SHOOTOUT!.... IS IT?

Director: Apporva Lakhia

Banner: White Feather Films and Balaji Telefilms
Cast: Viviek Oberoi, Sanjay Dutt, Amitabh Bachhan.
Rating: **

REVIEW
First things first. The film carries a tagline ‘ Based on true rumours’. What was the rumour. I cannot comprehend. But who cares about the tagline if the 2 hours of celluloid is really engrossing. Today, it seems, a filmmaker just looks for a decent star cast, a few rocking tracks and marketing gimmicks to make money. The scenario today, though not always, has been like a child trying to speak English without the grammar. The power of grammar of cinema, or of any language or any medium cannot be denied. It takes the work to a totally different level. IT makes something look more meaningful and impactfull. Yes, definitely innovation is a must. That is why even today, a film Lage Raho Munnabhai, or a RDB are refreshing .They will not only attract but also appeal the audience. The scripts are rooted to the basics though the plant looks to be a new one.
This ‘movie’ is a clash between the underworld don Maaya (Viviek Oberoi) , his gang and a determined ATS squad. At the end of 2 hours, it is left to the audience to decide who was wrong. The ATS, who was responsible for encounter, or Maaya and his gang ,who aspired to make their presence felt even in the Mecca of underworld - Dubai.
For me the screenplay does not work. Just because the film looks like disjointed clipping joined to gether by a narrators help. At no point you understand the relation of one scene with another. And to a shocker of an disclosure is that Amitabh Bachhan is a lawyer. All through the film it appeared that he was a high rank ATS officer. This simply could not be digested. I cannot identify with a lawyer who is harsh and firm with his own client. The puranpoli track between Viviek and Amrita Singh had most of its potential untapped thanks to the films un cinematic screenplay.
But the film has a fair share of positives too, which make it watchable for once. The camerawork, the look of 90’s, the music, the background score, the editing stand out. Some sequences do manage to give you goose mums.
Performance wise, the film belongs to Maaya bhai- Viviek Oberoi. The body language, the dialogue delivery, the over all portrayal is supreme. His dialogue send down silent tremors in your body. Another stand out performance is that of Amithabh Bachhan. This champion actor manages to steal the show once again, in a small and a totally messed up role so to say. He has some good lines though. Sanjay Dutt is very good. Shabbir Ahuwalia is refreshing. And Aarti Chabbria looks sexy in all the numbers she has. Though Tusshar was plain average his scene in the climax is superb. Amrita Singh does full justice to her cameo. Sadly, Suniel Shetty, Arbaz, Aditya Lakhia, Neha Dhupia do not work. Ronit roy is ok. Dia Mirza’s role had a lot of potential.
The music lifts the movie. Especially, Ganpat, Main tere ishq me. And then when you want to leave the hall after passing some silent patient moments towards the fag end, there is akhri alvidaa with the end scrolls.Overall shootout is a disappointment, but it is not unbearable. Can be watched once ! especially (Viviek fans).