Review of Aakrosh (2010) by Kaustubh H — 16 Oct 2010

Set in the badlands of Bihar, Aakrosh is one of the few attempts by director Priyadarshan to present forth a serious movie. And does he succeed? Yes and no.

Aakrosh is a story of three young boys who go to a remote Bihar town called Jhanjhad to help one amongst them, that is Deenu, to free his childhood love from the hands of her Bahubali father who is a Thakur and eventually marry her. However, on the eve of Dussehra, paradoxically as the Thakur is burning down the effigy of Ravan, he finds his daughter escaping with the boys and eventually finds them. Then, however the boys just go missing.

Back in Delhi, media has made a furore regarding the disappearance of these three medical students as the government has done nothing to find their whereabouts. Awoken from their slumber they send an investigation team of two men, CBI officer Chaturvedi played by Akshaye Khanna and NSG officer Major Pratap played by Ajay Devgn. However they soon realize that extracting information and evidence from this meek little town is seemingly next to impossible, what with the totally uncooperative, uncouth cop SP Ajaat Shatru aka Paresh Rawal, the terrified natives and a secret fanatic group who call themselves Shool Sena. The story moves at an acceptable pace uncovering the brutal plot to kill and hide the three boys and an age old saga of oppression, casteism and unwritten tyranny that mars those lands.

Aakrosh is a decent attempt to highlight the burning and fresh issue of honour killings while also attempting to shed light on what goes on the so called Beemaru states. It dazzles with exceptional performances, good direction and the restrained use of songs.

Akshaye Khanna is good, however somehow his voice doesn't appease his role of a CBI officer. Ajay Devgn is impeccable as always. Bipasha has little to do but whatever she does, does it with elan. However the movie truly belongs to Paresh Rawal, who proves yet again that be it a comic role, a serious role or a villainous role; he is the master. He literally makes the audience loathe him and in the scene where he is beaten to pulp by Devgn, you literally enjoy it! And vice versa in the anti-climax he again displays his sheer finesse. Reema Sen also packs power into her small role and so do the other side actors.

Then where does Aakrosh slump? Firstly, it is a rip off from a successful Hollywood film called Mississipi Burning by Alan Parker. I haven't seen that film so I can't draw comparisons but Priyadarshan yet again proves his lack of originality. The issue though relevantly brought forth in the film is not one that will connect with the urban audience and amongst the rural people, I don't think will make much of a difference. The anti-climax I thought was unnecessary and it would have been a much more impactful ending had it not been there. The item number was not needed too.

Having said that, Aakrosh is definitely a one time watch. My 3 stars are purely in anticipation of Mississipi Burning and the unneeded anti-climax. But go and watch the film.