In the year 2010, Acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar made a thought provoking movie on plight of mill workers of mumbai called CITY OF GOLD . Very few filmmakers in India dare to divert from regular masala fare and provide a new fresh story which may not be commercially viable but are NECESSARY cinema! It takes great pain , courage , himmat and dedication for a director that too if it happens to be his debut film to tell the hitherto unknown story to world ! UNION LEADER is one such film which will take and ponder the world and plight of workers and their issues ! Directed by candian based Gujarati director Sanay Patel, Union leader tells the story inspired by real incidents of plight of workers working for a chemical company at ahmedbad and their struggle with owner , system and the disease which they are incurring because of their owners negligence! The film is treated with utmost care and the efforts of first time director are clearly visible. I have always been a fan if RAHUL BHATT since he made debut with Nayee Padosan but it was sharp 360 degree turn of his acting with Anurag Kashyaps masterpiece film UGLY that made me craving for him more! And man, what a performance!!! Rahul Bhatts best performance!I really wonder why this actor is still.not getting his due in industry! Second performance to watch out for is of VIVEK GHAMANDE! His character is backbone of the film and vivek plays it with gusto! After playing small roles in Ramleela, Bajirao Mastani , Shahid and gangs of wasseypur to name a few, the actor takes a giant leap with Union Leader and shines totally! I need to see more of him now! the whole.bunch of other actors who are well known faces in Gujarati cinema act well ( Courtsey casting director Abhishek Shah ) Any loopholes? yes actually there are two! First is I found cinematography very jarring. The camera angles are good but it is jarring which somehow dilutes the impact of the scene! and other is climax which is a let down! the climax happenings would confuse viewer and u feeel something is missing! but these flaws are accepted considerating its Sanjay Patels first film! If u want something meaningful and thought provoking cinema , do not miss Union Leader! a must watch: My rating: 4/5. Written by Tapan Pattani
