Anek Movie Review: The monotonous screenplay makes this Ayushmann Khurrana starrer a dull watch despite the North-Eastern representation
Anek
The plot of Anek revolves around Aman (Ayushmann Khurrana) who's assigned by the government to bring about peace between the Indian government and Tiger Sangha (Loitongbam Dorendra) in the North East of India.
When the trailer of Anek was released, many wondered whether the movie will be able to recreate the same magic as Ayushmann Khurrana and Anubhav Sinha 's Article 15 . Revolving around the conflicts and political turmoil in the Northeast region of India, the movie tries to put forth a strong message but falls flat due to the monotonous screenplay and plotline. The sole validating aspect of the movie lies in the honest effort to bring forth a North-Eastern representation of the celluloid but that too fails to shine due to the shoddy treatment of the same.
The plot of Anek revolves around Aman (Ayushmann Khurrana) who's assigned by the government to bring about peace between the Indian government and Tiger Sangha (Loitongbam Dorendra) in the North East of India. Amidst the pressure on him to conduct a peace settlement by his superior Abrar Bhatt ( Manoj Pahwa ), our protagonist also has to tackle a hidden militant force called Johnson whose rebellious act is directed to curb the peace treaty. On the other hand, there's Aido (Andrea Kevichusa) who's fighting her own battles on the path of her dream to represent India in boxing.
The biggest obstacle that Anek faces is in the screenplay and the editing. Anubhav Sinha's attempt to highlight the racism, atrocities, and exploitation of the North-Eastern population is praiseworthy but is presented in a rushed and dull execution. There are some overly convoluted sub-plots that don't let the audience connect with any developments in the characters or the plot. The extremity in the rebellious aura of the characters and the overall storyline also comes across as preachy in some parts.
Anubhav Sinha's Article 15 had stood out due to its attempt to strike a chord with its gripping subject with some subtle moments and sub-plots but Anek just fails to create that impact. Aido's storyline looked promising but it was reduced to be a second-hand version of Mary Kom and was overshadowed by the conflict plotline. The movie scores right on the racism part where the female protagonist is referred to as 'Parlour Wali' and 'Bangkok Se Aayi Hai' along with the terms 'Chinki' and 'Chilly Chicken' being used frequently. The dialogues consisting of the need for unity and putting forth the plight of the suppressed North-East Indian population also fail to strike a chord. The cause of the protagonist's mission as well as the rebellious group's operations also lacks depth.
Talking about the performances, Ayushmann Khurrana is undeniably a star performer but somehow the actor is isn't at his best element in Anek. Is this because of the poor and monotone treatment of his character or his personal approach to it? One fails to understand. There's no connectivity to his character on why at one point, he's shown to be shrude enough to use an innocent girl for his own benefit and on the other side, he becomes this sudden preachy rebel protesting against his peers. We've definitely seen better from the actor.
Andrea Kevichusa as Aido gives a promising act but her character doesn't get a wholesome and efficient manner to shine. Her plotline on the center stage would've enhanced the movie furthermore. Kumud Mishra , Manoj Pahwa, JD Chakravarthi, Loitongbam Dorendra did justice to their characters. The other North-Eastern artists also created a strong impact with their performance.
The music does not create a very strong impact except for track 'Mama' which showcases the bond between a mother and a son. The cinematography by Ewan Mulligan and Dhananjay Navagrah is top-notch especially in a surgical strike sequence. Overall despite a promising subject, Anek falls flat due to the wearisome treatment.