Aakrosh

Recently, we all saw numerous articles about 'honor-Killing' in almost every news-paper. It became a hot-topic of discussion and resulted into the ... read more

Recently, we all saw numerous articles about 'honor-Killing' in almost every news-paper. It became a hot-topic of discussion and resulted into the making of AAKROSH. Yes, Priyadashan is back with some serious cinema after a long time. Before this he gave the master-pieces like Kanjivaram, Kaala-Paani, Virasat and Gardish. No doubt, Aakrosh is brutal as it reveals the facts about caste laws, which leads to honor-klling. Priyadarshan really went out of his way to show nothing but the truth.

Aakrosh is a story about 3 college boys who disappear from a hamlet called Jhanjhar, where casteism still exists in full force. The bigger issue than this is that none of the villagers have the courage to stand-up and fight for their equality. To investigate the case of dissapperance of those three boys Ajay Devgan (Army Officer) and Akshaye Khanna (CBI Officer) are sent to Jhanjhar.

The problem arises when they realize that every high official from politicians to cops to ruffians are corrupt. Each one of them is a culprit in some way or the other in this high-profile case. Their chase gets worse when they find that inorder to 'Stay Alive' villagers follow deafening culture because they all know one voice against local leaders or goons or cops can make them all go 'Silent' forever.

It is an action-packed film, which showcases truth about so-called 'Honor-Killing', which has nothing 'Honorable' in it. You will see both the officers trying their best to get to the roots of the cause in their own way.

Ajay Devgan is as fearless as always and no one can play these kinds of roles better than him. Paresh Rawal performed his anti-heroic role so brilliantly that you'll actually feel like killing him. Bipasha Basu didnt have much scope and after long we get to see Akshaye Khanna, who used this comeback offer to the fullest.

The high point of the film is its climax, which will make you say 'yes, that's what they desreved'! In short, Aakrosh is an eye-wash presented under the stamp of FICTION.

P.S. I will not like to grade this movie as I personally believe that FACTS cannot be graded but as its mandatory so will give max possible to the film-makers and stars for having the courage to cover this subject.view less

Priyadarshan's 'Aakrosh' is such a shameless rip-off of Alan Parker's 'Mississippi Burning' (1988) that it makes the week's other release, 'Knock O... read more

Priyadarshan's 'Aakrosh' is such a shameless rip-off of Alan Parker's 'Mississippi Burning' (1988) that it makes the week's other release, 'Knock Out' seem original in comparison to its source material. Robin Bhatt claims story credit but what he really should have claimed was a 'cut-copy-pasting' credit instead.

Two C.B.I. agents; Pratap Kumar (Ajay Devgn) & Siddhant Chaturvedi (Akshaye Khanna), are sent to a small town in the cow belt of India to investigate the disappearance of three Delhi university students. Once there, they find corrupt cops, crooked politicians and other local goons running their own version of the 'Klu Klux Klan' called the 'Shool Sena'. The 'Shool Sena' is hard-line right-wing organization that incites & participates in caste-based violence and when they have time to spare, honor killings too. With help from locals not forthcoming initially, the two officers face plenty of hurdles in the investigation. Slowly things start to unravel with the addition of more sub-plots and characters like Geeta (Bipasha Basu); the wife of an unabashedly corrupt police inspector (Paresh Rawal) who has had a past fling with Pratap and may hold the key to the success of the investigation.

Entire scenes are lifted, dialogues are copied verbatim and even locations recreated down to the color of the walls from 'Mississippi Burning'. My basic bone of contention against the makers is not the plagiarism but the shockingly exploitative & superficial treatment of a sensitive subject matter. Action sequences, which would feel at home in a movie like 'The Matrix' or 'Tarzan' pop up for no rhyme or reason. I know this is not a documentary but a sense of plausibility would be much appreciated.

There are simply no shades of grey in any of the characters. Either they are absolutely evil or the good guys or hapless victims waiting to be butchered. Plus the agenda of the 'Shool Sena' seems to seriously lack a clear ideology. The movie might sell itself on the honor killings subject but it barely has any understanding of the concept or the mechanisms behind it. I know the caste-system is highly prevalent in small-town India but the manner in which it is shown here more for shock value than a reality check.

One of the saving graces of the movie is the cinematography which thanks to a yellowish tint adds a sort of somber yet slick look to the film.

