One of the better movies in recent times to come out of that film churning machine called Bollywood, this film does not flatter to deceive.
Script & Music: The film runs on a very tight script and has a nice flow to it, with the music and songs never releasing the tension or disrupting the flow. In fact, the biggest plus point would be the soundtrack, edgy, metallic and racy at times, yet moody, melancholic and somber at other times, carrying the narrative forward. Rajkumar Gupta has carried forward the good work from his last masterpiece, 'Aamir'. Excellent direction and camera work, along with high emotional content make this eminently watchable. However, unnecessary use of expletives at times seems forced and contrived.
Acting: Rajesh Sharma takes the cake with his brilliant portrayal of a dishonest cop who still has some qualms of fairness left in him. Vidya Balan starts off shakily with wailing and screaming, but later matures and pulls off her part beautifully, particularly in the funeral scenes. The one big let down is Rani Mukherji, who never gets under the skin of the role, despite all her acrobatics, huffing & puffing, obscenities and supposed 'wise cracks'. Her act seems contrived, and the dialogues lack conviction or charm. The role of a firebrand journalist eludes her, which was portrayed much better by a Preity Zinta in Lakshya.
Styling: Spot on for almost everyone, except again, the journalist protagonist. TV reporters are careful about the image they portray and Rani's clothes kept clashing from scene to scene, while she goes on national TV in a girly T shirt, jeans and neck pendant, she wears beautiful designer trench-coats at rallies. Amateur stuff not expected from a director of this caliber.
Overall, a good watch, not living up to 'Aamir', but tight, edgy editing and music ensures the interest of the audience is engaged till the last minute/ scene. The biggest plus would be, there are very few loopholes in this film, though in retrospect, since the film has been scripted exactly along the real murder case, scope for such bunglings and necessity for research work was low.
Script & Music: The film runs on a very tight script and has a nice flow to it, with the music and songs never releasing the tension or disrupting the flow. In fact, the biggest plus point would be the soundtrack, edgy, metallic and racy at times, yet moody, melancholic and somber at other times, carrying the narrative forward. Rajkumar Gupta has carried forward the good work from his last masterpiece, 'Aamir'. Excellent direction and camera work, along with high emotional content make this eminently watchable. However, unnecessary use of expletives at times seems forced and contrived.
Acting: Rajesh Sharma takes the cake with his brilliant portrayal of a dishonest cop who still has some qualms of fairness left in him. Vidya Balan starts off shakily with wailing and screaming, but later matures and pulls off her part beautifully, particularly in the funeral scenes. The one big let down is Rani Mukherji, who never gets under the skin of the role, despite all her acrobatics, huffing & puffing, obscenities and supposed 'wise cracks'. Her act seems contrived, and the dialogues lack conviction or charm. The role of a firebrand journalist eludes her, which was portrayed much better by a Preity Zinta in Lakshya.
Styling: Spot on for almost everyone, except again, the journalist protagonist. TV reporters are careful about the image they portray and Rani's clothes kept clashing from scene to scene, while she goes on national TV in a girly T shirt, jeans and neck pendant, she wears beautiful designer trench-coats at rallies. Amateur stuff not expected from a director of this caliber.
Overall, a good watch, not living up to 'Aamir', but tight, edgy editing and music ensures the interest of the audience is engaged till the last minute/ scene. The biggest plus would be, there are very few loopholes in this film, though in retrospect, since the film has been scripted exactly along the real murder case, scope for such bunglings and necessity for research work was low.