Review: 'Chakravyuh' touches the right chords

Film: Chakravyuh
Cast: Abhay Deol, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai, Esha Gupta, Anjali Patil
Director: Prakash Jha
Rating: ***

A socio-political thriller set in the country’s red corridor where Maoist insurgents oppose industrialisation because it leads to the displacement of the tribal population, Chakravyuh has its heart in the right place. Jha has once again woven fictional elements and characters with real incidents and people to present a film that touches the right chords.

But somewhere along the way, he succumbs to what can only be described as the Bollywood'isation' of a socially relevant subject – there’s male bonding, dialogue-baazi, non-stop action, blazing guns, and also an irreverent item number thrown in! No, really!

An honest policeman Aadil Khan (Rampal) and his idealist, but hot-headed friend Kabir (Deol) come up with a bizarre plan to take down a local Naxal group. Kabir infiltrates the Maoist circle and passes on crucial information about the group’s activities to his cop buddy who attacks the rebels and even manages to capture their leader.

Very soon Deol has a change of heart and switches loyalties – not because he feels for the cause of the Maoists or the tribals, but because he develops a soft corner for fellow militant Juhi (Patil) who is also a victim of police atrocities and government apathy. At times, the conflict between the Naxalites and the establishment feels more like a prop for filmi maar-dhaad. The gun-toting rebels in uniforms and bandanas with their ‘Lal Salaam’ greetings also get tiring after a while.

And it all ends predictably like it does in all Hindi films. Pity, since this one had Jha at its helm and had the potential to rise above the hamming and the hollering.

In his bushy moustache and form-fitting uniform, Rampal is a treat for the eyes. If only he could act! As the do-gooder civilian-turned-militant, Deol is convincing despite having to mouth some really lame lines. Bajpai, who plays the Naxal leader Rajan, seems wasted in a miniscule role as is Om Puri in a cameo. But Patil as the fiery and courageous rebel is one actor to look out for!

Gupta, who plays Aadil’s wife Rhea Menon, makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in uniforms a size too tight. She plays an intelligence officer! Yes, we couldn’t believe it either!