Peter_Young

A young group of four college students decide to play a rather vicious prank on the father of one of them, a young girl named Sheetal, threatening him that his daughter would be killed if he did not pay ransom. This prank goes totally bad, as the girl is mysteriously murdered during their hideout. Following the incident they look for ways to clamber out of the situation to avoid being blamed for no fault of their own, and they seem to make every possible mistake in the process. This is the core story of Khiladi, a typical Hindi film of the times in many aspects, but also a cut above the usual fare in others.

The early portions of the film offer some sweet nostalgic throwback right into the early 1990s, and the film feels pretty much like an enjoyable high school romance, filled with a youthful spirit and a lot of comedy. The comedy isn't very original or particularly funny, some of it is actually too obvious and exaggerated and the school excursion sequence in particular is clearly inspired by Some Like It Hot. The youthful feel, however, is quite sweet and pretty well handled. The camaraderie between the group of friends is right on, and some of the early songs feel pretty much like a take-off on Grease.

Once the film enters its suspense/murder mystery mode, it initially falters but recovers very soon. The group's reaction to Sheetal's murder is most unnatural. They don't seem shocked enough, they don't even go into the house checking if the murderer is there. What's more, just within seconds, they are too quick to pull themselves together and start planning what to do with the body! Even more weird is that the one who first initiates getting rid of the body is the guy who's supposed to be the victim's boyfriend. That too, their plans to get rid of the body are so unsophisticated it's almost funny.

This is not to say this part is bad enough to ruin the film, because the story reemerges very soon, and as it turns into a murder mystery thriller cum whodunit, it's enjoyably effective. The viewer is left wondering who could have possibly been the murderer, and this secret is kept really well. Technically, the film is quite okay, the camera and sound are decent, it's okay within the context of the film. The music is excellent, with some youthful numbers decorating the first half, while ballads like the sensuous "Dekha Teri Mast Nigahon Mein" and the melodious "Waada Raha Sanam" stand out and resonate.

A very young Akshay Kumar is perfect for this lead role. It was clear right then that he had everything it took in terms of star quality - very handsome, eminently likable, and with a strong, charismatic screen presence. It goes without saying that his action scenes are superbly performed. What's more, he's a complete natural throughout and is so easy on the camera. Ayesha Jhulka is cute and efficient. Deepak Tijori plays his regular part in those days, that of the main hero's good friend. The rest of the cast do well in their bit parts, and although the acting is typical for a commercial Hindi film, it's generally okay.

Khiladi is overall a very enjoyable experience, and I'm sure for many it bears some great nostalgic value, given the songs and that innocent atmosphere of yesterday's mainstream films, which is somewhat missing in today's more sophisticated cinema. Those were the days when films didn't have much financial or technical advances that prevail today, but they had heart and a strong sense of connection to the Indian culture and to the moviegoing masses. Khiladi actually does a good job of not spoonfeeding the audience to an over-reaching extent, and that's why it's watchable and entertaining even today.

Okay, the film doesn't really start very well, but once the character of Lallu is introduced, it's quite fun and watchable. Towards the end, however, it goes back to being a rather pathetic sort of enterprise where some of the action and especially the court scenes are hilarious in their absurdity. The court in particular feels like a circus and I can't believe many of the things presented in it made sense to the writers, director, or actors playing in it. Everything in between, as Lallu enters the house of a wealthy businessman, gains his trust and eventually marries his spoilt daughter, is eminently watchable. The film takes plot elements from Umesh Mehra's own films like Mujrim, so everything is rather familiar, but it's watchable. Much of the film is set in a huge mansion, which is usual. The cinematography does get a little funny, as the lighting and the use of smoke and shades is exaggerated, but within the context of a thriller or mystery, it's quite passable.

Sabse Bada Khiladi rests on the able shoulders of Akshay Kumar, and you gotta like this actor, who's always greatly unaffected and whose wholesome personality and impressive agility in the action scenes and throughout the show is totally entertaining. Less should be said about the rest of the cast, including his pretty leading lady, Mamta Kulkarni, who just fills in the blank, and some of the caricature villains. Mohnish Bahl, for one, just doesn't suit his villainous turn at all. I wish the film had delved more into the romance between Akshay and Mamta, which was sadly lacking despite the shock value in some of their lip locks. The music is nice, especially that sensuous "Bharo" number (copied from Enigma's "Hallelujah"), which is quite exotic and is probably the only instance where Mamta gets an opportunity to shine through her dance and sultry presence. Sabse Bada Khiladi is a typical action film of the 1990s, and it's a little silly, but overall, quite fun.

October starts with very good premises, and it is indeed an appreciable art film which is real, authentic and quite moving. The film centers on the character of a young man who appears quite a spoiled brat and hardly takes anything seriously, including his job a luxurious Mumbai hotel where doing a good job could propel his career forward. An incident with one of his colleagues, a girl who might have been interested in him, gradually changes his perspective, and he becomes so invested in it, that everything else in his life becomes sidelined. While his character couldn't be more annoying in the early portions of the film, you really start seeing beyond what meets the eye and actually liking him a bit. The entire development of the story from then on is poignant and moving.

True to its premise, October is a very serious and realistic film, and while it's consistently watchable, it's a little slow and does require patience. Technically the film is excellent - it's well shot, the background score is beautifully soothing and very fitting to the situation, the dialogue is casual and real, and the overall high production values make for a watchable film. Varun Dhawan performs competently in the lead, and his gradual self-discovery and personal growth from the obnoxious, self-centred guy into a man of conscience and respect is well etched-out. Banita Sandhu is very good throughout, especially when she becomes bedridden, and Gitanjali Rao is excellent as her devoted mother. October is a poignant film but it could have benefited from a tighter script.