Monday, April 7, 2008

Shaurya Movie Review

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Cast: Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Javed Jaffery, Deepak Dobriyal and Minssha Lamba

Director: Samar Khan

Think of Indian army and the thought that strikes your mind first is war, blood, gore and neighbors Pakistan. But the new movie on the block Shaurya is not about soldiers in Indian army its about lawyers in army who are as important as their soldier counterparts. Now lets not mistake Shaurya to be a patriotic movie it’s a story about justice, loyalty, truth and courage.

When you have powerful and dynamic actors like Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Bose and Javed Jaffery all together in a movie you expect it to be a great movie and director Samar Khan doesn’t disappoint you ‘coz the film has such an impact that even after you leave the theatre it forces you to think and the values of Shaurya keep lingering in your mind.

Here is the brief synopsis of Shaurya from its official site:

Shaurya is a story of justice, honor, faith and above all believing in yourself…

A story of finding courage within… where friendships are tested in the battle that matters the most…

The battle for truth and justice…

Shaurya is the story of Javed Khan (Deepak Dobriyal)… a man wronged by his country by the very men who he fought with and were his friends. It’s the story of Siddhant (Rahul Bose), whose only aim in life was to escape reality and wasn’t ready for what life brought him. It’s the story of Kaavya who never understood why it was difficult to speak the truth. It’s the story of Aakash (Javed Jaffery) for whom living the rules was the only way to live life. And it’s the story of Brigadier Pratap, a man who lived by his own rules even if they were against humanity. Captain Javed Khan charged with mutiny, treason and killing a fellow officer. Even when he is held for court martial, he refuses to speak in his defense, as the secret he holds is too powerful for the establishment to handle.

Assigned for this task are Sid and Aakash… two best friends, lawyers and very ambitious individuals who have contrasting views on life.

Nevertheless, this one case will change their lives… forever. The case takes them to Srinagar. While Aakash, for whom winning the case matters the most, follows the blueprint, Sid discovers a new meaning in life, Kaavya (Minissha Lamba), Javed and of course the man in question, Brigadier Pratap (Kay Kay Menon).

Shaurya is alleged to be inspired from the Hollywood blockbuster “A Few Good Men” and the Bollywood touch is given by adding communal hatred content. But Samar Khan who advocates truth, justice and loyalty in Shaurya doesn’t even wink before copying the whole plot from A Few Good Men. If you haven’t seen AFGM then you would like the movie but people like me who have already seen Tom Cruise blockbuster will feel ashamed of Bollywood’s plagiarism.

The plus points of Shaurya is performances from the lead actors, excellent chemistry between buddies Javed and Rahul, awesome climax-worth sitting through the whole movie, good direction, high quality Cinematography,

The minus points are lifted story, unnecessary Hindu-Muslim communal content, a very slow first half and a rubbery kind stretchy second half and a bad item number to start the movie.

Kay Kay Menon is the show stealer; his power packed performance in the climax makes the film entirely his. Rahul Bose plays the character to which a common confused man can identify with and he plays it to perfection. Javed Jaffery is equally good in serious roles as he is in comedy but his character is eventually lost in the second part of the movie. Deepak Dobriyal who plays Javed Khan doesn’t has much dialogues to mouth but is such a fine actor that he expresses his pain and helplessness through his eyes. Minissha Lamba fits the bill of a journalist and gives a good performance.

Like every Indian movie Shaurya has its own flaws but at the end it emerges winner ‘coz of great performances by the cast. Don’t think about ‘A Few Good Men’ and Shaurya is a great movie, so before heading to the theater delete AFGM from your head to enjoy Shaurya.

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