Jan 20, 2008 05:31 PM
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Great expectation but the result is not up to the mark. Halla Bol attempts to recreate the magic that Rang De Basanti or Chak De India did but does not come upto the mark. It starts with a small town boy making big at bollywood and changes his ways, forgets hisn past friends, takes on the bad ways of tinseltown. He transforms from a simple nukkad actor to a naive, philanderer, womaniser and backbiter to fit himself into bollywood. Ajay Devgan in his transformation changes his name from Ashfaque to Sameer Khan.He marries his old time sweetheart Vidya Balan but his chage of attitude distances her and their son.
One night at a party he witnesses a murder of a girl he knows but as all others in the party he too feigns ignorance . The movie shows the hypocrisy in the society with none of the bollywood heroes, godmen, producers coming forward because the murderers are the sons of a politician and a liquor baron a la Jessica Lal murder case.
Ajay's conscience forces him to come clean in front of the police and he becomes the eyewitness. The police nexus with the politician and law let the murderers go scot free and Ajay is left high and dry in his career. Attempts to kill him are made but he with the help of Pankaj Kapoor and his family brings the Rashmi murder case reopened with the help of a road play Halla Bol. This is hijacked by the goons of the politician and Ajay is beaten black an blue and Pankaj Kapoor arrested. Pankaj Kapoor extolls the media and public not to be silent spectators to the crime. There is an awakening and the case is reopened suo moto and the accused brought to justice.
The movie aims to show the power of people in a democracy and also shows the other side of the con wherein people, media remain silent and become parties to the crimes of high society.
Ajay devgan as the protagonist plays the good samaritan and the grey shades too with intensity.Vidya Balan is her usual self, her simplicity and face doing a good job as the silent but strong supporter of the good samaritan Ajay and equally opposes the vices and attitude changes of the grey Ajay.But the highlight is Pankaj Kapoor as the transformed Chambal Dacoit who has a silent power within him to do the nation good.
The music is adequate by Sukhvinder Singh.The weakness of the movie is the despite a strong storyline, the narrative fails to involve the audience and the Halla Bol Road Show fails to have the desired effect or interest. The end is abrupt and is not built to be credible.
