Aiyaary

Neeraj Pandey's 'Aiyaary' is a confused film filled with a number of inter wining with each other. It is an espionage thriller set against the backdrop of Indian Armed Forces although it totally lacks his natural flair.

The film-maker starts the movie in his typical style full of twisted elements. However lack of time-frame and inconsistent narratives hampers the progress very early. The length of the movie also doesn't help the cause. The first half builds promisingly and by the end of it most of the movie unravels.

It starts off with Major Jai Bakshi(Siddharth Malhotra), an covert intelligence team-member gone rogue. He learns about the corruption among the higher authorities of the organisation while performing a surveillance role. At the same time he also holds a number of dark secrets that could set a chain of unwanted events.When Colonel Abhay Singh(Manoj Bajpayee), a highly trained military officer learns of his disappearance, he decides to take the matter in his own hands. Helping Jai is all this hara-kiri is his freelancing hacking expert girlfriend Sonia(Rakul Preet Singh).

The second half is all about the cat-and-mouse chase among the two protagonists trying to outsmart each other at every move. The climax has nothing extraordinary but the movie falls flat way before its end. The pace of the movie is up-and-down throughout. There are too many extra characters with unexplained motives. The director tries to trust the audience during many aspects of the movie which is a valiant attempt but the loopholes in the script doesn't allow him to do that.

Pandey again employs his chosen actors with some new faces. Manoj Bajpayee is in his usual brilliant form. Siddharth Mehrotra again fails to impress keeping more or less the same impression throughout the film. There are a few cameos from Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Adil Hussain, Kumud Mishra but they doesn't inspire much confidence.

'Aiyaary' is an ambitious effort but consists of many rookie mistakes and hence is not able to punch above its weight. Although lesser run time and fewer characters could have improved the story.

AIYAARY, is a thriller completely for the class audiences Manoj Bajpayee as usual nailed it. Nasiruddin Shah was impressive as always. Script was a bit weak. One can easily feel that although Puja Chopra's and Rakul Preet's performance are decent but their characters are not very well written. As a thriller novelist I am bound to say that in place of creating these two characters (Puja Chopra's role and Rakul Preet's role ) if the story writer could have just created one strong powerful character and written a good role.

Sanjay Agnihotri Novelist

Believe me, I am a Neeraj Pandey fan. I was mesmerized while watching Baby. Even the background score is still there in my mind. I think that was the best of Neeraj. He had given superb as well as good films, too. But, this is also absolutely true that Aiyaary is his worst film ever.

The story is very very very slow. Even it is not understandable. The flow and touch of Pandey is missing. I also feel that Manoj could have done it better. But, what can an actor do when he has nothing to perform! It is a harsh truth, but, this film has no element of film in it. That means, no entertainment, no drama, no thrills, no stunts, no grip, & even just a single song... Which was okay. I am hugely disappointed.

No actors have done superb, except Naseeruddin Shah. He is superb in his tiny role. I like Rakul Preet. Thank God, she was there, as my time passed by just watching her. I like just a single dialogue - 'Aap humari aanewali naslon ko kya degne!'

I know, I can't rate any movie like this. I always look good in everything. But, this film is a disaster. The climax, on which the story is based on, is like 'what! Really?'

It is not like a Neeraj Pandey film at all. I also think the film is not being edited at all! Save yourself, or jump in a dry well! This rating is only for their hard work and Naseer & Rakul's presence.

I don't want to be a spoiler. I won't reveal the plot its awesome that's it and whenever this movie will come premiere on television I will watch it every time. Salute to neeraj pandey for this brilliant plot and brilliant casting of all the actors and actress. Its sad that some people doesn't understand it and said its a waste to see .

The 2 stars are for Manoj Bajpai. The rest ham it up. Can't blame them. Excuse me, but what was the plot all about? Army housing scam in Mumbai.. a so called witness holed up in Paharganj, Delhi. So to expose the scam, he could have been made to blurt everything out in front of the TV cameras? So from where did Czech arms come in, as also an arms dealer from London, an elite assassin commando Unit of the Indian army (with a James Bond license to kill), a member of the Unit who goes rogue.. what was all this? And was Nasiruddin's blabber so vital that the scam fell through?

What a waste of time and what a waste of good actors, especially Manoj, Siddharth, Anupam Kher and Nasiruddin. Could not understand the London connection at all ... also could not understand why Siddharth was hobnobbing with the British MI6. The latter were pretty tame... LOL. Few of them got shot in the head.. there was no follow-up action. Jesuz!!

View this film at your own risk. It is a porridge of confused ideas.