Film review: 'Prague' is an experiment gone kaput

Film: Prague
Cast: Chandan Roy Sanyal, Arfi Lamba, Elena Kazan, Mayank Kumar
Director: Ashish R Shukla
Rating: *

What’s it about
Why Prague? This along with many other questions is what will leave you perplexed as you leave the theatre after watching this bag of loosely strung ideas. The film deals with the notion of guilt and the effects it can have your life. Our protagonist (Sanyal) is an architect working in Prague who is constantly haunted by the demons of his past. His work, relationships, everything is marred by what happened with his friend in the past. The screenplay is so confusing and mismatched that at any given point you keep wondering what is happening and if it has any relevance.

What’s hot
If you haven’t visited the Czech republic’s capital then Prague will definitely tempt you into making a trip. Camera work beautifully caresses the European architecture and captures the mood and feel of the place. Chandan Roy Sanyal and Mayank Kumar stand out in an otherwise weak bunch of an ensemble cast. Atif Afzal and Varun Grover’s music despite standing out as a sore thumb is hauntingly melodic.

What’s not
There is a consistent thread of wanting to be different and yearning to do so through out the film. Unfortunately there is no support system for this ambition. The story line is all over the place giving the actors hardly any scope to sink into their characters and perform.  Poor writing doesn't help in creating any consistency or interest in the graph of these characters we are introduced to. In its attempt to be unpredictable, the film loses its grip on the audience early on.

What to do
Neither unconventional nor ground breaking, Prague is an experiment gone kaput!