SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 (PAGE-4) MOVIE- REVIEW HERITAGE A mystery movie Shrine of Baba Balikaran The last few weeks have been really good for Bollywood. lywood, probably, has never witnessed before. This is a who- It all started off with the magical BAHUBALI, which, despite dunit film that will surely have its name etched in gold, being a dubbed film, went onto register huge figures at the because of the smart script. This film scores heavily, because, ticket windows all over. This box-office magic was continued while most of the whodunit thrillers are all about finding the by Salman Khan starrer BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN. This week culprit, this film is all about flawlessly concealing the crime. sees the release of the whodunit mystery DRISHYAM. Will When you are aboard on a ship named DRISHYAM, which this film continue the magical 'vision' at the Box-Office win- has 'powerhouse passengers' like Ajay Devgn and Tabu, the dows, or will this film turn out to be a mere 'eye-wash', let's responsibility of the captain becomes more than double. And analyze. this responsibility has been carried off and executed not just For the uninitiated, DRISHYAM is remake of the Malay- extremely well, but also in the most meticulous manner by alam film by the same name, which was directed by Jeethu the 'captain' of the ship Nishikant Kamat, who makes Joseph and starred the southern superstar Mohanlal and absolutely no mistake right from the first frame till the last Meena in the lead. The same film was then made in Kanna- one. He succeeds immensely in keeping the legacy of the da as DRISHYA with V. Ravichandran and Navya Nair in the film's 'vision' alive. One really has to give it to him for keep- ing the audience on the edge of his seat, and not losing them even for a moment. Nishikant Kamat does total justice to the film's exceptional script and his direction is spot on. He is the boss and ensures you take note of the story the way he wants to...he's in complete control. While the first half of the film belongs in totality to Ajay Devgn and his 'vision', the film's engaging second half belongs equally to both Tabu and Ajay's. The film's climax is outstanding. One just cannot afford to miss the scenes in which the cops interrogate the Sal- gaonkar's family individually and also the small child's con- fession to the cops. Even though the film's pace is slow, you, Dr Narinder Paul but also in the entire Jammu and adjoining state of Pun- jab. as a viewer, don't lose interest at any point of time, because Holy Shrine of Baba Balikaran devoted to Naag Dev- the mystery and the human dilemma keeps you hooked right Farmers and cattle owners especially those possess- ta Baba Balikaran Ji is situated in the border village Pan- ing milch cattle consider this place of much significance. from the first frame till the last one. jgaraien Brahmna near Sherpur in tehsil Hiranagar of Dis- As far as the film's performances are concerned, it is need- They have profound faith and firm belief that human less to say that the film belongs totally to Ajay Devgn and trict Kathua. Situated in the vicinity of Indo-Pak interna- beings and cattle working in the fields will be shielded by Tabu. They are the quintessential torchbearers of the film right tional border, it is a holy place of great attraction for the the Baba Balikaran Ji from all natural and biological odds. from the word go. It is really heartening to see Ajay Devgn devotees. The place lies at a distance of 15 km from the At the end of cropping season, farmers start filling or sell- (who is mostly known for his action roles) to underplay his tehsil headquarters and at 8 km distance from the Nation- ing of their produce only after devoting some share to usual self and yet come out a winner of sorts. One just can- al Highway 1-A. It can be reached through different Baba Balikaran Ji. Likewise, in the adjoining area, the not to afford to miss him in the scenes where he and his fam- means of transportation from Hiranagar, Loundi Morh as first milk of the cattle after parturition is offered to Baba ily recreate the entire events and incidents and also his help- well as Ghagwal upto village Sherpur. The Shrine is sur- Balikaran Ji and afterwards its consumption or sale is less condition in the police station when his family gets beat- rounded by the villages Sherpur, Sadwal, Sadheychak, started. en up mercilessly. His smoldering eyes emote effortlessly. On Kattal, Lalley