Disappointing... doesn't achieve the desired purpose

Rating: 3/10 (11 February 2006)

There's been a bit too much hype about this movie. After all the publicity that the movie received, one would have expected it to be at least worth sitting through. Sadly, that's something that this film is definitely not worthy of. I admit that it attempts to raise some very crucial issues. The issues regarding the mindless frivolity that the college-going generation is apparently immersed in, the virtual ignorance of India's history (at least a superficial knowledge of the martyrdom of heroes who sought to win freedom for the country), questions of corruption at the highest levels ... The movie could and indeed should have explored these issues in a more effective way. Instead of appealing to innate sensitivity and intellect of the public, it sinks to the level of utter inanity! The scenes of choosing a cast for the documentary could have been edited a lot more drastically. All that it achieves is to lengthen the duration of the film. AND it's not even remotely funny!! As a matter of fact, the film could just as well have started off at the point where it does, after the intermission! I had read somewhere that the film takes a critical look at the corruption in the Defence Services, that lead to the MIG disasters. But that issue seems to have been overshadowed by a lot of other trivial matters... matters that apparently lead up to the ultimate climax, but are nonetheless merely pathetic exercises in trying to drag the film to a full feature length of a certain number of hours. The problem is not explored in a way that would have made it really hard-hitting. As a matter of fact, the film fails to bring the point across effectively. Rather a damp squib, if ever there was one!! What was surprising was that I didn't see too many people even discussing what they'd just seen, as they emerged from the cinema hall. Instead of this apathy, which is the best that the film has managed to achieve, what it could have done was to really shake up the dormant masses and set them thinking about what they'd just seen. The film isn't thought-provoking or in the least bit convincing in the way that it should have been. The musical score is also disappointing. None of the songs have any lasting appeal or recall quality. The denouement is meant to shock the public but the effort falls flat. All in all, I think that the movie could have done with a lot more vigorous editing and could have done away with most of the utterly pointless baggage that it has been burdened with. In conclusion, I'd like to say ... if you haven't seen the film ... DON'T!!! You'll be wasting your hard-earned money if you do!!