Review: Watch 'Lanka' for Manoj Bajpai's performance

Film: Lanka
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Arjan Bajwa, Tia Bajpai, Yashpal Sharma and others
Director: Maqbool Khan
Rating: **1/2

The film Lanka revolves around Jaswant Sisodiya (Manoj Bajpai), popularly known as Bhaisahab, who practically rules the little town of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. He controls all forms of authority including the police and the politicians. He is forcibly keeping Anju (Tia Bajpai) a doctor as his mistress and all is going well for him in his world of evil.

Enters Arjan Bajwa (who remains nameless in the film), someone Jaswant considers his younger brother. He returns to Bijnor and things take a turn. Bajwa, bound by the favours and the love Jaswant has showered on him all his life is torn between his loyalty towards his Bhaisahab and his better judgement that what is being done to Anju is wrong.

‘Ghar ka bhedi lanka dhaaye’ (the proverb loosely translated means, being betrayed by one's own). This one line becomes the central theme of the film.

It is inspired from and is a modern day adaptation of the epic Ramayana. Bajwa comes in as a Vibhishana figure in the Lanka of Bijnor of which Jaswant is the Ravana and Anju the Sita. His compassion for Anju’s plight leads him to ultimately betray his brother.

The plot is not exactly original but seems to work. Manoj Bajpai is, as always, flawless in his performance as the quintessential villain. His depiction of Jaswant Bhaisahab as a terrifying figure, a borderline psychopath, is convincing and hair-raising at times. The only time you see his soft side is when he is addressing his younger brother and during those moments he almost seems human.

Arjan Bajwa does well as the strong silent aid of Bajpai. His character is a grey one. He can kill mercilessly and without hesitation but he can also feel compassion and sympathy. His dialogues have been kept to a minimum and that seems to work for the script. Tia Bajpai is decent. Her role requires her to look petrified and miserable most of the movie and she does that quite well. Yashpal Sharma as Bhoop Singh, the police officer, too, is someone worth watching out.

The sets are just right and give the perfect small town feel and the dialogues are in keeping with this small town set up. There is use of hyperbole but just the correct amount, enough to give the characters their personality.

Yes, the sets are good and the actors do well. But in all honesty the film tends to be boring at times and a few aspects are a bit hard to believe. Anju is a doctor but makes no protest at being raped every night and makes almost no attempts to escape. You would think she would be trying all the time. Instead, she manages to look her best everyday with perfect eyebrows, makeup and heels. Arjan Bajwa is a little too silent and serious throughout.

The film stretches post interval and you will find yourself checking your watch a few times. The director (Maqbool Khan) could have done a bit more to develop the plot at a faster pace and given the lady of the movie a little more to do.

Watch of you must, check out the stellar performances.