There’s an interesting conceit underlying Navdeep’s directorial debut: to infuse elements of film noir into our very own desi pulp paperback. So the inspiration remains twinfold—Manohar Kahaniyan as well as Chinatown, complete with its water scandal theme.
It makes an engaging combo, though not entirely successful. Like in noir, you have the laconic detective, mysterious femme fatales, plot that thickens by the minute. The focus is on a failed writer of detective novels (Abhay) who is also a corrupt PWD engineer taking mobikes for bribe. He lives in the sleepy town of Lakhot in Rajasthan and gets hired by the local MLA’s wife to unearth a secret. One fine day, she dies and makes things come to a boil. The whodunit-whydunit gets too complicated and overstretched. However, Navdeep scores big in building the small-town ethos and atmosphere. One grouse: the local cop (Vinay) suddenly vanishes in the middle to make a jerky reappearance in the end.
High Fives
Bollywood
1. Dhol
2. Dhamaal
3. Chak De! India
4. Heyy Babyy
5. Partner
Hollywood
1. Resident Evil: Extinction
2. Good Luck Chuck
3. The Brave One
4. 3:10 Yuma
5. Eastern Promises
Rock
1. All the Right Reasons (Nickelback)
2. Coco (Colbie Caillat)
3. Minutes to Midnight (Linkin Park)
4. Daughtry (Daughtry)
5. RIOT! (Paramore)
Courtesy: Film Information
