Akira (2016)

The first question that arises after watching the movie is, “Who names her child Akira?" It looks more like a Japanese Ninja’s name than that of a baby girl.  

The story follows Akira, who is a school girl from Rajasthan; one day she witnesses an unstylish, paan chewing, illiterate looking, disheartened lover throw acid on a beautiful young lady, disfiguring her for life. Akira identifies the perpetrator in front of police, sending the dead weight on the earth to his obvious incarceration.

Disillusioned by the lack of safety for Indian girls her father enrolls Akira for self-defense classes, which results in a miniature version of female Jackie Chan. Once again confronted by street goons, this time Akira performs makeup of the guy with a dash of acid, now resulting in her visit to Juvenile detention for a couple of years.

Story takes a time leap and many years have passed, Akira is now a college going student, she moves to Mumbai with her family and enrolls into a college. There due to a twist of fate she becomes entangled into a situation where some corrupt cops want her dead. But of course whom they considered to be an easy target to eliminate, refuses to die.

Story move at fast pace and screenplay is good most of time, but the story falters in the second half, the pace dulls and screenplay takes a backseat. Altogether a decent movie has a climax that is unsatisfying. We wanted more revenge from Akira, better punishment for the criminals (oops, cops I mean) but the writers and directors fail at this crucial juncture.

Performance wise Sonakshi does well, she obviously has worked hard for this role including the stunt scenes, Anurag Kashyap the famous director plays villain, and he is turning out to be a competent actor as well. It was nice to see Konkona Sen after a long time. Her role as an honest and simultaneously pregnant police inspector made me fear for her safety throughout the movie, normally such characters have a clichéd ill-fated end, which pleasantly was not the case here.

Music wise one song stands out “Baadal”. Action sequences are nicely done. At least they don’t look like parody scenes.

In all a one-time watch.

Rating **1/2