D-Day

The movie provides an excellent insight into the concept of sleeper cells and the way they protect the country's interests, very often at the cost of their life and conscience.

The movie is about a wanted Pakistani terrorist holed up in Pakistan. Knowing the importance of the suspect, the Indian secret service agency authorizes a covert operation for the extraction of Iqbal Sheikh (played by Rishi Kapoor).

Four RAW agents are chosen to carry out the extraction. These agents led by Aslam, Zoya (Huma Qureishi), Rudra Pratap (Arjun Ramphal) and Wali Khan (Irfan Khan) hatch a plan to extract Iqbal Sheikh from his sons wedding. However, the plan gets botched up and these four agents are on the run. Also, at the same time, each of the protagonists are going through serious emotional upheaval due to the dual lives that they are leading. For e.g. Wali Khan is a simple barber, doting father and at the same time a RAW agent. His family is unaware of his identity and unfortunately get caught at the crossroads.

Each of the characters goes through their own process of redemption for the feeling of guilt that they harbor and the love for their motherland. That is actually the beauty of the movie. In fact, of all the spy movies that have been made in India, this easily is the best of all. I would actively recommend it for movie aficionados.

The 1993 train bomb blasts, 26/11 terrorist attack on the city that never sleep and Hyderabad blasts prompt us all to think that why the roots of all these evils can't be destroyed. We start to wonder that if America can assassinate the terrorist Osama Bin Laden who brought about the attacks of twin towers in USA, why can't we take down the country's most old and dangerous enemy. The answer to our question pops up after watching this movie 'D-Day' directed by Nikhil Advani.

The filmmaker who made romantic comedy films like Kal Ho Na Ho, Salam-E- Ishq & Patiala House steps out of his genre and delivers an outstanding film based on the world's most wanted criminal mastermind. Artistically crafted on celluloid, D-Day lives up to its expectations which were looming amongst the audience as soon as the promos released. You would expect a fantastic spy thriller on the parallel lines of 'Zero Dark Thirty' (obviously eliminating its hollowness) and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

A beautiful wedding scene at the beginning which happens to be the underworld Don's son's wedding reception is located in a beautiful 5- star hotel in Pakistan. Splendidly decorated wedding hall, guests arriving in rich & grand outfits and a short Rajpal Yadav singing ' Damadam Mast Kalandar' in background witnesses an infiltration by four agents on a mission. A thrilling scene shot perfectly without any ambiguity shows how the four agents successfully captivate the Don who happens to arrive at his son's wedding.

The film flies back 40 days before the Goldman operation ( as it is so named after the Don) where Irrfan Khan (Walia) as an undercover RAW agent working as a barber in Pakistan lives with his wife Nafisa and his son Kabir who are kept in dark from his original identity. This part shows affection he had for his wife and his children and a fear that this affection somehow can prove his big weakness in future starts to haunt him. The former half of D-Day mainly introduces the main characters of the film in a well-defined manner.

Arjun Rampal plays Captain Rudra Prasad Singh, an ex-Army officer who is dismissed from his military duty because of an undisclosed reason. Of all the four agents participating in this mission, Rudra is the most short-tempered and eccentric one. He walks with a well build stature reflecting his army officer persona wherever he goes. The film is not just mere hyped action film but also involves a romantic angle between Rudra and Suraiya (Shruti Hasaan), a prostitute in Karachi's red light district. Rudra lives in red light area in Karachi to conceal his true identity from Pakistani locals and ends up falling for Suraiya.

Huma Qureshi as Zoya Rehman is beautiful, determined, intelligent and straight forward agent. She has the capability to camouflage easily and successfully with the local Pakistan people so as to not arouse suspicion. The fourth agent is played by Aakash Dahiya as Aslam who is charged of three murders and is offered a release in exchange of helping RAW in their secret mission by chief of RAW, Ashwini Rao.

Just as the Goldman operation goes abruptly wrong, Goldman escapes from the scene, just inches after being captivated and turns his sources after these four agents. These agents are searched for by Pakistan's ISI agency and also by Goldman's men as they their lives are turned upside down after their unfortunate failure in the operation.

Rishi Kapoor playing the underworld Don could have been the pivotal part of the film but unfortunately he is not. Irrfan Khan and Arjun Rampal happen to be high points of the film as each of them handles their role effectively. We have some smart dialogue writing by Niranjan Iyengar who had contributed large to dialogues in Once Upon A Time in Mumbai also making an equally vital contribution to the D-Day.

The film could have been emotionally stronger and the conclusion could have appeared more convincing than it appears to be. But apart from it, the film is phenomenal and outstanding if we overlook its slight deviation to a personal angle at its end. Just like most of the Hindi films, D-Day symbolizes Bollywood's long standing fascination to Dawood Ibrahim. However it showcases the slight swagger and invincibility, this movie possesses.