Ajay Devgn does his usual act of strutting around wearing sunglasses and glaring at everything within a hundred meters. Akshaye Khanna is wasted in a largely thankless role. Paresh Rawal has been seen in this corrupt avatar may times before, though he does get a few nice lines. Bipasha Basu needs to stick to her workout videos. It was hilarious to watch her character in the movie being from a small village, yet in a flashback sequence wears short, bright colored dresses while frolicking around with Ajay Devgn right from five-star hotels to the remotest village roads. These village people I tell you, they can surprise you when you least expect it!!!

Like my advice for 'Knock Out'; Id tell you to do something similar, rent 'Mississippi Burning' and watch it instead.
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Apparently Aakrosh has inspired portions from a Hollywood flick, Missisippi Burning. I have not seen this Hollywood movie and so I cant really comm... read more

Apparently Aakrosh has inspired portions from a Hollywood flick, Missisippi Burning. I have not seen this Hollywood movie and so I cant really comment as to how much Aakrosh inherits from it. But in the end inspiration or no inspiration, Aakrosh as a standalone movie packs in a punch and is one of the finest movies to have come out this year. Its sad that these days in India silly movies like Housefull get a bumper opening but well made movies on serious topics find a significantly smaller subset of audience.

The main plot revolves around the disappearance of 3 medical students from Delhi. News floats around that they were last seen in Jhanjar which is the hometown for one of them. A special squad consisting of a CBI officer (Akshaye Khanna) and an ex military personnel (Ajay Devgn) are sent to investigate into the matter. They run across corrupt police officers, politicians and people spreading violence based on caste differences. In general the Dalits are empowered into staying mum about the murders and abductions that take place. When the special squad unearths solid implicating evidence hell is unleashed upon the village and nobody comes forward to testify. A game of chess begins and the special squad plays a neat trick to bring the rat out of the hole.

The movie, written by Robin Bhatt and Akash Khurana, holds you on the edge of the seat for most of the time. Apart from a few flow breaking songs and a couple of scenes which were dragged the movie is pretty gripping. One of the highlights were the chase sequences which were by far one of the best I have seen in Hindi cinema. Although there was a resemblance from Bourne and Quantum Of Solace in them, the end result was groovy. The USP of the movie though is that it takes a serious issue and molds it into a very intriguing murder mystery story to enlighten the viewer about honor killing practices that unfortunately take place in India to this date. The movie has some gruesome scenes and is rightly given an 'A' certificate.

Acting wise Akshaye Khanna and Ajay Devgn were top notch and almost perfect. Initially I felt probably Anil Kappoor would have been a better fit for Devgn's character but as the movie progresses Ajay proves why he was the perfect choice. Akshaye delivers a powerful performance. Paresh Rawal, as the corrupt cop, stole the show for me. He played a bad guy after a long time and shows why he is one of the best actors in the country. Bipasha does a good cameo. Reema Sen was a surprising revelation.

Priyadarshan is most famous for his comedy movies which have a chaotic climax. But he started his hindi movie career with intense drama oriented movies like Gardish and Virasat. Its good to see that he has not lost his touch amongst the mad films that he has been churning out. He handles the movie like a surgeon handles his tools. Although, he does add a touch of humor here and there in the movie to lighten up the intense scenes. Its a story very well told and more importantly one which leaves an impact on the viewer.

Overall its good cinema which doesn't get preachy but at the same time is really thought provoking.

Rating:
Over 18 and like serious issues? Definitely watch it!
Like serious issues but your partner doesn't? Watch it on DVD.
Date movie? Watch something else.
Cant watch disturbing cinema? Skip it!
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I was probably wrong when I wrote Priyadarshan off after watching his last release 'Khatta Meetha'. Maybe the only problem was a fixation with both... read more

I was probably wrong when I wrote Priyadarshan off after watching his last release 'Khatta Meetha'. Maybe the only problem was a fixation with both comedy and Akki Baba. Here, Priyan relinquishes them both and goes back to his Viraasat/Gardish days, where in milking social issues and providing 2 hours of wholesome entertainment.

CBI Officer Siddharth Chaturvedi (Akshaye Khanna) and Major Pratap Kumar (Ajay Devgn) have been assigned the task of conducting an enquiry over the disappearance of 3 medical students in a remote district Jhanjhar somewhere in UP/Bihar.Initiating the investigation, the duo find out that Dinu, one of the missing kids was from a lower caste family in the same district and in love with a girl from a high caste family. They soon realize that things are not going to be easy, as the Police force (Paresh Rawal as Inspector AjatShatru being the only recognizable face here) and local politicians all appear to be in cahoots with the upper castes, and dalits become mute spectators as they dread for their lives with police witnesses disappearing sooner than you can blink.

