3 *s. Review on 3 Deewarein

Nagesh Kukunoor after Hyderabad Blues had made quite an uproar. Here was a director who confined to no known norms of Hindi cinema and yet made a film that appealed to classes and masses alike.

But after Hyderabad Blues both his films were quite a disappointment - be it Rockford or Bollywood Calling.

And this time around, Nagesh is back with a winner. 3 Deewarein.

The story of three prisoners as depicted in the promos of the film and a documentary maker who wants to make a film on the lives of prisoners once they are given the death sentence.

Nagya (played by Nagesh) is accused of murdering his wife by throwing her under a car in the middle of the road. He claims that the police tortured him no end to get that confession out of him but his appeals haven't been heard because his father-in-law is a high ranking officer.

Jaggu (played by Jackie) has murdered his wife because she was having an affair with someone else. He is guilty for what he has done and wants to be freed of life to repent for the crime committed.

And then there's Naseer who by accident shot a lady in the back which he was robbing not realising that along with the woman he ended up killing the twins she was pregnant with. But he doesn't care. He maintains that this was an accident and that he is not to blame for it.

Sadly this description of the crimes committed by the three convicts is repeated twice at the very beginning of the film. Once when the characters are introduced and again when they are being interviewed by Juhi Chawla for her documentary. Something that could have been trimmed.

Nevertheless you get to see how like in the world of the prison different people from different races live and survive. And the prison in this case is an idealistic kind. Gulshan Grover is the prison incharge and he believes in giving everyone a second chance. So his prison is an open house and prisoners in the day are allowed whatever they please to do with their time as long as it is constructive.

The film also deals with the dark side of the prison when it shows an influential prisoner taking undue advantage of a mentally challenged guy by raping him. The role of the victim is very effectively played by Aditya Lakhia (the guy from Lagaan).

But the best character sketch is that of Juhi Chawla. Sans make-up the otherwise bubbly actress puts up a performance that would be remembered forever. There are variety of shades to her character as well. One of the best scenes is when she threatens her husband to give her divorce and on her terms.

For the rest of the cast too - you don't really have to say. They are all mature actors and with a sensible script and a sensible director you can only get better. Nagesh himself too puts up a performance very unlike him.

If you are a cinema lover then sure this film is for you. For the simple reason that it is a story that hasn't been told before and well told at that....