Chak, Loundi etc. It is one of the places in the other hand, Tabu (who had earlier played a policewoman's A mammoth fair is held at the shrine on the occasion lead, and also in Telugu as DRUSHYAM with Daggubati the area that has been an abode of great faith, trust and of Gugya Navami. It is also pronounced as Goga Navmi Venkatesh and Meena in the lead. It is only recently that the role in the 90's film KOHRAAM), plays an inspector with supports brotherhood. or Guga Navmian and is a festival celebrated in North film was made in Tamil language as well titled PAPANASAM, oodles of aplomb and elan. At the same time, she also han- which starred the legendary Kamal Haasan and Gauthami. dles the role of a concerned mother with equal ease. With India dedicated to Lord Goga- the Snake God. The day Director Nishikant Kamat's DRISHYAM starts off with Vijay the kind of portrayal that she has done in the film, it becomes On the day of fair, people falls on the ninth day of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase Salgaonkar (Ajay Devgn) waiting at Pandolem police station almost impossible to think of any other actress to have played of moon) or dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada of in Goa. The story, then goes into a flashback mode in which this role with such flawless perfection. Shriya Saran, on the from adjoining villages Hindu calendar. Simply, it comes a day after Janamasth- it mirrors all the events that led Vijay in the present day situ- other hand, comes up with a winning performance in the role mi. This year the fair will be held on 6th of September. ation. Vijay Salgaonkar is a 'fourth standard failed' middle of Ajay Devgn's wife. The other mentionable roles belong to A huge rush of devotes can be seen during fair. Peo- class hard working businessman, running a cable TV busi- Rajat Kapoor, Ishita Dutta and Mrinal Jadhav, all of whom spare the milk of their ple participate with great enthusiasm and zeal, pay obei- ness. His life revolves around movies and his family consist- jointly deliver a masterpiece called DRISHYAM. A special sance at the shrine and seek blessings for them and their ing of his wife Nandini Vijay Salgaonkar (Shriya Saran), his mention goes out to Kamlesh Sawant for his cop act, which cattle and do not use it families. On the occasion, a langar is also organizsed for teenage daughter (Ishita Dutta) and his younger daughter. was in top form. Even other small characters have done excel- lent job in their parts. devotees. Besides, programmes are also held on the Life goes on pretty smoothly for the Salgaonkars, till one day for consumption, sale or occasion of naagpanchmai and rathkhadda in which his elder daughter bumps into a notorious Sam in a school As far as the film's music is concerned, in a film like this, numerous people throng the place. camp. Despite repeated warnings, Sam doesn't stop pester- there is hardly any scope for music. Still, Vishal Bhardwaj ing her, so much so that he even plants a hidden camera in manages to deliver a handful of soothing (if not exceptional other purpose which is On the day of fair, people from adjoining villages spare her washroom. Grabbing this 'opportunity' with both the or memorable) tracks that go with the flow of the film and do the milk of their cattle and do not use it for consumption, hands, Sam demands sexual favour from Vijay's daughter in not seem thrusted. It is the film's background music (Sameer kept exclusively for sale or other purpose which is kept exclusively for mak- return of the MMS being deleted. And when Nandini inter- Phaterpekar) that acts as a major driving force in the narra- ing "kheer" to be served at langer. The management of venes, he asks for a sexual favour from Nandini instead! Rag- tive of the film. When a film is of a thriller genre with a 'who- making "kheer" to be langer has a unique peculiarity which involves each ing with anger and helplessness, Vijay's daughter hits Sam dunit' as its central theme, it's editing becomes one of the key adjoining village to contribute one particular commodity with a rod that results in him collapsing on the spot. The moth- factors that can make or break the film. In the case of in the langar and it is the sole responsibility of that vil- er-daughter get furthermore shocked when they learn that DRISHYAM, it's editing (Aarif Sheikh) that keeps the film served at langer. lage to cook and serve that commodity to the devotees Sam was the only son of none other than IG Meera Desh- edgy.