Review: Aakrosh is a must-watch topical thriller

Film: Aakrosh (A)
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Paresh Rawal, Reema Sen, Amita Pathak
Director: Priyadarshan
Rating: ***

A riveting, fast-paced thriller, Aakrosh will hold your attention till the very end. The film is based on the subject of honour killings, and the gore in it might put some off. But director Priyadarshan justifies it all with panache.

Priyadarshan’s last directorial venture, Khatta Meetha, was a disastrous ‘comedy’ that ceased to be funny after the first few scenes. Probably it's time the acclaimed filmmaker took a break from brainless comedies and concentrated on engrossing films like Aakrosh.

Replete with drama and engaging action against the backdrop of three medical students from a Delhi college disappearing without a trace in Jhanjhar in Bihar, Aakrosh employs Major Pratap Kumar (Devgn) and Siddhant Chaturvedi (Khanna) to investigate the case.

What follows is a bloody battle of silence and corruption, between Inspector Ajatshatru Singh (Rawal) and local politicians on one side and Pratap and Siddhant on the other.

The fear of the local goons is so deep rooted that villagers choose to live in seclusion and silence. Abductions and murder are the order of the day and the police are often an accessory to the crimes.

But Pratap and Siddhant won’t settle for anything less than a breakthrough. Slowly, they work their way through with the meagre means available to them and come close to cracking the case. That's when all hell breaks loose.

The director builds the tension up meticulously to the tragic yet unexpected climax, though some scenes could have been done away with to make the narrative crisper. Though the film is maddeningly fast paced, Priyadarshan takes the whole of the first half to establish what he wants to say. The songs also slow down the film, especially an item number by Sameera Reddy (who, by the way, makes for an awful item girl) and Devgn-Basu’s ‘Saude Bazi’ that take way from the seriousness of the drama unfolding before you.

All the actors (except Basu) are perfectly cast and play their parts with conviction. The chemistry between Devgn and Khanna is strong and each has a powerful screen presence that draws in the viewer.

The predictability quotient of Aakrosh is almost zilch. But Basu as the tormented housewife is hopelessly miscast. After her bad job in Lamhaa and now in Aakrosh, the Bengali bombshell should probably stick to her glamorous avatar.

Rawal as the uncouth police officer is outstanding. He draws chuckles as well as scornful admiration for his act. It won’t be wrong to say that he almost steals the thunder from lead actors Devgn and Khanna. Pathak does not have sufficient screen time to show her acting prowess.

Aakrosh is not without its flaws, but it’s very engaging. It’s not all fun. Watch it for some fast-paced, action-packed chase sequences and topical relevance.