Botched up second half = Lost a great opportunity

Rating: 7/10 (20 November 2006)

A brilliant plot has been utterly wasted in the second half that culminates in a series of f***ed up events. As one comes away from the movie, one is led to ask 'what did the kids die for'? What was the take home message (kill the minister and give a half baked justification)? Clearly the purpose of Sue's visit is lost and so is the message that could have been given. The pre-independence Bhagat singh & Co had a clearly defined enemy (Brits) and a solution to that (freedom). What parallels could be justifiably drawn in the modern day 'Bhagat singh & Co'?
To me the movie can be conveniently divided into two parts? The 'Pre-Madhavan' half and the 'Post-Madhavan' half. While the build-up of the storyline in the first half was nothing short of fantastic (until the death of Madhavan's character), the plot fails miserably after the news break of his death. The storyline breaks down completely after the TV episode and what happens thereafter is a bunch of disgruntled youth showing their ire on a bumbling 'defence minister'(who becomes a hero anyway). The movie also takes convenient potshots the saffron-brigade as if the vast majority in that gang were a bunch of trouble seeking goons.
The story had an excellent chance showing a new breed of revolutionaries who could have made the faulty system PAY for its actions and bring the government down to its heels. Instead of literally assassinating the minister (who conveniently reflects the faulty system), they could have systematically gone about assassinating the character of the bad minister and senior officials whose shady deals often cost the lives of invaluable fighter pilots. The movie 'Tango Charlie' and 'Lakshya' perform admirably in this regard where the climax is smooth and makes an even landing.
In the end the movie looks nothing more than piece of good documentary. The first half is really natural and thought provoking. The second half degenerates into a hurried climax, thus insulting the great performances by the entire cast (not one excluded).
Rating - Frankly anything above 7 is over-rating.