Vikram Bhatt`s latest film ?Elaan?,is his biggest and most expensive project till date.It is a multi-starrer which was announced (or ?Elaan?,should I say?),a long time ago but it has finally released now.This is one such film,which is not less than an international film,technical wise.The film consists of amazing action,but the question is whether the film has some story as well or is it only stylish punches and kicks?
THE FILM:
Venus Tapes & Records Ltd.`s ?Elaan?,directed by Vikram Bhatt,stars Mithun Chakraborty,John Abraham,Arjun Rampal,Rahul Khanna,Lara Dutta and Amisha Patel.This film marks the comeback of the actor,Mithun Chakraborty,who was seemed to have lost somewhere,but now he is back in action.Is his comeback an interesting watch?Keep on reading?.
THE STORY:
If there is someone whom everybody fears,then it is the deadly and evil don Baba Sikander (Mithun Chakraborty),who spreads his terror throughout the world.He can break all the barriers which come his way,and can terrorise anyone at any part of the world.
There is just no escape for him,who is being tracked by this dangerous don.He is involved in all type of crimes.Supplying drugs is his job,murdering people is like a child`s play and kidnapping people is like a cakewalk for him.Currently,he is in Europe,spreading his terror,there.No one can ever dare to mess up with him,except for Karan (Rahul Khanna).
Karan is the adopted son of Kantilal Shah,who once upon a time,refused to obey Baba Sikander`s orders.Kantilal Shah was a rich businessman,from whom Baba Sikander asked to pay him a large amount of money out of his wealth,but as Kantilal Shah did not do so,he was killed by baba Siaknder.Now Karan wants to take revenge upon his father`s son,but for this mission he needs more partners,to team up with,as he alone cannot do this arduous task.
The first partner which Karan takes on is Arjun (Arjun Rampal),who earlier used to be a cop,but is unemployed as of now.Arjun is a very intelligent and a brave person,whom Karan views as a very important part of his mission,so Arjun joins hands with Karan.
The second partner Karan takes on is Abhimanyu (John Abraham),who was earlier a partner of Baba Sikander,but has now left him.Abhimanyu can be very useful for Karan`s mission,because he once used to be with baba Sikander,and he has lots of knowledge about him.
The other one to join this group is Abhimanyu`s girlfriend,Sonia (Lara Dutta),who is very much in love with Abhimanyu,and is a very strong girl.The last member of this group is Priya (Amisha Patel),a news channel reporter on ?Aaj Tak?,who joins this group not because she hates Baba Sikander or is Karan`s supporter,but only because she wants to have an interview with Karan.
Together,these five form an army against Baba Sikander,but what if one of them turns out to be a traitor?What if Baba Sikander is still so strong that,these five can still not harm him?What if all of them fail in this mission and lose their lives?
MY ANALYSIS:
Mithun Chakraborty makes a comeback with this film,as a stylish don,and does a fine job.In the first half,he is excellent but in the second half,he deteriorates and stops looking like a very dangerous and a deadly don,but never mind,as the actor has made a good comeback,from those C-grade films,he was doing,sometime back.
Rahul Khanna gives a brilliant performance,in his first ever commercial and Hindi film (his pervious films were Hinglish,I suppose).His performance is worth noticing in the second half,especially.He comes across as a very natural performer.
John Abraham is back in action,after ?Dhoom?,and this performance is surely going to be a treat for his fans,but one seriously feels that he still needs lots of improvement.He cannot do dramatic scenes,and when he is doing such scenes,he look artificial,but nevertheless,all in all,this was a good performance.
Arjun Rampal is just about okay.He looks a bit disinterested in some scenes.Also,he has got so skinny that he doesn`t look like a hero,anymore.He should gain a little bit of weight.Lara Dutta does what any other Bipashas,Mallikas or Neha Dhupias could have done-dancing and exposing,so there is no need to mention her performance.
Amisha Patel,after giving a terrible performance in ?Vaada? is back again,with a remarkable improvement over her previous performances.She has still a long way to go,but still,she has performed well,in this film,despite her character being a half-baked one.
Vikram Bhatt has left no stone unturned to make his film look rich and international,in look,but his direction suffers due to so much of stress on technical departments.In the first half,his direction is very good,and the first 45 minutes of the film are very gripping.
Baba Sikander`s introducton and his scenes in the initial reels make for an interesting watch.Then,the introduction of the five main heroes of the film,is also shot extremely well,which will raise your expectations,but just as your expectations get too high,the film`s graph starts going downwards,making you feel disappointed.The second half does not live up to the expectations,which definitely consists of twists and turns,but the film becomes a usual Bollywood action flick.The film goes off track,with romance and unwanted songs.
A hurried climax,also disappoints a lot.Screenplay could have been better.First of all,you wonder how can one spread his terror so openly and easily as Baba Sikander.It is not so easy to commit crimes,so openly.Secondly,Priya`s character is not defined well.TV reporters do not behave the way,in real life,as Priya,I suppose.They just don`t have enough time,in life,that for interviewing someone they would go to the extent of joining an army.Secondly,the change in her character in the second half,also shocks you,and that change seems very artificial.
Editing is the weakest link of the film.The film drags a lot after sometime,and then,there are some scenes which seem completely off-track.The film could have easily done without such unwanted scenes.Cinematography is the best we have seen in recent times and the special and sound effects are first-rate,which gives the film that ?rich? look.Anu Malik`s music is ordinary.?Hulchul?,picturised on Lara Dutta and John Abraham,is really very sexy,but it was not at all,needed in the film.?Andarloo Mandarloo? (strange lyrics!!!),picturised on the five ?unlikely? heroes,also seems to be a speed-breaker in the film and results as a very boring song.
ON THE WHOLE:
?Elaan? is one of the most stylized film,ever made in Bollywood.It has amazing action,special effects and sound effects,but what it lacks is a captivating and well-built story.Still,the plus points which are mentioned above,save the film from being a terrible one,and so the film ends up looking as a mediocre one.If you love action flicks,the this one is for you,and if you like those Yash Chopra or Karan Johar kind of movies,then you must avoid this one.
