Feb 17, 2007 02:28 PM
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Eklavya-The Royal Guard (2007)
Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra returned to film direction after a gap of six years since his last directorial venture-Mission Kashmir (2000). And yes, he delivered.
It is definitely unconventional, offbeat and therefore not meant for masses or popular audience (you don’t see hugh crowds here outside ticket windows) as it does not forces itself into incorporating the common recipes of box office. .
If you have some preconceived notions as to films should be like this or that than surely this is not a film for you. It will not touch your heart for sure as tales about royalty, loyalty, traditions and duties are something audience don’t find contemporary. But yes if you believe in an rather a simple, interesting story retold rather unconventionally, an intrigue drama that takes you to a journey of mystery and darkness, here is your stuff.
It opens with a dying Maharani, and as her son visits for the last rites, things starts unfolding from there leading into a world of mystery and an element of suspense, as some murders took place.
If you call cinema a structure than this film explores some new dimensions in terms of visuals (camerawork, set design) as well as sound, which created absolute magic to mesmerize you. Action sequences and visual effects here can compete with any international class movie, I bet.
But film lets you down in narrative part at places where pace completely slackens. Good that it is just 110 mins long with one song. All actors fitted perfectly to their characters but where Mr. Bachchan touched another milestone, Boman Irani though good is a miscast. Another high, Chopra did not unnecessary tossed with the length of roles of actors that other directors normally do to please their respective stars considering their star status.
The clash of upper cast and lower cast is redundant to an extent as it is not well defined and so is concept of “Eklavya”, which in the given context appears irrelevant.
All in all, it is not a piece of cinematic excellence but surely a visual treat, a mark above that average stuff available these days.
(My personal opinion: This product is better than Chopra’s own last year release grossly over-hyped largely misinterpreted but just an average “Lagey Raho Munnabhai”).
sandhir flora
