Chhal directed by **Hansal Mehta**, is the story of an undercover cop who infiltrates the underworld and is caught up in a web of deceit.
Karan Menon(Kay Kay Menon) is appointed by the head of the task force Inspector Dave(Naved Aslam) to infiltrate the underworld and pass on critical information about them.As months go by Karan becomes a close confidant of Girish(Prashant Narayanan) and Shastri(Shrivallabh Vyas).the main guys in the underworld and he realises that one of them is going to double cross the other.He knows that although these people are gangsters at heart they’re soft towards their own people just like the common man.Besides this there is the police task force who is asking him to handover the gangsters.Chhal is a story of the emotional turmoil an undercover cop undergoes when he has to choose between his duty and the guys he has found to be true friends.
*First the positives:
1) Acting is top-notch by everyone except Jaya Seal(can’t blame her, she barely has a role). Among the better performers are Shrivallabh Vyas and Naved Aslam.**Prashant Narayanan** is damn good as Girish.a gangster who loves his sister and is committed to his work beyond his life.terrific potrayal of his character.unfortunately we don’t see him in movies often.**his last role was as Vishnu in Waisa Bhi Hota Hai as Vishnu**(for those who have not watched that.do watch it.its an excellent flick).But the best of the lot.**Kay Kay Menon**.the sheer complexities his character undergoes through the movie are enough to drive you crazy.and Kay Kay manages to enact them so smoothly and with such conviction.I have no words
2) Screenplay and dialogues by **Suparn Verma** are damn good.i’m really wondering why i’m seeing such a kickass movie 5 years late.nevertheless.better late than never.
3)** Shyam Kaushal**.the action director.Chhal is essentially an action flick.so having a dedicated action director does help.the action looks real(just because Kay Kay is the lead doesn’t mean he doesn’t get shot). Just for the record he’s the guy who has directed action for films like **Lakshya, Krrish and Bas Ek Pal**.Truly well handled action sequences in Chhal.
*Now some negatives:*
1) The entire screenplay and script looks heavily inspired by the 1997 hollywood action flick Donnie Brasco directed by Mike Newell(of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire fame).those who’ve seen Donnie Brasco know what I mean.those who have not would not be able to compare between the two and see the uncanny similarities.
2) There are 2 extremely unnecessary songs which do nothing but slacken the pace of the movie.poor vision by Hansal Mehta here.more so was the editor sleeping? Why couldn’t he point it out.
3) The end with Makrand Deshpande becoming another undercover cop in the making was not required.
*Good scenes:*
1) The carrom board game where Karan joins Girish’s gang.
2) Confrontation between Karan and Girsh.pre-climax.extremely well handled.
3) Final shoot-out at a factory.climax
4) Scene where Karan and Girish are sitting on a boat’s edge and chatting.when Karan asks him why he doesn’t want to surrender.
5) Scene after Karan shoots a policeman for the first time.the emotional graph is damn good here.
*My Verdict: **Whether you’re an action flick lover or not.Chhal is a must-watch for the message it delivers at the end.Crime Never Pays. A must-watch for kickass performances and a good(though inspired) storyline. Also.for those who’ve not seen Waisa Bhi Hota Hai(I mentioned it earlier).that too is an extremely creative film.
P.S.: I know i’m saying the Screenplay is a positive and also a negative and that these statements are contradictory.but if you see Donnie Brasco you’ll know exactly what I mean.