With sanity suspended, and time at
your disposal and a vacation to boot, lie back in your chair, ensure your supply
of popcorn in large quantity and get to watching a London thriller Hindi “film
made by Priyadarshan”. The faulty film is engrossing and often packed with
moments of either thrill, adrenaline or fine and honest performances.
At a pretentious level the script deals with the problem of dealing with
illegal immigrants on foil soil and how even the hallowed Anglo Saxon
jurisprudence courts can go completely awry. Aakash (Ajay) is deported for
being an illegal immigrant as the Brits do not recognise a Hindu marriage!! His
wife Nikita (Kangana) could wail her way through London but in vain. Also
caught in the same wrap are other illegal immigrants Meghna (Samera) and Aadil
(Zayeed). Four years later he returns to Karmabhoomi with vengeance in his
script.
At the entertainment level, we have the wronged guy out there somewhere in a
‘as never before grey’ London, who has planted a bomb in a train from London to
Glaslough. The Railways manned by Sanjay (Boman) have the challenge to ensure
that the train keeps moving until the demanded ransom is paid of or see the
train destroyed with all its passengers. Just retired police officer Arjun
(Anil) is recalled to get the guy and avert the disaster.
Reels and reels are spent on well edited but gruesomely long chases. It is not
difficult to imagine how the law breaker is invariably ahead of the law
enforcing agency. It would be interesting to do up a study on how our cinema
invites cat calls when the villain earns the brownie points and the law
enforcing agency is seen with muck on the face. The Director puts in sufficient
punch to keep the audience engrossed and the stunt master has been handed over
the script to have a filed day. He brings in the same polish (and sanity) that
T20 brings to cricket.
The film is a typical entertainer that is worth a dekho once. Do not ask too
many questions and you are in a safe zone. What really lifts up the film is the
collective response from the cast. Ajay Devgn and Anil Kapoor blend into the
script and perform in tandem rather than in conflict of their star status.
Priyadarshan could not have chosen a better guy for the brooding avenger
protagonist than Ajay. It comes but naturally to the actor and he can quickly
shift to the raw emotional demands of the character. Anil Kapoor is too much of
a veteran and knows his script so well that he chooses his moments to state his
presence. Kangana has a miniscule role and even in that carries herself with
grace and poise. Sameera and Zayeed add just the right touch as the support
cast. Interesting pair who suggest that given a good Director they too can
deliver. Specifically mention worthy is Boman Irani who in the midst of the
ridiculous roles he accepts comes up every once in a way with a stunner, that
renews the viewers faith in the actor- a phenomenon earlier displayed by Anupam
Kher.
Typical holiday entertainer. And a trip to London to match.
L. Ravichander.