Apaharan Movie Review: 'Politically Correct'

APAHARAN is bases on the business of the kidnapping industry, which is very much a part of the politicians, police and gangsters in Bihar. Ajay Devgan plays a medical representative working for an Ayurvedic company in Patna, who is in trouble as his products are not selling. He also competed for a job as a police sub-inspector, and had done well, but his job was at stake until he paid a bribe of five lakh rupees.

Ajay?s friend, played by Ayub Khan takes a loan from a gangster (Murali Sharma). Ajay?s father Mohan Agashe is a political activist, who raises voice against the widespread corruption in the police recruitment ways, due to which Ajay loses the job and also the loan of five lakh rupees.

Nana Patekar plays the role of a Muslim politician who commands great following in his community as he builds schools and cares for the poor. But on the darker side, he too is involved in making money from kidnapping and extortion.

Yashpal Sharma is the main henchman of Nana who operates from the jail, and Chetan Pandit is the Home minister who takes his cut from Nana. Murali demands his money and threatens Ajay. Having no choice, Ajay joins Nana?s gang to save his own skin, but loses out on his girlfriend (Bipasha Basu) when he takes up the life of crime. Mukesh Tiwari plays a committed S. P. But how far can he succeed against the system? Ajay grows rapidly in his stature as a gangster. But how far can he go?

Production values are appropriate. Arvind K.?s cinematography is competent. Jai Singh Nijjar?s action is very good, especially in the crowd sequences. It is a realistic film, based on the menace of kidnapping. The moral collapse of society when politicians and police are themselves supporting the criminals, and businessmen instead of going to the police to seek protection from the dons is well depicted. But the drawback is that the film looks like a documentary. The main characters and their relationships are not properly developed, and the dramatic and emotional contents look contrived.

Performance-wise, Ajay Devgan is good as usual. Nana Patekar is superb in a role which looks absolutely tailor made for him. Bipasha Basu is wasted. Mukesh Tiwari looks competent. Yashpal Sharma is remarkable. Mohan Agashe, Ayub Khan, Chetan Pandit, Ehsan Khan, Mukul Nag, Murali Sharma and Brij Gopal provide good support. As the director, Prakash Jha again shows his competence in making a socially relevant film.