Aakrosh

Last night, I watched Mississipi Burning (1988) and was taken by surprise. It was really a shock to see how every bit of the movie has been copied by Priyadarshan. When I say 'copy', I mean it. Akrosh has nothing original to offer. Mississipi becomes UP/Bihar and racist killing takes the shape of honor killing. Rest remains same: the setting, the place the detectives stay, the place where killings happen, so on and so forth. Ajay Devgan plays a perfect Gene Hackman and does justice to the role. Akshaye Khanna plays a Defoe, the second lead. Can you believe it he appears in the same get-up as Dafoe in Mississipi...? Paresh Rawal's part has been a little spiced up to cater to the taste of Indian audience.

Mississipi burning maintains the pace and never goes off-track, thanks to the director. Priyadarshan spoils the momentum by bringing in too-unrealistic and melodramatic fight sequences. Watch Mississipi Burning for a much better viewing experience. Aakrosh is an average remake...nothing more!

Priyadarshan finally decided to make a movie based on serious issues after a series of comedy stuff. The last I remember was Virasat and before it Gardish. Now both of them were well made movies but not to forget that they were remake of South Indian movies.

This would be the first time he comes with a serious and original script. The movie is based on the recent hyped honour killings in India. An honour killing is a killing of young ones who despite of belonging to different castes, fall in love with each other. Not that honour killing weren't happening earlier but Priyadarshan took the right opportunity to make a movie on this subject due to lots of media news on it.

The movie is a work of fiction with the background being disappearance of three young boys in a remote village named Jhanjhar. Enter our two CBI officers Sidhant (Akshaye) and Pratap (Ajay) who are given the task by the central government to find the whereabouts of the three missing ones. What starts from here is the mystery behind their disappearance, the corrupt acts of the local policemen (Paresh Rawal as the SP), the violent acts of one Shool Sena, the silence of villagers despite of multiple atrocities, the frustration of the two protagonists on being within the law despite of the fact that everyone else around is lawless and despite of all their efforts the criminals set free by the court. All this leads to anguish(Aakrosh) in both of them.

What Priyadarshan misses is demarcation in making this movie serious or entertaining. Recently we had one serious movie on the pitiful state of farmers who cannot payback the loan they owe (Peepli Live). On the other hand there was a recent entertaining stuff on the background of a village with a Robinhood type cop (Dabangg). Aakrosh goes one way or the other in its whole run. There are authentic talks and brainy investigation by the two officers but then there are also unnecessary song sequences, romantic moments and unbelievable stunts.

As a package though, the movie is not bad. Viewers will be glued to their seats due to the thrill and tensed theme of the movie. At times the direction of the movie picks up but loses momentum later on. This goes on till end. The script is good if not brilliant and at the end you have a satisfied feel. Performance wise, the cop duo chemistry between Ajay and Akshaye is excellent and the biggest turn on of the movie. Ajay takes most of the canvas and in his ruthless and gutsy role, performs very well. Akshaye also plays superbly his role as the tactful and strategist cop. Paresh Rawal is good but his character development as a comical and villainous SP of the village is improper given the fact that earlier he has played this kind of role very well(e.g. Milan, Mohra). The actresses are just shown as depleted woman of the society but they play their part as what supposed to be.

Not in terms of a serious view but to watch an decent action flick this movie can be seen.

Aakrosh boasts of a very good star-cast. But in the past we have seen many movies falter despite having a great star-cast. The reason (very obvious)----Lack of a good Story Line. Well, its this aspect in which Aakrosh takes the lead from others. In India, the movies are made around the Interval. Its often that a movie builds its mood up-to the interval and then takes pace. But Aakrosh takes just initial 5 minutes in building the mood and manages (with aplomb)in keeping it up. The story is gripping. The action sequences are top-notch. The songs are few and well placed. The background score is terrific and the performances are fantastic. Though there is an excess of violence but it goes with the feel of the movie.

Overall, a good movie which should not be missed.

AAKROSH – CATCH IT ( B+ ) Aakrsoh is really hard core and hard hitting movie, it's dark and captivating. The movie presents the right cover up stories behind the honor killings. Aakrosh, most of the times become heavy and dramatic. Still it's a great attempt by Priya Darshan. Ajay Devgan again proves why people love him both in comedy and hard hitting cinema. He again brought a great social subject with utmost decency to on screen. Akshaye khanna, well I don't like his shouting in every other sequence, he seems like doing the same shouting in comedy, action or dramatic movies. Bipasha Basu is first rate and amazing as Paresh Rawal's victim wife. She really excels in every movie from comedy to hardcore cinema. Reema Sen is first class, for a single second she didn't look like a heroine she was so much in her character and whatever happened to Bipasha Basu and Reema Sen was pretty horrible in the movie. Paresh Rawal is outstanding, he is the king of comedies and villains too, another great performance by Mr.Paresh Rawal. Sameera Reddy's Hot item song was really fun to watch. Overall, a good hard hitting movie which is quite suspenseful and hardcore.

Watch or Not?: Definitely watch it as there is hardly any such good movies in Bollywood. and of course there is Ajay Devgan + Paresh Rawal.

As it happens, whenever you first hear about how great a movie is and then go n watch the movie, it just doesn't stands up to the expectation you have built it for the movie in your minds. However, being a Priyadarshan(Director) movie( who excels in comedy movies), my expectations weren't sky high. The film plot has great scope for an enthralling venture and thats why the movie is enjoyable supported by Ajay Devgan experience of acting in such social-oriented-plot movies. Watching him always makes you forget u have popcorn to eat. He simply captures your attention.

The story is about murder of 3 teenagers in a village n how a CBI officer(Akshay Khanna) and an Army officer(Ajay Devgan) goes about to solve it.

The best part of the movie is Paresh Rawal, acting as a shrewd local Police Officer. With the ease he portrays the villain character, reminds you of his villain roles in 90s.