With multiplexes not throwing up too many options this weekend, I decided to go for what I assumed to be the best bet. Shabri, a gangsta film from the RGV camp, does give it a bit of credibility.

The first thing that hit me when I entered the theater, was the quality of the footage. The film certainly looked like it was shot in 1990's and released today. Maybe this was deliberate, but it was a real spoiler.

After a few minutes my eyes adjusted to the hazy, dark tone of the film. And the film started making sense. The setting was grim, the characters well picked and performances measured. Shabri, a no nonsense, hardworking slum girl wants to protect her younger brother from bad influences. But when the police pick him up in a raid by mistake, which leads to his encounter, she loses it and shoots down the inspector responsible. And she does that with ease. With police on her back and also another big gangsta, she sets out on a mission to kill !

Eesha Kopikkar is splendid in her lead role. She looks the part, walks the part, talks the part and delivers the dialogues with panache. Zakir Hussain seems to walk straight out of his role in "Not a Love story" into this movie as the investigating inspector. Others also act with sincerity, but the problem is that the writing loses its strength mid way through the movie. Though the movie starts with a few poignant moments, the script then keeps becoming weaker by the minute. Even the dialogues suffer and logic goes for a toss. Lalith Marathe shows promise in his directorial venture as his screenplay is engaging, but is let down with the weak script.

This film was supposedly in the can for a long time, before RGV finally decided to release it. Good it did see the light of day, purely due to the effort put in. But even though miss Eesha fires on all cylinders, the film largely misfires... 

Rating : 3 / 10

Yes, I know what you would be thinking. Wasn't it obvious that this movie would be a total stinker? Why did I dare to go for it anyways? Like we really care !!! Yes, I agree. I made a mistake. Spending 120 bucks on a movie by RGV is blasphemy....

It's difficult to understand how a director of such caliber has been reduced to a person who simply looks for cheap thrills and atrocious gimmickry. Anyways, so we know the story. We have read it in the papers, followed it on TV, heard the verdict etc, so the plot is predictable. What isn't is RGVs treatment.

RGV seems to be quickly running out of funds. The film has such a bad production value that you wince. It seems to be shot with a handy cam. The first half of the film is filled with strange camera angles and RGVs relentless pursuit to make you feel dizzy. Half the time, the camera is panned skywards and pointed towards Mahie Gill's legs. or rather exploring her U.S.A ( remember the cheap fullform we had for USA in school???) You keep watching her walk across the room, on the road, to the disc etc etc. And when its not focused on her legs,  its rammed into someones face. The camera work is so annoying that you pay less attention to the atrociously cliched scenes.

Mahie Gill keeps being exploited both by the camera and in it, as she attempts to become a film star. She has an obsessed lover who keeps calling her and sending her gifts. She loves him too. But the day she cheats on him and sleeps with someone else, he arrives and kills that guy. The rest of the movie is about how they dispose his body, try to cover up, get caught and are dragged to court.

The second half is even more frustrating, because then you start seeing glimpses of why RGV was considered a good director. With the entry of the police investigation and the court case, RGV comes into his own. Some scenes are riveting, and you start getting confused why would RGV waste his talent on gimmickry? When a person is capable of making absorbing, tension filled scenes, why would he go for sleaze?

The camerawork stays frenetic and when the movie ends, you end up feeling dizzy. Performance wise Mahie Gill and Deepak Dobriyal do a decent job considering the camera is so "IN THE FACE". It's Zakir Hussain as the COP who really sucks you into a few scenes in the 2nd half. He is terrific.

Well, the film remains something that is completely avoidable, barring those flashes of brilliance that make you go "AARGHHH G V"! 

RATING : 3 / 10

No matter how much I try,  it would be difficult to make this review funnier than the movie itself. Though unintentional, Aarakshan is uproariously funny if seen with the right group! With so much HAM spread over the screen, it is a cine-carnivores delight!

If you have to see this film, then you have to have certain reservations:

Reserve your thoughts – Do not let you mind work during the film, reserve and preserve it for later. Hard to believe, but Prakash Jha has made a substandard film. Not only is the story and screenplay unimaginably lame, but the treatment poor. Songs break out at crazy times. We entered 2 minutes late, and were confused with what was happening on screen. First Deepika sings “Short main niptaao naa” (You start hoping the same for the film!!) and then an entire group sings the most HAMMY song in a long long time called “mauka” –( You look at your friends and say Mauka achchaa hai, bhaag lo).

Reserve your sensibilities – The story suffers from the forced-situations syndrome. Convenient turns, abrupt and swift twists leave you confused. One moment Deepika and Saif are being romantic, cut 2 Saif is having a HAM fest with Bajpai and Babbar. One moment Saif/ the world is pro Amitabh, cut 2 – everyone becomes a villain.  Every student is ready to commit suicide, every rich man is against the poor and is corrupt, every channel is ready to throw sleaze for money. There are so many inane scenes that it’s difficult to control your laughter.  And then there is some top class HAM baazi. Discussions, debates, arguments galore on “reservation” for the first hour and post that on commercialization of education. Although everyone Hams, there is none quiet like Babbar. Prateik makes you shriek ! Dude, if there is an Oscar for Lameness, he wins Pants down!

Reserve your hearing – Yes, do not pay too much attention to the dialogues. Upar upar se suno aur majaa lo. If words translate to thoughts, you would miss the HAM and start getting bored. When Saif rants, smile.. When Deepika bellows, smile.. When Bajpai spits, smile… When Amitabh defends, smile... When Prateik appears, hold-on-to-your-stomach-and-roll-on-the-floor-with-laughter !!!

Reserve your Alphabet – This film is about “Q”. Prakash Jha reserves other Aplhabets for other films. If you do watch this film, try to count the number of times Amitabh says “Q” and don’t ask Kyon !!!  

This film is not about reservation. It’s just a guise. An attempt to stir up unnecessary opposition and to get some publicity. This is essentially a poor film on “Commercialization of Education”. It’s a shameful product from Prakash Jha… (What’s with the rueful editing man!!!) Jhaji Saaman Baandho, Uthaao aur Katt lo!!

This film is Q.E.D - Quiet Easily Dispensable! Please listen to me … Fight reservation, don’t book your seats for this one!

Rating: 3 / 10 ( 2 for Prateik's Oscar worthy performance!!)