~This Crook didn't do his homework~ . Review on Crook

I was extremely interested in Crook.After all, here was a film about an issue with which I could clearly relate to. Having lived in Australia for the past three years and seen the wave of alleged racial attacks, I knew the crux of the problem. However I was curious to see how the film presented this issue?How deep did it go – was it just run of the mill fare with a message thrown in to appease the critics or was the issue handled with care? Finally, here was a film where I, as the audience was aware; aware more than the director about the ‘supposed’ message and its intended outcome. This awareness gave me a sense of power which as a consumer I seldom find. I wasn’t spending money to see another’s vision. Instead, the ball was in my court and the director had to convince me that his product (the film) was worthwhile. Was I convinced? Not really…

Plot:

If we are to discuss the ‘plot’ in the true sense of the word, then I should skip directly to the second half. That is the biggest downside of Crook.The film is completely dependent on its second half. There is nothing, literally nothing, in the first. The film takes too long to ‘set the scene’ as if to say, for the story to be played out entirely in the second half. In fact, I would appeal to the audiences that if they are interested in the movie’s theme of racial attacks, enter the hall at the beginning of the second half only. The first half is total popcorn romantic fanfare with Emraan playing ‘bad boy’ and trying to woo girls, one smooch at a time. So there is an Aussie nightclub dancer, on whom our desi boy practices his moves on and then his daytime chokri Neha Sharma, an activist on whom he executes his practiced moves. Two girls, twice the fun! Unfortunately, apart from the sex starved, testosterone filled junta; Emraan’s supposed ‘bad boy’ image doesn’t really have much appeal if it is used this way. I liked the ‘bad boy’ image of Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, but I don’t think returning to the serial kisser days is a wise choice.

Emraan Hashmi comes to Melbourne and wait for it… becomes a taxi driver! Talk about stereotyping. If the director would have done a little bit research, he would have known that the biggest Indian stereotype inAustralia about Indians is about working in call centers and as taxi drivers. I couldn’t help but laugh. At times, naivety can be forgiven but that too is reserved for children, not adults. He wants to earn a lot, party hard and live life king size, damn the consequences. I don’t know why this perspective has become akin to the ‘bad boy’ image. I think living life without consequences is everyone’s dream. Basically, Emraan is reliving his past films in character (bad boy – Jannat, OUATIM etc) and I don’t have a problem with that. He’s good at it, so why not? He falls in love with an activist (Neha Sharma) who wants Indians and Aussies to come together in a big group hug. So, how will our hero turn the tide? How can he bring the two communities closer? Especially, when there is bad blood between both sides. Samarth (Arjan Bajwa) essays brilliantly the role of a student leader who wants to uphold ‘Indian ness’ inAustralia. His role is the most accurate role in the film and I laud him for it. So, Emraan has to turn good boy and play negotiator between the two sides. Is there no love lost?

Lack of research: The first and the most painfully obvious thin about Crookis its lack of research. The racial attacks that happened in Australia are a gold mine of ideas but they have been limited to back alley gang wars. Most of all, it has to do with labour. Indians are used to working 7 days a week and being pummeled until all their juice has been squeezed, but Australians have a 5 day working culture, and that too not more than 40 hours in 5 days. Indians are willing to work more and for less wages. Job competition, not good! And then you have the realisation that these so called ‘Indians’ are foreigners. That’s when the trouble begins…

Another topic which the film lightly touches upon is the antagonism to be Indian byIndians. Indians who have lived here for a long time or who were born here do not like to be identified as Indians. It is almost as if they are ashamed by the tag. They would act and try to be as Australian as they can. Crooklimits itself to gang wars in the second half and doesn’t even scratch the surface about the reasons behind the attacks, what spurred them, the mentality, amongst other things.

Truth to be told, everyone is racist. Let’s not even go there. But there is a line between general racism in daily banter and targeted racism. Crookexplores the idea that we all are inherently racist in some way or another. That is its biggest achievement. That is why it scores the two stars. But the problem is that this message comes too late in the second half. The film doesn’t build up from the first to the second half. It’s as if there are two different halves stuck together.

Cast: Emraan is ok; however, I didn’t appreciate the return to the serial kisser days. Neha Sharma is bearable and I don’t know whether the smooch with Emraan would prove to be her lucky charm and take her places. The Aussie sidekick was hot, can definitely pole dance, set the tongues wagging, and thus, definitely did her job well! The standout here is Arjan Bajwa. The sentiment behind the role as the paranoid Indian leader who gets disgusted by the attacks and wants to take matters into his own hands by showing people that Indians will not take things lying down and proclaiming that there is nothing ashamed to be Indian will definitely strike a chord. However, what is justified? To what extent one can go to protect his/her nationality?

Songs are passable. Emraan seems to have the Midas touch with his films’ songs but here, the songs were not that great. Hummable, but not great. Challaand Kyastand out. Neeraj Shridhar seems to be on a roll with his ‘western’ style numbers and it worked again in Kya.The beat is simple but catchy. I don’t believe I’m gonna say this, but well done Pritam! But I guess that cancels out if you take into account the plagiarism controversy behind Challa. Tujhi Mein is a powerful vocal ballad by KK. Editing is ok. The film is just over 2 hours which is good. Considering the complete first half was redundant, there isn’t much to say. Screenplay was weak, very weak. Dialogues were good, especially those of Arjan and Emraan. Mohit Suri’s direction lacked direction (pardon the pun). The film seemed completely lost in the first half, and then picked itself up in the second.

All in all, I’d say ‘yes’ to watching Crookbecause the message is definitely there. Still, a lot is lacking as the film barely scratches the surface of the issue…