But overall, a great work by Nikhil Advani in his first ever spy thriller action movie. A 6/10 stars for D-Day from me.

D-Day is a kind of step taken by Bollywood , wherein it shows nailing of the most wanted criminal of India. Perhaps, since it never happened so the movie makes you feel will this ever happen?

The story telling of the movie is very gripping, somehow the length(2 hrs 35 mins) is kinda draggy but its OK as the movie keeps the audience at the edge of their seat till the end. Its a welcome return of director Nikhil Advani whose last couple of films have met drowning ends. Technically , D-Day is one of the brilliant movies to come in recent times.

Music is at its place as the timing of "mast kalandar", "Alvida" and "Dhuan" is perfect and make you feel the situation.

Performance wise Irffan stands out as Wali Khan. Rishi Kapoor enacts role of 'Goldman' Iqbal in a confident way and we feel that he is transforming even today. Arjun is superb as rough Rudra. Huma qureshi's performance is great as usual. Akash Dahiya as Aslam is a performer to watch out too. Shruti Hasan does great justice to the cameo kind of role in the movie. Chandan Roy Sanyal as nephew of Iqbal is flawless. Nassar and Sandeep Kulkarni in their brief appearances are solid.

D-Day will appeal to the kind of audience who like watching movies made with realistic approach. Its a blend of all in one. A movie which deserves a watch.

Rating : 9/10

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK) Rating: 4.9/5 stars

Nikhil Advani has finally come of age and moved out of the shadows of his larger- than-life mentor (read Karan Johar). After promising a lot in previous efforts, which have ranged from decent to below par, he's finally churned out a film that speaks volumes of his until now dormant talent. In "D-Day" we get a gritty action thriller that would put quite a few Hollywood spy films to shame.

The authentic representation of spy operations and the attention to minute details is quite staggering and unprecedented in Indian cinema, at least for a movie of this magnitude. Along with it boasting of quite a few spectacular action scenes and hard-hitting dialogues (dialogue writers Niranjan Iyengar and Ritesh Shah, take a bow), the film is also subtly interwoven with a couple of delicate emotional tracks that literally tear at your heartstrings when their realization is achieved.

The movie might have a first-rate and thoroughly researched script (again credit goes to Advani plus his co-writers Ritesh Shah and Suresh Nair), but it wouldn't have struck such a profound impact almost instantly, if it wasn't for Nikhil Advani's spot-on direction that's replete with realistic action and pulsating suspense. However,equal credit for the movie's suspense and action scenes must go to the editing team (Unnikrishnan Payoor Parameswaran and Aarif Sheikh) and stunt director (John Street) respectively. Another reason why the movie looks so realistic and gritty is because of Tushar Kanti Ray spellbinding cinematography.

Finally, lets come to the performances, and what marvelous performances they are. Rishi Kapoor is literally a replica of India's most wanted man, while Arjun Rampal is the epitome of a hardcore, taciturn action hero. Huma Qureshi surprises us even further with yet another brilliant act, while supporting cast members like Aakash Dahiya, Shruti Haasan, and Nasser lend plenty of gravitas to the narrative.

And finally, its the powerhouse of talent, Irrfan Khan who completely steals the show all the way through, in spite of so many other resounding performances. Whether it be his angst, his emotional trauma, his trepidation, his anguish at not being as skillful as Rampal, his fear and love for his family, his delirious confusion, his patriotic convictions, or his hidden final agenda; the man pulls off one of the most complex characters to ever grace the Indian silver screen with elan and aplomb. Here is an actor who can literally do no wrong.

"D-Day" is the kind of movie that doesn't come very often, - at least in Bollywood - so don't miss up the opportunity of reveling in it on the big screen. Whether you're an action fan, a fan of suspenseful spy films, or a fan of realistic gritty cinema, this movie has ample reason to be visited again and again. This kind of an action-espionage thriller is a first for Indian cinema and a pure joy for action movie fans all over.

D DAY: i would say a very good movie with a very good direction. As expected Irfaan Khan showed his talent again and his acting is worth to watch.Rishi Kapoor is now emerging as one of the best Villains in the movies now after Amrish Puri.Started from Agneepath to Aurangzeb and now in D DAY , his acting, dialogs ..just awesome :).

The movie doesn't looses its pace , because of which the audience will never get bored in the movie.Irfaan Khan won the hearts of the people because of his simplicity and delivery of his dialogs. I would say one should obviously go to watch this movie.Its worth watching.A very good movie after "The Wednesday".