If you could remember a film named AATISH that was released in early nineties, you could also remember the name of the director. It was MR. SANJAY GUPTA. Since that movie, he has emerged as one of the intelligent director who also has that ability to perform the duties of a producer or an executive producer. Just like Spielberg!
After a couple of disaster movies like JUNG that he did with his all time buddy SANJAY DUTT, he finally came out with the tense thriller, ZINDA that was very much based on OLDBOY, a 2003 Korean film. Not to forget the 2002 blockbuster KANTEE based on the legendary RESERVOIR DOGS. This was even better than the DOGS, only because of well written dialogs by a complete rookie MILAP ZAVERI, but still, the movie was a hit and was appreciated, so the glory to MR. GUPTA stands.
Now, for the people who are not from India and don't know the Indian culture and political/social environment, here is something for them
.
FOR NON-INDIANS
Though, judging from the TV news, a person living in western country, mainly Europe or USA often concludes India as a very difficult place to live and a place of complete chaos. And very often, they are right. For example, I would like to refer to a survey that took place in the city of Surat where I live. As per that survey, there is currently one, I repeat ONE policeman per 1200 repeat twelve hundred citizens in the state/region. This data is shocking! Not even the people of western countries, but people here also wonder several times how this country is running. Imagine this scenario in any developed country, and that country would be in condition of civil war!
But in complete contradiction to this, my country is normal.
This fact is confusing for others, but still it remains.It is amazing how a POLICE FORCE, outnumbered to such an extent, is taking care of a such a huge law and order system. No wonder it is called FORCE
And a common man here is mostly afraid of the police, decides to stay away from them, and for the same reason, decides to stay away from the crime.
This fact has a strong context to this film. In the early nineties, the city of Mumbai was a mess with gangs and the shootouts between these gangs on the roads were common. Countless innocent people lost their lives in these shootouts.
Mumbai police, in those times, took some decisions and ATS ANTI TERRORIST SQUADS were formed which killed more than 200 gangsters in the city in less than seven years. The methodology became popular as 'Encounter' and the policemen were nicknamed 'The Encounter Specialists'. It was simple. Instead of taking a hardcore gangster to justice, he was shot on place, murdered and then reported dead in encounter with police! As a result, the gang riots and shootouts declined in the city and today, the nineties are history. The city of Mumbai lives in peace today, and majority of the population is supporting the police.
It was during these times, when Mahindra Dolas, popularly known as 'Maya' became one of the most feared and wanted gangster, and whatever efforts the ATS took in killing him are portrayed in this film. Much of the base for the script was from book SURRENDER by Additional Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Aftab Ahmed Khan, the then in charge of ATS. SANJUBABA plays his character in film.
The director APURVA(APOORVA) LAKHIA has finally hit the mark after giving weak/flop films like 'Mumbai Se Aya Mera Dost' which was disaster on box office. His other flop with AMITABH BACHCHA was 'EK AJNABI', stolen from DENZEL WASHINGTON starer, . This time, thankfully, he has remained away from stealing plots from Hollywood movies and has worked on something original.
The songs in movie are totally unnecessary. Aarti Chabaria looks impressive, but has done nothing which could be termed as acting. All she has done is exposed, just like she did in her other movies. But she looks beautiful for the first time in her entire carrier. I will give her that. Other ladies are wasted. No comments on them. Neha Dhupia's character was not at all required and her poor acting and not-so-impressive appearance has only slowed down the movie.
TUSHAR KAPOOR, is brother of EKTA KAPOOR, one of the producers and has worked hard and tried to act well. He looks good too. Compare to his other films, in which it was terrible to watch him on the screen, this time he seems at least OK. Before this, he was only EKTA KAPOOR'S brother, and so, was an actor. He has acted for the first time. But he will always remain a pooor actor just like his father, jumping jack Jeetendra.
The movie has a gripping script and direction. The director has done a good job of keeping the pace of the film and the events are well edited. Camera moves only when necessary and has remained away from using camera gimmicks like Ekta Kapoor who is one of the producers.
Music and background music are OK. In fact, on the second thought, they are worse and it looks that the music director has done nothing. Above all it is the story, the director, SANJAY GUPTA'S touch and SANJAY DUTT'S presence in the movie that makes it worth watching.
My heartily good wishes to MR. LAKHIA. I hope he sticks to good scripts like this and stops the adoption from Hollywood movies.
REGARDS, M.
