Reviews

What impressed me most about the movie is the tightness of the script. Events unfold one after the other. Neither too fast, nor too slow. Keeps you gripped. The events are coherent. Something you rarely see in Indian movies is people referring to events that have happened in the beginning of the movie. More often than not, the scripts are improvised on the sets and to maintain continuity the dialogues are abstract in nature so that the different parts gel in. To make a movie with cross references to subtle events needs you to have a script very firmly in place.

Second good thing about the movie was the experimentation with Visuals. Though at some points I felt that they have just indulged into special effects without the need for it (they should use effects only where needed), but honestly I was very impressed by the efforts taken to meet quality standards.

What has put off many people about the movie is the songs and dance and the unrealistic fights and some silly extremisms. Well the songs really don't have much bearing on the movie. And they have experimented with a very rustic style of entertainment which won't get wasted on everyone. As far as the fights and 'silly extremisms' go, I feel they tried to retain the HERO flavour which would really appeal to a large aspect of the masses.

The movie has very innovative ideas and also dares to be different - thougt most of that part should be attributed to its South Indian Counterpart.

I would say please go and see the movie. Its a nice experience. Appreciate it for its professionalism and technical expertise. Appreciate it for amazing dialogues and great performances by Paresh Rawal and Anil Kapoor both. It is a thought provoking film - something I feel the movie really set out to be. So its purpose is served.

It revolves around three convicts who are facing a death sentence, and a woman making a documentary on them.

Its a slow paced movie, but its unconventional story and some really nice devices used (like simultaneous scenes & incremental flashbacks) make it a very gripping movie.

Its a treat to watch and speculation persists throughout the movie - and the movie does have a few predictable and stereotyped aspects, but the way they all fit in makes you pardon them.

Though the plot has been very well woven, the characters somehow haven't been polished enough. Jackie is good, as a lawyer who is now a convict. He is an intellectual & sophisticated person. But his reasons for being the way he is aren't really highlighted well. Maybe some scenes were lost in editing. Naseeruddin is a take-life-as-it-comes carefree small-timer who finds himself behind bars quite too often. He has played his character very well, handled all the subtleties effectively. Juhi as the Movie Maker, comes out as a simple straight-forward unhappily married woman. Her character though has some quirky characteristics, which don't seem to blend in well. Her character could have been more atomic. Nagesh himself shines through as a very natural Unsophisticated Hyderabadi Accountant. His realistic dialogue delivery is a fresh break from the dramatic delivery one generally finds in Bollywood. His is an endearing character. Gulshan Grover is the capable jailor and has sunk into his role. But his role wasn't very demanding, so he hasn't really got a chance to showcase himself here. Overall, the interaction between the varied characters,the setting of a Andhra Pradesh Jail, and the beatifully narrated story, make it a must see.