WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Blockbuster Movie Entertainers’ WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME, directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, is a family drama with a social message.
WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME tells the story of a man, who has little time on hand and his son, who refuses to shoulder responsibilities. The father is Ishwar [Amitabh Bachchan] and the son Aditya [Akshay Kumar].
Ishwar, the owner of a toy manufacturing company, is extremely generous and large-hearted. On the surface, Ishwar’s life seems perfect: A profitable business, a loving son and a caring and dutiful wife, Sumi [Shefali Shah].
Aditya is in love with Pooja [Priyanka Chopra], the daughter of Nattubhai [Boman Irani], and the two get married without bothering to take consent or even informing their parents. Ishwar hopes that the marriage will make Aditya a more responsible man, but he is disappointed. His efforts to turn Aditya into a responsible individual turn futile.
One thing leads to another and Ishwar doesn’t have an option but to throw Aditya out of the house. Aditya is shocked to see his otherwise doting father behaving like a tyrant. After the initial hiccups, Aditya takes it upon himself to take care of his pregnant wife.
Aditya starts working as a stuntman and at the same time, prepares for a star-search contest. Aditya starts turning into an independent man, but the rift between the father and son widens.
In the climax, Aditya is chosen to participate in the finals of the star-search contest and this is where the father’s genuine intentions come to light.
WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME doesn’t have a great story to boast about, but the way this oft-repeated plot is presented is what makes a difference! For, the viewer have always been subjected to rift between a son and his family on account of his love interest. Hardly has anybody attempted a story where the father wants his son to realize his duties. Shah and his team of writers needs to be lauded for this.
For an ordinary man, the movie works big time! There’s something in the film which each parent and each child will be able to identify with.
Adapted from the gujarati play ’Aavjo Vhara Fari Malishu’, the start of the film is not so good. At the very beginning, an unnecessary song ’Chhup Jaa’ has been put. Even otherwise, songs come in regular succession thereby diluting the impact of the overall mood of the movie. But this doesn’t prevent the viewer from being involved in the going-ons. The Boman Irani-Rajpal Yadav track is enjoyable enough to keep you hooked to the screen.
The actual story starts when it is learnt that Amitabh has been suffering from a fatal disease. Amitabh’s confusion whether to tell his son the truth or not, whether to continue to pamper him or ask him to be more responsible, is very well handled. The interval point, where Amitabh asks his son to leave the house, is outstanding. This scene has been handled in a more-or-less comical way but is very effective.
Thereafter, the pace acclerates, and post-interval, there are several scenes that linger in your memory even after the show has ended. Instances:
The Amitabh-Akshay confrontation when the latter comes to his house to take food for the pregnant Priyanka.
The dog chase wherein Akshay desperately tries to fetch some money to get some food.
The mango sequence when akshay returns the mango given to him by his father.
The taandav dance in the ’Zoom In Zoom Out’ contest.
The pre-finale when Akshay wants to call his mother ’’and father’’ to attend the show.
However, the finale could’ve been better. There’s no denying that it does deliver and has justification, but it appears very theatrical. Akshay’s learning of his father’s intentions could have been better penned. Ditto for his long-drawn speech, which could have been avoided.
Story-screenplay writer Atish Kapadia is in great form. He has chosen a simple story and garnished it with comedy and emotions in such a way that nothing looks out of place. As a dialogue writer, Kapadia does an excellent job. Be it the witty one-liners by a serious Yadav or emotion-soaked ones by Amitabh and Akshay, they are equally effective in both ways.
Director Vipul Amrutlal Shah deserves brawny points for handling a complicated subject with dexterity. After attempting a story based on bank heist in his directional debut [AANKHEN], Shah changes gears in his second outing. Besides, he has extracted top-order performances from the entire cast.
Music [Anu Malik] is tuneful. All the songs in the movie are likable, but some of them are unnecessarily inserted in the movie. Songs like ’Chup Jaa’, ’Do me a favour - Let’s play Holi’ and ’Subah Hogi’ were not needed at all.
Amitabh Bachchan - The name says it all. The actor reinforces our belief that he is a gifted actor to the film industry. He has handled both the comic and the dramatic sequences with aplomb. The way in which he moulds himself according to the requirements of the script is truly amazaing!
Akshay Kumar hammers the fact that he’s an actor with amazing range. Having done a variety of roles in the recent past, he is at complete ease while doing this. Whether in his carefree attitude towards life in the first half or as the responsible family man in the second, he has flawlessly controlled his emotions in every scene. This performance is bound to increase his ever-growing fan following by leaps and bounds.
Shefali Shah is yet another actor who lends full support in the movie. She underplays her part with complete understanding. A talent to watch out for!
Priyanka Chopra doesn’t have much meat in her role, but is good in whatever she does. Boman Irani excels as Priyanka’s father, and, alongwith Rajpal Yadav, provides some respite in the intense going-ons. Boman’s character is somewhat similar to that of Prafful in KHichdi (Oh! By the way, he too makes a special appearance in the movie.)The telephone conversation between the two on two occasions is rib-tickling!
Cinematography [Santosh Thundiyil] is impressive. The film bears a rich look throughout. Omung Kumar’s sets are another asset. The dog chase by Abbas Ali Moghul is breathtaking. Editing is crisp, except, of course, the songs which needs to be trimmed atleast. Sound recording is first-rate.
On the whole, WAQT - THE RACE AGAINST TIME is a good family entertainer that will appeal to every individual, mainly because it has something in store for everyone. At the box-office, the film has taken a decent start all over and will be able to maintain it’s position at the top due to strong word of mouth. However, business may get affected due to the release of another biggie next week [KAAL], but nonetheless, the distributors will be seen with a smile on their face at the end of the day.
My Rating:- * * *.
The italics part is in the words of Taran Adarsh.
© Aliasgar Poonawala, 2005