Mohra meaning the pawn. It stars the big names Naseerudin Shah, Sunil Shetty, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon.
Here goes the story....
Raveena Tandon is the daughter of a police jailor. She goes to her father’s jail because she is a journalist writing an article about the jail. There she is almost raped by one of the prisoners until Sunil saves her. She then stars wondering how or why did Sunil end up in prison because he does not seem like a criminal. At first Sunil refuses to talk to her but then gradually gives in....
SPECIAL NOTE: MOST OF YOU WILL BE AWARE OF YASH CHOPRA’S FORTHCOMING UNTITLED PROJECT. WELL I’LL INFORM YOU THAT THE STARTING OF THE UNTITLED FILM IS SIMILAR TO THE PART I’VE JUST WRITTEN ABOVE. RANI IS A PAKISTANI ACTIVIST WHO WANTS TO HELP SRK WHO IS IN A PAKISTANI JAIL. I JUST THOUGHT I’D LET YOU KNOW.
Back to the story...Sunil tells Raveena how he once had a loving wife and his wife’s sister also lived with him. Some college druggies raped his wife’s sister and murdered her. Sunil takes them to court but loses the case because the druggies bribe the lawyer. The druggies then land up at Sunil’s house and murder his wife. Sunil in rage murders all of the druggies and goes to prison. On hearing this Raveena wants to release Sunil from jail because she knows he was a person cheated by the corrupt system.
Raveena is helped by a well respected tycoon Naseerudin Shah. Together they release Sunil from jail much to the dismay of Akshay who is a cop and has a cynical view on criminals. Therefore, even after Sunil is released, Akshay is still wary of him. Naseerudin Shah then explains to Sunil that the society is being taken over by drugs and more and more people have been affected by them. The main cause of this are two gangs who supply Mumbai with drugs. Nasir wants Sunil to finish those two gangs. How Sunil goes about killing the gangs, and Akshay on his chase is the crux of the movie.
This is one of those movies which although being action orientated has a superb story. This is how an action story should be. Rajiv Rai has penned a brilliant script and has developed the characters marvellously. His direction is brilliant, as well as the story and screenplay. Dialogues are of good standard.
Cinematography is also brilliant and has numerous camera angles on songs and action scenes. To fit 3 good actors, Sunil, Akshay, Nasir Shah is a humoungous task.
Music is brilliant with ’Tu Cheez’ becoming a national icon. However, I think Na Gajre Ki, is the best song. Such a beautiful song.
Paresh Rawal is funny, the baddies are bad, others lend decent support.
Naseerudin Shah, is his usual self. Excellent with his suave character he manages to carry of the role convincingly and is equally cunning as the hidden villain. Raveena manages to scream and look sexy. Fair enough, that was the main reason she was really there. Akshay gives a good performance as the hot headed cop. His scenes with Sunil are some of the best in the movie.
However, the film belongs to Sunil all the way. Although Akshay is given the hero status, the movie traces the life of Sunil Shetty as the main protagonist, who is cheated by circumstances, has everything taken away from him, has to serve time in prison and then even when he comes out of prison he has no-one there for him. He is then tricked by Nasir to kill the other gangsters and when he sees who Nasir really is, almost has himself killed. He was the Mohra of the whole movie. A very good performance.