Rating: **

Cast: Ajay Devgan ( Ashfaque/Sameer Khan), Vidya Balan (Sneha), Pankaj Kapoor (Sidhu), Darshan Jariwala

Director: Raj Kumar Santoshi

Tight script, fine performances, efficient direction, moving music, classic camera work and of course a perfect pace – these are the factors which a ‘perfect’ movie would be made up of.

Yes, it is not an easy job. But getting somewhere close also amounts to perfection. Or maybe tapping on a couple of these factors too, at times proves lucky.

People have done it before. For that matter, our man – Raj Kumar Santoshi – too has done it. Remember Damini or even Ghayal!

They did have their share of loopholes and hitches. But let’s not forget the cinematic phase they was made in. And let’s not also forget that despite it all, people saw them, identified with them, aspired for such justice and of course, enjoyed them too!

This time too, after a long gap, Santoshi has returned with a no-nonsense, message-filled film. And like other times Halla Bol too, has been done up with resentment and emotion.

BUT… or better said… YET, the film lacks the punch. Lacks the ‘Santoshi’ trademark. Forget cashing upon a couple of the above mentioned factors, the director fails to get anything right.

Let’s begin with the script.

A small town boy Ashfaque, dreams of becoming a part of the glamour world. He joins a street theatre group run by a converted dacoit Sidhu, who uses the medium to bring about deliver strong messages to the society.

However, for Ashfaque, it becomes a vehicle that allows him to vent his creativity and carve out a place in for himself as a superstar. He hits the jackpot, gets rechristened onscreen as Sameer Khan, shoots high on the success graph and conveniently forgets his old values and integrity and to a great extent his wife Sneha.

Not for long though. One episode changes it all. A cold blooded murder of a girl at a nightclub shakes Sameer. And soon, the man is ready to give up all for the sake for justice. He runs from pillars to post and flips through every page of the law to get the ‘right’ way. And when nothing helps, he turns to the masses – ‘Halla Bol’.

There have been speculations that it all comes from the ‘Jessica Lall episode’. Well, whether it does or doesn’t, the things is there is nothing fresh about it. But even that’s okay. The problem is the script is too fluid-like. By the time the audience begins to absorb one side of the tale, a sudden flip changes the picture completely. The flow is broken… totally.

The accomplished storyteller seems slightly lost.

The courtroom scenes are the biggest let down. They seem more like passing phases than an integral part of the story.

The emotional outrage at times seem overboard. You just keep waiting for that one big punch that would let you carry the memories of Halla Bol. But sadly, it never comes.

Performance-wise, Pankaj Kapoor – like every other time – deserves a standing applaud. The actor is simply brilliant. And falling in the same league is Darshan Jariwala.

Ajay Devgan, unfortunately, is not at his best. Something is missing. And it’s missing big time. The glitzy side of Sameer lacks the touch of arrogance.

Vidya Balan is goes unnoticed.

Lots of other actors make appearances – from Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Tusshar Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Aarti Chhabria.

The music isn’t something that would etch in your mind.

Cinematography is not strong either. At places it falters terribly and all the zoom and zap gets straining.

Although Santoshi dares to chalk out a message-based film, he has failed to put the right things at the right place.

His urge to the masses – to raise their voices against injustice – might stir your heart when you sit on the cushiony theatre seats but would easily slip out once you’re back to work.