There are always few things in life over which we can establish our control and everything else about which we can do nothing. Then, we fret and fume over those things. So, I have seen the movie. What to do now? May be I’ll just write a review and let it out. What else can I do? On a sad note, let me frame my review first by talking of ambiance. I went to Big Cinema, Aligarh. Naam bade aur theater chote!
Last, I had gone there on December 24/25, 2002 to watch Kaante. Hint : When a guy remembers a date, there is always a woman involved. Backpacked with my own nostalgia, I reached Avantikapur on-screen. I chuckled in my own pleasure, on finding Amitabh Bacchan as old as I left him in Kaante. The Cine Plaza in Avantikapur was showing Barfi – the last Hindi movie I saw in theater. And, my first-ever Prakhash Jha film in theater. Whenever I become aware that I am going to witness some intense drama on screen, I find my own amusements in such trivial trivia. Usually, I don’t watch serious stuff because I suffer from nausea. But, the immunity system is building up with my newly acquired interest in immediate social and political environment. Thanks to twitter and ABP news.
Okay, I’ll stop shelling out miscellaneous information and start my movie review. Smoking Joes – hail, Cancer! Movie began in Avantikapur. No idea as to which state of India but of course, it will be in same state of India. Within ten minutes of few characters introduction - Manav, Akhilesh, Sumitra, Transfomer Baba and Dwarika ( Devgn, Indraneil, Amrita, __ and Amitabh Ji resp.) - two major accidents happened. Off-screen popcorn tub popped out of my lap and there on-screen Akhilesh slipped over the spilled milk. Both got wasted. Akhilesh, friend of Manav and husband of Sumitra was a man of principles and only child of ex-principal of government city school (Dwarika Sir) Emotions rolled downstream over my cheeks in full vigour. I was about to howl when Sumitra made a funny remark over the dead body of her husband. – “Manav Bhaiya ab hamara kya hoga?” Arey tum khoobsoorat ho, jawaan ho, doosri film mil jaayegi aur kya! See, that’s how I derive my own pleasure over the dead too.
Well, after this point, story actually started to unfold itself. It was when Manoj (Balram) came into his powerful role play. He was the one, around whom the story revolved - the everlasting bad politician. Few sequences put him and the other characters at war. Why and how is the reason you might want to go to your near theater. I don’t want to spoil your show. Movie is good. Prior intermission, you will feel all is well. Post-break, You WILL think what the hell! You will witness cocktail of all the recent long running news sans the rape ones. In two and half hour, you will see everything highlighted on screen- train, tempo, Innovas, Avon cycle, Daawat rice, Parantha, Daaru casket, Q-shop, Bihari dance in Singapore, Mahatma Gandhi Chowk, Jawahar Lal, Godse, Dandi March oops 15th March dated cheque, Gundas, more Gundas, Collector, Police, CRPF, Zila, Gram Panchayat, Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Ordinance, Jail, Bail, Facebook, Twitter, MMS, in one scene bonus- PJ himself with his crew and Hey Ram.
It becomes so noisy and unbearable that you feel like going out and breathe some fresh air. When the movie goes awry, someone has to always die. Surprise, surprise.. someone & someone dies.. Like I said movie is good but 3 stars (One each for classic acting by Manoj, Amitabh ji and Ajay D) will be the ultimate justice. Chalchitra ke kuch sur bigade hue they.. Raghupati Raghav was like bhajan lyrics fused with rock music. In the song, Arjun Rampal jumped centre-stage and was about to sing Rock On; but in time, he remembered that movie was long gone.
Okay, to add a little to my review. Sorry, I forgot. If movie can go haywire, why can’t my review? Huh to formatting and fragment (consider revising) Whole country is obsessed with nicknames. Sumi (Sumitra) got the first feel of corruption. Actually, it was third. First wave of corrupted zombies was fenced by the man himself, by challenging the inflated electricity bills. Secondly, it was braved by his son at his employment. Then, it was Sumi at the collector’s office. All the names of the character are so old that it reminds you of someone from your second generation family- tree. If you think about it, Satyagrah is invocation of one’s truer self, unperturbed by the provocation of the others. Though claims were made that this one is different from Anna’s struggle, one could certainly compare the similarity as one is to Ek and two is to Do.
Like Anna’s party, this movie too started touching various issues without settling on its core issue. It started with Daduji’s freedom, then pending cases, then corruption and then food security of the poor and then God only knows why CRPF came into picture.. None implored deep so all settled for shallow. Well, Indian politics can never have open resolutions for any conflict. Someone or other always gets hurt. How can we expect a solution through any entertainment medium? Things easy said than done. Final scene reminded me a repeat version of Gangajal ending. The phrase always holds true. Vinaash Kaale Viparit Buddhi. Villain kitna hi powerful ho, in the end, he and his entire crew work in tandem to give heroes their grand welcome. Kalki avatar I spy... Kalki avatar eyes spice... Dhappaa!
Beyond this point, newsreaders may regret reading my review. It is only for the funny side up re-served with T. Additional info here might contain the spoilers. So, here it is: Arjun Rampal (Sorry I forgot the name of this character) was poorly involved and utilized in the movie. In his first scene, he was shown privileged to secure a secret piece of information. I thought this information was left for the end but the movie got so tangled in its own plot that movie-makers forgot to ask him. Aila! Mughdha Godse is also there in the movie. I spotted her in one of the scenes. It was so dark, I could not hear what she was saying. Dwarika Ji became Daadu Ji. But, I don’t know how. Sumi, his daughter-in-law did not have any kid. Kareena Kapoor urf Yasmeen, the news reporter from ABP news, skipped her chance of interviewing Pradhan Sewak, just for the sake of Manav. In fact, she was in the movie only for Maanvta. Once Manav missed her 213 phone calls and in lieu what did she gave her? I love you dammit (new kinda popular proposal), a good night sleep and a raag – Saanware! Paropkaar hi Maanavta ka dharm hai Maanav, though changed from corrupted guy to anti-rust fellow, remained a hypocrite. Khud toh end mein Nagpal ko ragada patties diya, jab Rampal ragadne aaya toh Lokpal principle yaad aa gaya??
And last thing, Dadu Ji, in his Food Security Anshan stage, appeared as if recreating his golden scene from Sharabi – Aaj itni bhi nahin mehkhaane mein... Yeh Munshi Ji kahaan chale gaye tadke tadke! Mein bhi chalta hun .. Abhi dekh sako toh dekh lo, warna TV per toh aayegi hi... TATA!