The first thing that flashed in my
mind after I watched the trailer of Mardaani was that the movie looked like a
rip-off of Nial Leeson’s ‘Taken’. The setting was similar, a loved one of
protagonist was kidnapped, and incidentally the villain gets a choice over
phone about either leaving the kidnapped girl of be ready for consequences. So
does the movie actually is inspired from ‘Taken’, maybe, but it is not a mindless
copy if you come to that.
The beauty of the movie lies in the
way it has been presented, no emotional out lash, minimum preaching, pragmatic,
still entertaining and enjoyable.
Sr. Inspector Shivani Sivaji Roy
works with Mumbai Crime Branch, she lives with her husband and niece, and she
also has emotional attachment to a street urchin ‘Pyaari’. Things change as
soon as Shivani realizes one day that Pyaari has been kidnapped. Thus begins
the chase to get her back.
The story unfolds at a decent pace,
new characters come and do their part, no unnecessary melodrama, no
‘roona-dhoona’, no ‘one man against the system’ crap.
Although the movie has its share of
profanities, and characters, especially Rani Mukherji’s has qualm about
dropping the ‘C’ word regularly, but it doesn’t look forced ay any point of
time, ditto to a couple of scenes where you see how women are disgraced,
objectified and used, however even that part builds to the narration of the
story.
On one hand where Nial Leeson takes
the CIA backed cowboy style of dealing with the enemy, our heroine on the other
hand tries to remain by the book most of the time, even in climax when
everybody thinks she will take law in her own hand, she instead finds a
loophole in law to take care of the villain.
Rani Mukhrjee has given a solid
performance but kudos to the guy playing the antagonist as he gives a knockout
punch, you will specially enjoy the conversation he has with Rani’s character
over phone. It may also remind you of similar scenario that you witnessed in
‘Ab tak chappan’, however it will not look like repetition to you.
On the whole the movie is not
appropriate for children for its share of curse words and gritty portrayal of
skin trade, but a must watch for anybody else. Recommended.
P.S. I won’t mind a sequel.
Rating ****
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