The Platform
Apna Anil bhai is back & this time in his old estyle.. Here is a fresh offering by the director of gripping films like Dharavi, Mai Zinda Hoon & Is Raat Ki Subah Nahi. This movie has a ‘different’ look & very attractive tagline...everyone wants him dead !! Manisha is coming back with Anil after a long time & Rani’s charm is still a talk of town. So what are you waiting for ?? pack your bags, grab your ticket and start your journey in Calcutta Mail.
The journey
The movie revolves around a man who is searchin for ‘something’. (this ‘something’ you’ll come to know only at the internal). In search of that ‘something’ he arrives at Calcutta (by ...any guesses ??…you are right.. by Calcutta mail). This man is filled with suppressed emotions, the fire in his eyes suggests that something devil has happened in the past…but what is that? What is making him unstable? Why he is always depressed? (that you’ll come to know only at the internal). Luckily he managed to get a place to stay. And here our director, Mr. Sudhir Mishrajee gets a chance to show his directorial skills in typical bollywood estyle. How ? Read on.. Avinash(Anil) has to share that room with our very own Rani Mukharjee(who is secretly staying there to study life of a common man sothat she can write a novel), Being a chawl there are lot of comedy as well as dramatic elements, who keeps popping up time to time and try very hard to inject some humor in this really serious film. Our depressed Avinash gets an opportunity to dance & sing on couple of songs also in this chawl.(to of course relieve himself from the tension). Now you must be convinced.
Anyway, the story unfolds on the streets of calcutta, on the railway station, in the tum-tum, in the bus, in the bar, during Durga Puja, in the crowded bazar, etc, etc. I must appreciate the director for his study of the city, he has maintained the calcutta theme till the end.
The first half of the movie is packed with the suspense, anxiety & passion of our hero. Some action scenes, very well supported by the background music, really impress.
But in the second half, director starts loosing his control over the story, I would blame it on editing department. But brilliant & energetic performance by Anil Kapoor saves the day.
At the end, all the jigsaw puzzles come together & Anil finds that ‘something’.(You’ll come to know about this ‘something’ only at the interval, and plz don’t ask again)
Passengers
Anil Kapoor stills the show !!. I would rather say, its an One man show.
There was nothing left neither for Rani nor for Manisha in this male dominated flick.
Still Rani spreads her charm & Manisha spreads her beautiful smile to empower some scenes.
Saurabh shukla, Shivaji satam and others hardly deviate from their track.
Satish Kaushik joins villain’s bogie (I think for the first time) with Sayaji shinde.
But once again, Anil bhai is the best !!
Engine Crew
Technically speaking, the film is perfect in cinematography & screenplay as the director succeeds in portraying the calcutta city to his best extent.
Direction in good but weakens at some moments.
You can feel the shades of Mel Gibson starrer Ransom in some scenes.
Background score is just perfect, it really creates a deep impact in some cases.
But the songs are too bad & were not required at all.
Script is good enough. Story holds your attention till the interval but then looses its pace later on.
Last station
In short calcutta mail leaves the platform confidently but slows down in the middle, but manages to reach the final station comfortably. I liked the movie, as I’m a big fan of Anil & Manisha. It’s a very serious movie and has very few lighter moments. So if you are planning to relieve yourself from the weekday’s work, postpone it (but do not avoid it).
Happy Journey !!
-- Harshal Katre