However, Siddharth and Pratap start unravelling the threads one by one, meeting Jamuniya (Reema Sen) and Pratap's ex-flame Geeta (Bipasha Basu) in the process. A few fight sequences and twists later the story reaches a logical climax, thankfully without the usual mayhem which Priyan is known for.

The story is well defined and simple, void of unnecessary complexities which makes it easier to comprehend. The direction is taut, apt for a film which tends to evoke tension, apart from the mandatory item number and a flimsy flashback involving Ajay and Ms. Basu. Between Ajay Devgn and Akshaye Khanna, clearly the more versatile Devgn rules. He plays a more impulsive character when contrasted with Akshaye's restrained, going by-the-rulebook act. The only scene in which Akshaye outdoes Ajay is when he threatens to shoot the latter, after which Ajay accepts being afraid. Elsewhere, Ajay plays his usual self - high adrenaline chases on rooftops, crawling under trains and riding on top of an SUV. Paresh Rawal plays his part with ease, that of a scheming villain, and is supported by satisfactory performances by the other bad guys.

The story is realistic and believable, as the two protagonists do not pretend to be equipped with superhuman strength and find it easier to flee when encountering a dozen men flaunting swords. They do possess common sense and make the best of a situation, using chilli powder to unsettle their opponents, or observing the patterns formed by blowing dust to decide what route a fleeing car has taken when it is out of sight. Still, the film does not educate audiences about the vices of honour killings, as it focuses on a single case and paints people completely black or white, which might not be the case always. Some more time could have been spent portraying the anguish of the victim's family, but that might have interfered with the pace. Summing up, the film is more about 2 men and their fight against the system rather than an attempt at waking up consciences and highlighting social evils.

Worth viewing.


Added later: I haven't seen Mississippi Burning, which this one is supposed to be a remake of. Seems like Priyadarshan is not mending his ways !! view less

Thankfully, Priyadarshan has taken a 'well deserved break' from his cliched and humor-less comic-capers. Aakrosh has been hyperbolized as a desi ve... read more

Thankfully, Priyadarshan has taken a 'well deserved break' from his cliched and humor-less comic-capers. Aakrosh has been hyperbolized as a desi version of Oscar nominated (for Best Picture) 'Mississippi Burning' where the crux is changed from racism to 'Honor Killings'. The clarification is registered at the outset in the film about Aakrosh being a fictional story on some facts.

Aakrosh draws audiences' attention from the very first frame and promises to hold-on to the interest in entirety. It runs with slick pace half way through, which could boast of some sassy turn of events coupled with sincere performances by protagonists and the supporting cast. Moviegoers would enjoy the chalk-and-cheese characters of Akshay Khanna and Ajay Devgn, their contrasting modus-operandi and frequent altercation. On the flipside, sub-plot concerning casteism doesn't really extort instant empathy; wrath increases manifold though, once heinous acts were committed towards the leading ladies. Overall the shrillness of the subject is maintained throughout, with some obvious exceptions of not-so-happening scenes and a forced song. One would hate to accept that the climax is bit-stretched and far-too conventional and trite.

Spellbinding performance by all the actors 'binds' the film together. Ajay Devgn is at ease in a role which showcases glimpses of his own portrayal in Prakash Jha's flicks, yet well-within a cocooned shell that the character demanded. As always, Ajay enacts his 'about-to-explode' demeanor to perfection. Am bit disappointed though, with the usage of duplicate for this Action-star in one of the chase sequence. Akshay Khanna does full justice to his suave character and looks convincing both with his bookish investigation as well as one with a 'little-tweak'. Without any shadow of doubt, Paresh Rawal is the Jaan of Aakrosh. Though he plays a funny-blabbering antagonist for umpteenth time, yet he looks as refreshing as it gets. While de-glamed Bipasha is convincing in a small but pivotal role, Reema Sen is decent in a blink-and-miss appearance. Sameera Reddy fails to come anywhere closer to Dabanggs Munni.

Maverick Verdict: Aakrosh is a 'masaledaar' thought-provoking movie. If you are sick of watching silly songs-n-dance routine and 'hardly-funny' laughathons, then go watch Aakrosh or else STAY IN PEACE!
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