SATYAGRAHA ("OLD WINE IN OLD BOTTLE")

August 30, 2013.

Cast: Amitabh Bachan, Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal, Kareena Kapoor.

Director: Prakash Jha.

When you are a filmmaker the best way to vent your anger or express your views is through the films you make. Prakash Jha is one such director who makes movies not for entertainment but for a social cause. That is something which has to be appreciated very much till it reaches a point where you keep getting the same wine time and again in almost the same bottle. This was in the offing for quite some time and with Satyagraha unfortunately we reach that point.

Dwarak Anand (Amitabh) is an ex principal of an educational institution in Ambikapur who could be called the Gandhi (read Anna Hazare) of the present day. After the death of his only son in a road accident, he is joined by his son’s close friend Maanav (Ajay Devgan),whose ideology happens to be capitalism, in his fight for justice against the corrupt minister Balram Singh (Manoj Bajpai). Arjun (Arjun Rampal) who is the local leader and Yasmin (Kareena) who is the reporter for ABP News are also out to support Dwarak and Maanav.

In an attempt to bring several issues to the forefront Jha forgets that it is not a petition against corruption in the form of a video that he is making but a feature film. The film shifts from one issue to another as if it is a series of public woes put together on video.

The lead cast seems to have no other job but to go on with all the protests and campaigning. As silly as it sounds When Dwarak is taken into custody just for 7 days for slapping the Collector Maanav starts an online campaign for his release and Yasmin comes all the way from Delhi just to cover that.  Soon afterwards this small issue turns into a movement demanding several things like action against corruption, ordinance etc.

Though the lead cast gives a good performance each of their characters without exception seems half baked. For a scene to be good the audience has to empathise with what is happening on screen but sadly here the director tries to make that happen only by “heartfelt” dialogues coming out of the blue (in which he fails miserably) as the screenplay does a pitiful job in building up almost all the scenes.

As if all the above was not enough you have endless songs and a romance track going on between Maanav and Yasmin which not only increases the length of the film but also shows the naivety on the part of the director to stick to a certain formula that should compulsorily involve romance.

The scenes leading upto the climax are so silly and boring to the core that you literally want to run out of the theatre. It is very apparent that Prakash Jha is soon going to lose his market unless he stops making films like this. It is sad to see such a film from the person who gave us Gangaajal.

I am giving a 1.75 for Satyagraha. Doze off if you feel like sleeping inside the theatre, you would not have missed anything when you wake up.

Rating Scale (Out of 5)

Less than 2                   -           Unwatchable.

2    to 2.25                   -           Below average.

2.5 to 2.75                   -           Average.

       

3    to 3.25                   -           Good.

3.5 to 3.75                   -           Really Good.

4    to 4.25                   -           Great.

4.5 and above               -          Extraordinary.