Halla Bol

Genre: Drama

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Pankaj Kapur, Vidya Balan, Darshan Jariwala

Director: Raj Kumar

Santoshi

Showing: In theatres near you

Kathmandu:

When you make a movie with some social message it should not only generate sympathy among the audience but they should also be able to relate with the characters. Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol fails to do that. Santoshi has added a little bit of new formula (which has worked in other movies) to his signature style in this movie, which speaks about fighting for the truth. The movie depicts stark realities of both the movie world and politics by showing how politicians manipulate the public by using their power and the prevalence of corruption. It has also brought out the dark side of movie world like the presence of casting couch and deceit.

Some of the scenes will make one recall the action movies of 90s while some sequences bear an uncanny resemblance to recent hit movies. However, on the whole the movie falls flat, as it doesn’t stir any emotion in the audience.

Asfaque (Ajay Devgan) who is a part of a theatre street group of a reformed dacoit Siddhu (Pankaj Kapur) becomes a huge bollywood star. But in his journey to the top spot Asfaque — who changes his name to Sameer Khan — leaves behind his principles and loses his identity. As he gets more engrossed in being successful he starts having conflicts with his wife Sneha (Vidya Balan), his parents and even his mentor Siddhu. But a murder at a party wakes up his conscience and while nobody is ready to identify the murderers — as they come from influential families — Asfaque comes ahead. Then the movie proceeds with his fight for justice and the tussle of power.

It is the notable performances that have kept the movie from being a disaster. Pankaj Kapur has yet again proved that a quality actor can make an impact despite the length of his role. Dasrhan Jariwala has delivered an outstanding performance as he fits like a glove as a corrupt minister. Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan have done justice to their role as it suits best to their forte of acting.

Dialogues have always been a strong factor in Santoshi’s movie and in Halla Bol also there are couple of powerful dialogues. But there are many clichés like changing of a dacoit after watching a play on Raja Hairshchandra and a poor girl selling her kidney to fight for justice which have been repeated thousand of times. A stronger script could have done justice to the issue as well as the performance of the cast.