raees (Shah Rukh Khan) who at a very early stage in life is inspired by his mother, a ragpicker who quotes, "Koi dhanda chota ya bada nahin hota hai, aur koi dharam dhanda se badkar nahin hai." which literally means, no occupation is small and no religion is bigger than one's business. So with this as his mantra and philosophy he sets out in the world on his own terms. He starts off small by working for Jairaj Seth (Atul Kulkarni) who indulges in branded liquor. Jairaj appoints "Raees" because he has, "baniya ka dimaag aur miyabhai ka daring," which means he is shrewd like a shopkeeper and daring like a Muslim. How Raees gradually grows into a formidable figure in society, forms the crux of the tale.