First things first, when u go to watch Samrat &Co don't go with a comparative state of mind that you gonna watch Desi Sherlock, or Indian Benedict Cumberbatch...because if you will deliberately try to find someone else in Samrat it will not only be unfair but disappointing also as it will kill the whole idea & fun of watching a suspense film.
So for all those who have seen & read Sherlock Holmes (like me) comparisons are inevitable because the mere mention of word detective is synonymous with Sherlock Holmes....but you would not enjoy the film if you watch Samrat & Co with an intention of comparing scene to scene , frame to frame, dialogue to dialogue... so my advice is before watching Samrat &Co keep all detective references back home... & welcome & meet Samrat as a new detective, an addition to the whole list of Detectives we have known till now, & film Samrat &Co.... as any other new suspense film..trust me, you will enjoy the film more...
Initially when the case actually started off I also was comparing but gradually kept comparisons aside & focused on the case as it engages you eventually & you start solving case along with Samrat, you start making your own assumptions who is criminal who is not, who is positive or negative !! Film as a whole has been good...it sticks to its genre, efforts of writer & director sud be appreciated they managed to keep the interest & Mystery level intact till the end (It kept me guessing till the end) & every time u think Samrat has solved the case...it just takes a twist & u get surprised...& DAT the basic requirement for any suspense thriller...& must say Samrat&Co fulfills it...
A special mention for the dialogs some have turned out really good... like "Pyaar Aur war me in Sab fair Hota hai Kyunki do no me second prize nahi Hota"..."Aadmi who Nahi hota Jo who dikhata hai...Aadmi who hota hai Jo who chupata hai"
CD & Samrat's camaraderie is something to watch out... CD manages to crack u up at many places...
Though I personally felt there were certain things which director cud have done away with...for instance he cud have reduced number of suspects because if you loose the track of story, somewhere amidst of so many characters it tends to get confusing (I did got confused) but guess to keep the mystery more gripping it was required :) Also, putting in romantic angle for Samrat-Dimpy wasn't required since it was there we watched, if it wouldn't have been there it wouldn't have made much of difference...& thankfully it wasn't dragged much... :) :) Since as a audience the main focus remains on the case Samrat needs to solve so,like any other suspense film it didn't have much scope for music, except for the background music, & Of course "Sawalon me in", it was wonderful...would have loved to hear more of it ....Song in itself has a mysterious & chilling feel to it...
As a character Samrat is very much of a detective, intelligent, smart, & a very keen observer...not even a minute details escapes his eye... just a glance & he will know your past present & future... Best thing about Samrat is director & creative have not made him a filmy & heroic kind of character... even in the opening fight sequence more than muscle power it was all about brains coz physically Samrat was no where in competition with the fighter (Though the whole shot was a proper fan girl moment for me ^_^ ) Samrat solved the case more with brains....& with his instincts oops sorry (tcchhh) seventh sense!! ...
Rajeev as Samrat pulls off to manage Samrat convincingly enough...& practically carries film on himself in spite of presence of other characters who make their presence felt....As Samrat Rajeev makes you believe in him as a detective & as a Rajeev khandelwal fan its gonna be a treat to watch him...
Overall would give 3 out of 5...(tried to be as unbiased & non-comparative as possible) you would enjoy the film if you watch it with open mind...Don't watch it just for the heck of comparison or to rip the film apart & trash the film.... instead the efforts of writer, director, actors, production house to come up with something like this should be appreciated... The whole team deserves praise for introducing us to a new private investigator, I don't think Hindi films has any detective film in past many years... at least I have not seen it...
Once again Welcome the new detective "Samrat"
