Apaharan

A couple of things I knew before seeing the movie were:

* It was based on the Bihar kidnapping (industry ?!). * ..and Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan and Bips acted in it.

Point 2 was the prime motivator, a serious subject sounded even better :).

The characters in the movie are not something new to movie watchers. An aspiring son, an idealist father caught in a cruel world of the good, bad and the ruthless. The story is told in an elegant fashion without any sleaze or exaggerations. At no point of time does the movie glorify a character to make them look larger than life. Falling a genre of crime/drama, more focus is laid on the 'Clash of Titans' than on blood spatters and gunshots (there were a few, but way less than you would expect).

The characters were a perfect fit and the script made sure they don't get too focused as well. Nana Patekar who plays Tabrez Alam had that subtle ruthlessness written in his eyes was simply a class act. His dialogues were short and powerful. His character is a lesson modern day villains need to learn. Ajay Devgan (one of my favorites :) ) shows a lot of versatility as an innocent, aspiring, angry, calm and broken character of Ajay Shastri. The scene where he refuses to 'run away from reality' was the pick of scenes. Bips did'nt have much to do, I thought she'd play something similar to her role in Footpath and turns out more like Katrina's in Sarkar. Ajay's father character was good, but not the perfect, executed what he was sent out to do. If Amrish Puri was alive today, I wish he have played the father character.

One more feather to the cap, there are no songs and no romantic scenes, so if you are a 'Mills and Boons' fan..stay away ;) .

The movie has a few flaws too, not that it disturbed the flow, but kind of looked odd in such a well made movie. Ajay's friends involvement in the kidnapping did'nt look believable at all. Nevertheless the movie had many positives to still hold it high.

Overall A 40% script, 40% performance, 15% violence and 5% flaws is one step short of perfect and three steps ahead of very good. Needless to say me liked the movie, the only sad part was I could'nt understand all the dialogues. I would see it again if I get a version with subtitles.

Absolutely breathtaking performances we see from Prakash Jha's film named Apaharan.We see some fascinating & captivating performances from both Ajay Devgan & Nana Patekar.Here we see Ajay as a young gangster who just wants success whereas on the other hand is Nana Patekar who is an old politician who is fulfilling his extortion dreams.Ajay rises up as a gangster and gives conclusions to a lot of kidnapping & extortion's.Ajay's father Mohan Agashe acting is terrific as it can get.Then you have Mukesh Tiwari as DIG Anwar Khan who as an honest cops just does tremendous justice to his role.Prakash Jha has directed another superb film after Gangajal.But the stand out performer again was Ajay Devgan.He is a great actor.And such roles just suit him so much rather then those stupid Golmaal types films.The ending is stupendous.Soundtrack in the end is very good.This is a very good film focusing on the nexus between politicians & gangsters.

Prakash Jha after the memorable GANGAAJAL made APARAHAN

The film is a nice take on kidnapping which hasn't been seen before on screen in such a way

The best part being the film keeps you involved throughout Ajay's characterization is well handled the problems he faces are so real to life

The first half is a bit slow but manages to keep your interest alive Nana's scenes are pure magic and Ajay-Nana's first scene together is nothing short of great

The second half focuses on how Ajay changes and becomes a person of Nana's group, this part is too filmy though but yet it's believably handled

Even the climax though clichéd is well handled

Direction by Prakash Jha is awesome Music(only 1 song) suits the theme Background music is apt

Amongst actors Nana proves yet again why he is one of the best actors, he acts the character so perfectly and gives an understated performance Ajay Devgan too excels in his part, people may say that it's the same kinda acting but i don't agree with that He suits the role and is a complete natural In fact I would like to see Ajay in such a role more Bipasha in a small role is okay Amongst rest Mukesh Tiwari another person who is doing nonsense nowdays is excellent in this film, In fact Ajay and Tiwari in ZAMEEN, GANGAAJAL played opp roles then in this(in Gangaajal and ZAMEEN Ajay played the good guy and Mukesh the grey shaded guy here it's the opposite) Dr. Mohan Agashe excels in his role while Anup Soni is adequate Yashpal Sharma repeats his goon act

This a very well-made picture from Mr Jha, who in the past directed Hip Hip Hurray, Damul and Gangajal among others.

Its set in Bihar where extortion and racketeering have become a way of life. The protagonist is forced into a life of crime after his father's principles come in the way of "buying into" the system. Unable to find a job, he joins the mafia kidnapping racket and becomes the henchman of political bigwigs, first the local MLA and later, the ministers who by then, have joined hands to form a ruling coalition. In the process, his love life goes astray, his father disowns him and he sinks lower into the dark abyss. The final confrontation brings closure to his estranged relationship with his dad as well as with his fate.

Re: acting, unlike what one poster said, Mohan Agashe did ample justice to the father's role. It called for deliberately understated acting and the late AMrish Puri could never have pulled off a sensitive portrayal of essentially a contented man, that although principled and devoutly Gandhian, isn't necessarily an *activist*. A professor who is ready to fight against injustice, he firmly believes the pen's mightier than the sword. Remaining cast also did a marvelous job including the one and only Nana Patekar. Ajay Devgan has starred in Jha films before and it seems like a successful partnership. Screenplay, dialogs and narrative are all top-notch. Jha belongs to that small group of Indian filmmakers who still make relevant and meaningful cinema. Without pandering to Western audiences a la Dipa Mehta or Mira Nair, selling sex like Ketan & co, or producing useless extravaganzas that no one cares about like the Bhasali dude, Mr Jha sticks to the point and drives home the bitter truth relentlessly.

There's some irony in this. What is his personal gain? And what are his creative desires? What do Indian filmmakers like Jha, Mahesh Manjrekar (Vaastav, Astitva), Madhur Bhandarkar (Chandni Bar, Page 3), Ashutosh Gowarikar (Swades, Lagaan) hope to achieve in that rotting sewer of an armpit called Bollywood? Do they make money on their films (doubtful)? They ostensibly are not in it for awards. Swades was a decent film if not flawless, that was sidelined by the Drollywood dodos in favor of the usual junk fare (read: you gotta kiss the behinds of many Hojars, Pochras, Tuddas, Haigs and other assorted yo-yos or you won't survive)

Realistically, 1 good film a year out of 100 is a good batting average for Bollywood....but "yeh dil mange more"!!

Apaharan brings together the winning duo of Prakash Jha and Ajay Devgan once again. and adding to the awesome twosome is Nana Patekar as the corrupt political leader(Tabrez Alam). when all of Ajay Shastri's(Ajay Devgan) efforts to achieve the job that he desires and deserves go unrewarded, he takes the crooked path. entering the business of "apaharan" (kidnapping) under the "able" guidance of Tabrez Alam he gets all that he craved for - power, money and authority. he however pays the prices too- love,society,friends, family and life. the film also explores the subtle relationship between a father Professor Raghuvansh Shastri( Mohan Aghase) and son which is also reflective of changing times and clashing ideologies.