Aakrosh-why this movie is a must watch

 

Why you should watch the movie Aakrosh
-not because Priyadarshan has comeback to directing  the serious film genre, not  for the power packed performances of Ajay devgan, Akshay Khanna and Paresh Rawal nor for the reason it is handling a serious subject like honour killing.
Ofcourse all above are the major strengths of the film Aakrosh and definitely add to its watch-ability.

But I recommend AAkrosh because-
This is a film that has combined a dark and current theme like honour killings with a narration style that is more of a commercial entertainer.  Still retained a comparatively realistic approach. It some where bridges the gap between art film and mass films thus is successful in reaching both the audience.

Not that we did not have films on serious themes like terrorism, honour killing, caste-communal conflicts that were commercially success earlier. This movie  stands apart for the reason it has portrayed the social evil -honour killings using the regular bollywood formula. It has the elements of a socialistic art movie, but told as thriller - entertainer that makes it a movie of the masses. No where you get a feeling that you are compelled to watch this movie for its message, nor you go out of the theatre feeling miserable or shaken. But at the same time it do stirrr the viewers conscience against the social malaise of honour killings .

The plot: Three students studying in  Delhi go missing in a small village - Jhanjar in Bihar. The  students protests and media  coverage  , force central government to investigate their missing. So there comes two police officers from CBI  Ajay Devgan(Pratap Kumar)  and (Akshay Khanna)Sidhant chaturvedi  to Jhanjar to investigate. .  Both have different attitudes one disciplined, calm, persuasive and systematic and thinks before he acts while other is aggressive ,  believes in action first and fist first. It is their chemistry that powers the first half of the film along with  good cinematography  by Thiru.

All is not well for the investigators here in this small town which is ruled by caste power with all its dark shades. The village is in the clutches of Shool sena run by upper caste goons who are hand in glove with the  police, politicians and administration. Paresh Rawal(SP Ajata shatru) plays the corrupted and ruthless police officer while Bipasha basu (Geetha) is his wife. She is also the love interest of Ajay.

One of the three  missing boys Deenu belong to a lower caste poor family  and was in love with a upper caste girl Roshni  from the same village. The boys get killed when they attempt to elope with Roshni from the village.
Fearing the shool sena nobody in the village is ready to cooperate with the investigators, including the missing boy Deenu's kin in the village.
Both Ajay and Akshay using their own ways makes inroads in to solving the mystery behind the boys disappearance.The narrative which is slow in the first half gets it required turns and twists in second half.

The + N -
Of course Aakrosh has its share of flaws, like slow paced first half, loose screenplay, the confusing portrayal of Paresh rawal in his office, he hardly get portrayed like a Police SP and many more.
 (let us comfortably  forget the hollywood  root -'Missisippi burnings' for the moment because Priyadarshan has totally indianised the concept and no where it looks like a hollywood movie).

The Cast: Hats off to the performance of Ajay Devgan and Akshay both have given excellent performance and their characters are also well crafted, Paresh Rawal is also at his best as the wicked police officer but   his character has its own flaws .

Bipasha is unconvincing for her role as a victim of domestic violence, she is totally a miscast in all respects. Reema sen though in a smaller role has given better performance.  Music is mediocre, i hardly remember any of the songs from the film when i write this, of course there is Sameera reddy in some number but i remember more of the dance scenes than the music of the song.  

  Aakrosh cannot be judged as the best film in every respect, but it is  a film that is worth watching.