Film Review: 'Bhopal - A Prayer For Rain' has its heart in right place, had it beaten little more passionately

Film: Bhopal - A Prayer For Rain
Director: Ravi Kumar
Cast: Martin Sheen, Kal Penn, Raajpal Yadav, Mischa Barton, Tannishta Chatterjee, Manoj Joshi, Joy Sengupta
Rating: **1/2

What's it about: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy gets revisited through the eyes of a journalist and a daily wage worker.

What's hot: The star cast comes across as sincere enough to pull off the characters they play. The story is briskly and confidently told, it makes no bones about pointing fingers and stating the obvious. Attention has been paid to period detailing in every respect, from costuming to sets. Martin Sheen is remarkable though he rarely appears in the film.

What's not: The Hinglish film seems lost in translation. Some characters come off too one-dimensional. Mischa's character seemed altogether unnecessary. And why is there only one doctor on duty in an entire hospital? Why does Raajpal manage to last longer than the others exposed to the gas despite going out of his way to get into harm's way. How come the doctor and the nurses survive with no seeming symptoms despite being surrounded by the gas and it's victims? The film takes the viewer for granted in places.

What to do: This film has its heart in the right place. If only it had beat a little more passionately... this cautionary chronicle would have been that much more impactful.