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The subject of “Honour killings” was waiting to be brought to the screen and Priyadarshan has taken the lead in the venture which also marks his departure from light comedies in Hindi cinema. It’s good to be first off the block but the movie lacks the staying power to finish as a winner. What totally galls me is that a veteran director of over eighty movies hasn’t researched his story or the characters with due diligence which in a way certifies the beginning where newspapers clips on the theme are stamped as facts and the word fiction heralds the narration of the story. The deep mind set which propels people to execute their own and others is replaced as a caste conflict which is not totally true. Perhaps a better understanding of a potentially powerful subject would have converted this effort as a monumental classic. I also feel that mere depiction of the problem is not enough. An opportunity has been lost to explore a solution or at least the audience should have been left thinking on what could be. Perhaps the writer actually couldn’t figure out what needs to be done and as a compromise a quick fix solution ends the movie.
As a cinematic experience for the non discerning viewer it’s not half so bad. The motley crew of the ‘Bahubalis’, scheming politicians and corrupt Government servants of the Hindi heartland which have been repeated ad- nauseum are back again. Again the treatment could have been different. Please tell me where in our country would you find IPS officers (SSP and IG, no less) sitting in police stations in various stages of undress and constantly mouthing vernacular expletives. These guys are supposed to be educated, trained in an academy of repute and professional. The depiction of these characters is more akin to the less fortunate constabulary. Also, I have never read or heard of an army officer (incidentally from ASC) in NSG deputed for an investigation conducted by CBI. I guess the tag of fiction takes care of these minor details. I also don’t understand why the bad guys always get the benefit of ‘Beedi Jala Le’ or ‘Munni Badnaam hui’ or instantly ‘Isak se Meetha’. There seems to be a case here for the libido comparisons of the heroes and the villains. In the next movie I want Munni dancing exclusively for the hero. And a CBI enquiry in this matter is warranted anyway.
What’s good here? A pioneering effort on a subject that is ducked all too often. A good narrative, it’s hard to get bored. Bipasha Basu is getting slimmer by the day. I think she needs to act in some Kung Fu movies with Jackie Chan.
What’s not? Bad research, but I have said that before. The Devgun dude is still wooden faced and his wife needs to give serious acting lessons to him. Junior Khanna will do well to stop hamming like a fresher from the Methodist school of acting and be more of himself. Bips is underplayed.
There needs to be a strong reaction to a system which tries to control normal human emotions in the name of caste, khaap, perceived honour. Unfortunately political expediency prevents any concerted legal effort. Therein lies the responsibility of the audio visual media to, for once rather than concentrating on needless sensations, take up a cause which could actually stop the smothering of innocent lives. On the social responsibility scale, Priyadarshan and his team fails.
