Directed by : Prakash Jha
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2275802/
Strong 1st half is let-down with a disastrous 2nd half.. Average Movie
Read at your own risk, the post is full of spoilers.
My journey with Prakash Jha cinema began with Raajneeti, and unlike many others I very much loved it. I am yet to watch his two much acclaimed movies, 'Gangaajal' and 'Apharan', hoping to catch them sooner. But ever since Raajneeti, Jha's films hasn't left me with the impact I thought I am gonna have with his films. Much on the lines of Madhur Bhandarakar since Fashion.
Like his previous films, Satyagraha again is a political issue based movie on the lines of Anna's anshan. Though the movie isn't based on anshan, it just forms a important part of the narrative. To be frank, Prakash Jha begins the film on perfect note, the 1st half is very close to flawless or worth sitting for 2nd half thinking this may be a winner. The reason is that he doesn't try to show Manav (Ajay Devgan) lifestyle and the corruption he himself has been part of. Instead, he focusses on the main character i.e Dwarka (Amitabh Bachchan). The adarsh and usool he lives by, and the ones he taught his own son Akhilesh (Indraneil Sengupta) too. Dwarka finds problems in the way people like Manav live, he believes its these modern people who are contributing to the corrupt system of India.
Jha keeps the Dwarka's family story as main plot, while he shifts the story some years forward. A tragedy happens with Dwarka family, Manav returns and thereby starts the revolution against the system. Everything looks going good, but in 2nd half he divulges into un-necessary parameters. First, the awkardly built romantic relationship between Manav and Yasmeen (Kareena Kapoor), who even break into a romantic song which had to be avoided for the narrative sake. Then, the way he directs the scene where Dwarka decides he will go on anshan was unconvincing. Thats a reason why I never felt that special feeling when Raghupati Raghav Rajaram song comes, even though I love that song and the way Prasoon Joshi has changed lyrics to match the current system of India.
And then to make it worse, Jha quickly ends the film in few minutes, a powerful minister Balram (Manoj Bajpayee) for almost 100 minutes of movie, suddenly becomes weak and without any power in final 10 minutes. That scene was most funnily edited when they show a shot of character telling Balram is missing from his house, and the cut to a location where Balram is and Manav opens the door and beats him. At that time, only thing I was wondering that Jha was surely in a hurry to end the film either while shooting or while editing happened.
1st half promises you a revolution that would anger you against the system, as we all know how badly corrupt it is. But, the 2nd half diverts in every possible direction and almost defeats the purpose the film had set it to do. The sub-plots of Manav's corrupt life before coming to Dwarka place after death of his son, and the secret search as to how he was killed by Manav and a police inspector.. was stretched. Also, showing Yasmeen go against Manav feeling he is taking wrong direction.. to add drama.. didn't work for me either.
Performances wise, Amitabh Bachchan shines brilliantly, special mention to that scene where he enters the collector's office, slaps him saying 'janta ke naukar hai aap, aur battmeezi bardaasht nahi karenge hum'. That for me was the most powerful scene of the movie, or maybe the only one.
Ajay Devgan is decent, seen him in such roles too often. so doesn't really bring anything new. Same goes for Manoj Bajpayee, though his way of delivering dialogues always gives same roles something extra, along with the way he improvises. Arjun Rampal is fine, not as impressive as he was in Raajneeti.
Kareena Kapoor looks beautiful as a journalist, thats it.. her performance was weak. Amrita Rao is wasted in a small role, only worth scene for her was when she goes to collector's office to get the money Balram had promised to her family.
Overall, Satyagraha had a great intention.. it looked like going towards it but in the middle it lost its way and ended up nowhere. The message they wanted to convey comes across but not in the manner one would have liked. Still the film is watchable for 1st half and good performances from Amitabh and Manoj.
Verdict : AVERAGE
Imdb link -> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2275802/
Strong 1st half is let-down with a disastrous 2nd half.. Average Movie
Read at your own risk, the post is full of spoilers.
My journey with Prakash Jha cinema began with Raajneeti, and unlike many others I very much loved it. I am yet to watch his two much acclaimed movies, 'Gangaajal' and 'Apharan', hoping to catch them sooner. But ever since Raajneeti, Jha's films hasn't left me with the impact I thought I am gonna have with his films. Much on the lines of Madhur Bhandarakar since Fashion.
Like his previous films, Satyagraha again is a political issue based movie on the lines of Anna's anshan. Though the movie isn't based on anshan, it just forms a important part of the narrative. To be frank, Prakash Jha begins the film on perfect note, the 1st half is very close to flawless or worth sitting for 2nd half thinking this may be a winner. The reason is that he doesn't try to show Manav (Ajay Devgan) lifestyle and the corruption he himself has been part of. Instead, he focusses on the main character i.e Dwarka (Amitabh Bachchan). The adarsh and usool he lives by, and the ones he taught his own son Akhilesh (Indraneil Sengupta) too. Dwarka finds problems in the way people like Manav live, he believes its these modern people who are contributing to the corrupt system of India.
Jha keeps the Dwarka's family story as main plot, while he shifts the story some years forward. A tragedy happens with Dwarka family, Manav returns and thereby starts the revolution against the system. Everything looks going good, but in 2nd half he divulges into un-necessary parameters. First, the awkardly built romantic relationship between Manav and Yasmeen (Kareena Kapoor), who even break into a romantic song which had to be avoided for the narrative sake. Then, the way he directs the scene where Dwarka decides he will go on anshan was unconvincing. Thats a reason why I never felt that special feeling when Raghupati Raghav Rajaram song comes, even though I love that song and the way Prasoon Joshi has changed lyrics to match the current system of India.
And then to make it worse, Jha quickly ends the film in few minutes, a powerful minister Balram (Manoj Bajpayee) for almost 100 minutes of movie, suddenly becomes weak and without any power in final 10 minutes. That scene was most funnily edited when they show a shot of character telling Balram is missing from his house, and the cut to a location where Balram is and Manav opens the door and beats him. At that time, only thing I was wondering that Jha was surely in a hurry to end the film either while shooting or while editing happened.
1st half promises you a revolution that would anger you against the system, as we all know how badly corrupt it is. But, the 2nd half diverts in every possible direction and almost defeats the purpose the film had set it to do. The sub-plots of Manav's corrupt life before coming to Dwarka place after death of his son, and the secret search as to how he was killed by Manav and a police inspector.. was stretched. Also, showing Yasmeen go against Manav feeling he is taking wrong direction.. to add drama.. didn't work for me either.
Performances wise, Amitabh Bachchan shines brilliantly, special mention to that scene where he enters the collector's office, slaps him saying 'janta ke naukar hai aap, aur battmeezi bardaasht nahi karenge hum'. That for me was the most powerful scene of the movie, or maybe the only one.
Ajay Devgan is decent, seen him in such roles too often. so doesn't really bring anything new. Same goes for Manoj Bajpayee, though his way of delivering dialogues always gives same roles something extra, along with the way he improvises. Arjun Rampal is fine, not as impressive as he was in Raajneeti.
Kareena Kapoor looks beautiful as a journalist, thats it.. her performance was weak. Amrita Rao is wasted in a small role, only worth scene for her was when she goes to collector's office to get the money Balram had promised to her family.
Overall, Satyagraha had a great intention.. it looked like going towards it but in the middle it lost its way and ended up nowhere. The message they wanted to convey comes across but not in the manner one would have liked. Still the film is watchable for 1st half and good performances from Amitabh and Manoj.
Verdict : AVERAGE
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