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Director : Ravindra Gautam
Cast : Anupam Kher, Divyendu Sharma, Mukesh Rishi, Rajesh Sharma, Neha Dhupia, Aditi Sharma
An honest, principled man caught in the corrupt world. Of and on we get to see this imagery on screen and in many of them Anupam Kher plays the central character. This week he is again called to fill life in the satire mounted by Ravindra Gautam and he doesn’t disappoint.
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As Joshi, the municipality worker who takes pride in making his city clean and disease free he is the lifeline of the film which celebrates those who don’t barter their scruples when adversity knocks at the doors. Projected as corrupt on the last day of his service, Joshi doesn’t give up but his sons, who don’t believe in the road taken by their father, are keen to compromise. Their father gives up but not before eking out a promise from his youngest son (Divyendu Sharma) to get him a 21 gun salute. The idea seems far-fetched but Gautam takes the audience into confidence about the enormity of the task before taking them on a ride. It gets a little preachy and inconsistent in the second half but in the first when he sets the corrupt atmosphere the punches are potent and the comments on the politicians and the media are acerbic. He has got a bunch of talented artists (Mukesh Rishi underplays as the dishonest elder son and Aditi Sharma once again impresses with her expressive face) to convey the message. Rajesh Sharma breathes life into the CM caught in a scam which amounts to only 12 crores. The media, very well represented by Aasif Sheikh, sees more masala in it for it has a heroine (Neha Dhupia suits the part) at the centre of it. Seasoned actress Uttra Baokar lends more layers to the proceedings as the self-seeking mother of the Chief Minister.
A set of sharper scissors, a little less indulgence and verbosity would have done the trick for Gautam but still if you keep the expectations in check it is not a bad bet in a lean week.
Bottomline : A thought provoking satire whose punches are inconsistent but the intentions are unswerving.