BARDAASHT

Cast : Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta, Ritesh Deshmukh, Tara Sharma, Rahul Dev, Ganesh Yadav, Vishwajeet Pradhan
Director : E. Niwas
Story, Screenplay : Vikram Bhatt
Music : Himesh Reshmaiya
Lyrics : Sameer

RS RATING: 6/10

I personally have liked all earlier E. Niwas movies right from “Shool” to “Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega” to “Dum”; but the promos of “Bardaasht” looked outright boring, and it was with mixed apprehensions that I entered the theatre.

Synopsis :
Aditya Shrivastav (Bobby Deol) is an ex-army officer with a thing going on with his senior's daughter, Payal (Lara Dutta). He seems to have a great career in front of him, but is kicked out from the army for insubordination. Bobby's behaviour drives a wedge between him and Lara, and they lose contact. He comes over to Mumbai and starts a travel agency and starts caring for his sibling Anuj (Ritesh Deshmukh), who is a college going guy. Bobby still maintains inner devils about his past life.

Meanwhile Ritesh is a mischievous and adventurous, and he gets into big trouble one day and earns the wrath of the college principal, who informs Bobby about his brother. Bobby tries to reprimand Ritesh, but they have a fight and Ritesh leaves the house in a huff. The problem occurs when he disappears after that and Bobby starts to desperately find him. All his friends cannot give him a clue to his whereabouts and he turns to the police, who inform him that Ritesh was caught with possession of drugs and killed in an encounter.

Bobby cannot accept his brother to be involved in such stuff, and he starts doubting the police for some foul play. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter, and thus starts his search for the truth. Lara drops in as a lawyer, and so as to continue the old romance track, she joins him in his quest. The obstacles in their way are Rahul Dev, Ganesh Yadav and Vishwajeet Pradhan. Tara Sharma also drops in to provide a twist in the tale.

Analysis :
It is Bobby's show all the way, and he does not disappoint. He is turning into a fine actor slowly but surely. Lara Dutta is competent as always. Ritesh Deshmukh is fine in a short role. The surprise package certainly is Tara Sharma who displays some emotions for a change. Rahul Dev is a really fine actor and leaves his mark.

Technique :
The story and the screenplay are nothing to write home about (Vikram Bhatt), but what makes this film different from dozens of similar ones is the director's touch. E. Niwas, though not in his familiar territory of realistic cinema leaves a deep impression. The treatment is definitely different and makes for captivated viewing. Everyone may not agree with some of the scenes but Niwas seems to have made the best out of the material he has got. Music by Himesh Reshmaiya seems repetitive, but the good part is that the serious moments in the movie have no stupidly positioned item tracks, nor do the lead players burst out into songs in these portions.

Sidelights :
•  Interestingly, after being paired with Miss World Priyanka Chopra for his last release “Kismat”, Bobby is paired with Miss Universe Lara Dutta for this movie.
•  E Niwas had joined Ram Gopal Verma as a spot boy, but slowly moved to a level where RGV gave him the directorial reins of “Shool”.
•  “Shool” was first offered to “Ab Tak 56” director Shimit Amin by RGV, but when he refused, it got into Niwas' lap.

Verdict :
Nice masala film. Don't go in with much expectation and be pleasantly surprised. Though the movie is trite in most of the places, it makes for entertaining viewing mainly because Niwas has been able to create a watchable movie with a flimsy storyline.

REVIEWED BY YASHDEEP PATIL