Cigerette butt
Fumes in rage
As ’Useful’ night
Gyrates shamelessly.
The hawkers of vultures
Devour....Tirelessly.
Silence screaches
To a Halt.
Well, Company of vultures devours deciet. The company of opportunism thrives on swiftness. The Company of Power resists Change. Ram Gopal Verma’s Company objectively (Relatively Speaking) dissects Mumbai’s dark side with admirable precision. He Dares, while the Rest buckle under Escape.
The story bears stark resemblance to the hugely known association between Dawood Ebrahim and Chota Rajan. And of course, the rift that literally chilled out the city. It is about a shrewd and calculative Malik (Ajay Devgan) and strong but vulnerable Chandu (Vivek Oberoi).
Company is also about a beautiful-n-understated relationship between Malik and his mistress Saroja (Manisha Koirala). Their love is genuine, need based and True.
The relationship between Chandu and Kanu (Antara Mali) is more of a routine stuff. But the bond between Chandu and his mother (Seema Biswas) elicits strange reactions of love and the lack of it.
There is also a goody goody Police official Sivanand (Mohanlal) who bridges the gap between insanity of power and a Hope (Howsoever small or insignificant it might be). The film moves at a deft pace keeping the viewer engrossed. Their are no heros or villians. Only Characters who thread their way forward. They last till they make their presence felt. And then....Khallas!.
A few critics are saying that Company is more of a documentary. But then, even Schindler’s List was labelled a documentary. But, does that make it a lesser film. And critics like Khalid Mohammad should better take some rest. For when he points out the follies, one immediately remembers garish loopholes he left in his own directorial ’adventure’ Fiza
Company is a good film, if not a path breaking film. It tries to be true to the basic idea and maybe achieves much more. It exemplifies the fact that a Genuine Belief is an absolute must for making a good film.
Ram Gopal Verma has displayed a lot of mastery in striking a balance between fact and fiction. And also the commercial viability quotient which is vital for a mainstream work to be commercially viable.
The casting is perfect. Ajay Devgan as the ruthless Malik is a smouldering coal. Newcomer Vivek Oberoi lives upto all the hype and delivers a sedate performance. Antar Mali, Manisha Koirala, Seema Biswas and Rajpal Yadav and others do full justice to the faith the director had in their ability. Mohanlal, the south supremo impresses with his studied deliniation of a Cop.
The original soundtrack and the background score by Sandip Chowta is high quality stuff. The songs are woven beautifully and the high point is Ganda Hai Par Dhanda Hai Ye. It is used at crucial points with a live-character like feel attached to it. The song is almost an alterego of the criminals who survive on assertion and fear.
Company: A symphony of truth. Let it serenade you, for its worth it!