Thursday, January 26, 2012

Agneepath: Movie Review

Amongst the first recall values for the original Agneepath is Amitabh Bachchan's trademark self-introduction dialogue of Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. While evaluating its official remake, the first thing that crosses your mind is how the reinterpretation of this signature scene would be. Unlike in the original, the monologue plays pretty late in the remake, whereby it establishes Vijay's identity over merely introducing him and with such individuality and elegance that it pays a perfect homage to the original, while at the same time not blatantly imitating it. That is how a remake is supposed to be! Retaining the spirit of the original and having a soul of its own. This dialogue kinda summarizes the overall aura of the remake.





Melodramatic, choir-inducing sentiment, ecstatic. Agneepath is that rare mainstream movie that is written well. Sanjay Dutt's Kancha Cheena speaks Sanskritised Hindi, referencing the epics. Priyanka Chopra's Marathi lilt is a carryover from her cheerful role in Kameeney. Hrithik Roshan, well, Hrithik Roshan just burns silently, seething, waiting, plotting, planning. His gangster is the purest form of criminal because he has no motive but to restore his father's reputation. His father who taught him to work without waiting for results, to recite poetry, how to eat, how to respect life.

The film is a metaphor for the world we live in and Mandwa, the benighted Mandwa, which sold its soul for the money it expected to come from cocaine, is what India is today. A nation perhaps which has sold its spirit for the joys of consumerism. A nation which has to sacrifice its most honest citizens because they have chosen shaitan as their malik. A nation which watches helplessly as its soul is stolen.

Piyush Mishra's dialogues are impressive with rhetoric punches every now and then. And even when the lines go unrefined for Rishi Kapoor's crude character, it leaves immense impact without crossing the familial domain. Cinematography by Ravi K Chandran and Kiran Deohans is remarkable. Akiv Ali's editing is accomplished and despite the film having a three-hour runtime, you never lose the narrative for a moment. The only slacker is the obligatory romance track (Priyanka Chopra) but thankfully even that is kept short. Ajay-Atul's music and esp. the background score are effective. Abbas Ali Moghul's action is raw and unrestrained.

Every component of the film falls into place, with a resounding thump. "Agneepath" is brilliant in its brutality. It's a riveting and hectic homage to the spirit of the cinema when revenge reigned supreme. And content was King. This new "Agneepath" takes us back to the era when there was no computer or cellphones. And communication with the audience was immediate and electrifying.

Rating:

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