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Audio Format: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Video Format: Widescreen 2.35:1 (Anamorphic) Languages: Hindi Subtitles: English Region Code: ALL Year Made: 2001 Running Time: 165
Vikram Saigal (Arjun Rampal), an idealistic law student, becomes disillusioned with the complete lack of ethics and morals in the practice of law. He decides to fight a lone battle against corruption in his profession. His dream is to set up an institution founded on integrity and honesty. Ironically, he finds himself as the defendant in a case and he decides to argue his case himself. The only person who has faith in him is Ritika (Manisha Koirala).
This dramatic love story is directed by debutant Ashok Mehta, a cinematographer whose illustrious career includes shooting films like 36, Chowringhee Lane. The strong supporting cast includes Naseeruddin Shah, Suresh Oberoi, Gulshan Grover and Farida Jalal. Music is composed by Rajesh Roshan. The film has won two National Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Audiography.
Can everybody graduate from a great cinematographer to an equally good filmmaker? Maybe. History showed us that Bimal Roy did that stupendous transition. And in recent times Govind Nihalani has made a similar move with great results. Alas, Ashok Mehta has no grasp of story telling. He is a superb man behind the lens, capturing enchanting visuals. But make his subjects of the lens speak and boy do they squeak!
The story also credited to Ashok Mehta is at best over indulgence at its height. Even on paper this story must have looked trash. A schoolboy would have found holes in it. No wonder Mehta had to produce it himself. So you have a rich horse breeder in the senior Saigal(Suresh Oberoi in a bad wig) and his confused, dazed son Vikram(Arjun Rampal). Spoilt son has no purpose in life except groan and whine how he is tired of all the hoarded wealth his father has accumulated over the years. And it is all black too as he points out to the stunned father. Like he didn't know! Trying hard to establish that the son has pristine white intentions here, Mehta begins weakly. Ofcourse junior has no qualms driving his father's SUV or ride horses from his father's stable. It is on one such ride that he is spotted by Ritika(Manisha Koirala) who is so enamoured by his riding skills she professes love, at first sight. Weird, you bet!
So they sing songs penned by Javed Akhtar and set to tune by Rajesh Roshan as the story goes nowhere. The music is by far the only other good thing about the movie. Vikram proceeds to write an article in Saturday Times, making you wonder what the editors will publish these days. The article wins him accolades galore but no funds for a pet project called 'Nyayadarshan' (dont ask what it is all about). This sorry bit has been inspired by a flashbacked incident of exploitation of the poor by law makers and mongers alike! Since no one is willing to fund him, Vikram plans a crime to fund an institution that will help those who were victims of it. Mehta ki jai ho! He would like us believe that this is Kafka-esque story telling. Vikram gets into a sticky situation when the crime he planned does not happen and instead he gets rapped with a murder charge. An opportunity for him to prove his legal genius one presumes. And it goes on and on till you either drop dead or kill someone else out of boredom!
Just the other day one saw Mr.Mehta come on national television bemoaning how his movie had been killed by video piracy and how he would like for the government to do something about it. As if to say that if it were not piracy his movie would have raked it in by the bagfuls! Mr.Mehta may I lay to rest all the fancy illusions you may have had, 'Moksha' sucks and big time at that!
The visuals are incredibly cool, but that is Mehta's forte and he would be wise to stick to that alone. Arjun Rampal is wooden at best, Manisha Koirala ghastly all the time. There is a bevy of great actors in the movie doing special appearances, all in return for the goodwill Mehta has perhaps gathered by being in the industry so long. Once again and alas, nothing can save this movie.
And that it has won National Awards means nothing(cinematography and audiography), for have we not seen relatives of winners on the jury or people with vested interests who chair that not so august body!
If you survive this movie, there is true salvation for you my friend.
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