D-Day

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.

coming of age cinema is being churned out every other week with directors experimenting with different themes with likes of lootera n now d-day. This flick from bollywood stables is such a breath of fresh air, with its spy cum action theme. Right from the word go, director has managed to keep the things tight n keep the audience glued to their seats ably complemented by the good acts of arjun rampal, rishy kapoor(the businessman) n irfan khan.. Special mention n praises to both the lead actors who keep the momentum going.. Also noteworthy is the background score which helps the movie in a big way, especially alvida where the hero puts into pieces the slaying of his love interest, beautifully done.. Though the film weakens post interval but the "Changing India" ending does make up for it... recommended...

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.

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

Underworld and terrorism has always been a tantalizing topic for Bollywood film-makers and this time, its Nikhil Advani who plunges into this dark and alien terrain with his modern spy thriller,D-Day. With a great deal of implicit

inspiration from the much-acclaimed,Zero Dark Thirty, D-Day is about the hunt for India's most wanted man,Sultan(played by Rishi Kapoor) called operation Goldman.

An undercover RAW agent in Pakistan ,Wali(Irrfan Khan) comes close to pinning Sultan, when the latter comes out of hiding to attend his son's wedding.Things get doubly interesting when Rudra Pratap(Arjun Rampal)an ex-army official , Zoya Rehman(Huma Qureshi)RAW Explosives agent and Aslam(Akash Dahiya),a petty crook from the streets of Mumbai are deployed by RAW Chief,Ashwini Rao(Nasser) to join the operation.However, their mission takes a wrong turn and things go south making their lives irreversibly intertwined.

A script centered around India's most wanted, with obvious references to the mafia king,Dawood instantly generates immense curiosity but Nikhil surprises us with his ferocious detailing and technical finesse.His migration from the comfort zone(sentimental flicks like Patiala House, Kal Ho Naa Ho) is a testament to his maturity and growth as a director.With some raw and gritty action sequences,stirring some facts with fiction, he not only sets the perfect recipe for a nail-biting thriller but also laces them with intense emotional interludes.Specially, the brief sequences of Irrfan and his family bring a lump in your throat.Cinematography is top-notch which makes us believe that it is really shot in Karachi.Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is seamlessly integrated with the gripping narrative.'Alvida' is arguably the best soundtrack of the movie , most hauntingly yet beautifully picturized.Dialogues are superb.

D-Day boasts of an ensemble starcast.Rishi Kapoor plays a negative character yet again and he amazes us with his venomous intensity and wit.Arjun Rampal,with his brooding looks and menacing physique is outstanding.He speaks volumes with his silence which is going to shut the critics' mouth who labeled him as wooden.Shruti Haasan, in a cameo, lends a lot of vulnerability to her character.Irrfan Khan is amazingly consistent and gets to deftly depict the character of the man torn between duty and family.Huma Qureshi and Dahiya are very much competent in their respective roles.Shreeswara,playing Irrfan's wife is quite a revelation !Nasser and KK Raina are adequate.

On the whole, D-Day is an earnest attempt to make a fictionalized potboiler, the finale might boast of jingoistic overdose but its certainly worth a watch.Alert : Not for the weak-hearted(a bit high on blood and gore).

My Rating : 3.5/5