Every time a film of Ram Gopal Verma releases, expectations of viewers shoot rocket high. People who have become adept to see his kind of films always want more. 'Ab Tak Chhappan' too falls in the same category. It depicts incidents that are more real than fiction and its narration is closer to facts than illusion. 'Ab Tak Chhappan' also marks debut of yet another director in Bollywood, Shimit Amin. He is one of those filmmakers who shifted from the job of an editor to that of a full-fledged director. From noted stalwart Hrishikesh Mukherjee to more recent entrant of the block A. Muthu, every filmmaker has left a mark in his film at least in narration. Ramu is always aware of what he wants to show to his viewers. Whether he succeeds in his foray or not, is another story.
Shimit Amin, who shot to fame with his award winning editing in 'Bhoot', is not your regular Bollywood director. He takes to camera to show real, gritty and grim face of the Police force that is otherwise shown as either glamorous force or a corrupt glitch. Shimit chooses to trade in between. His realistic approach may work as an hindrance for many to carry on with this film, but for the lovers of realistic cinema, 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is a visual treat. And, Nana gives a performance that is full paisa Vasool.
click for larger view
Nana Patekar plays Sadhu Agashe in 'Ab Tak Chhappan'. Like any other professional he spends his day in usual activities. He is head of a team that has been chosen to weed out criminals from Mumbai. Relying heavily on his team Sadhu keeps his heart close to his job. Shooting criminals for him is like a clerk passing files from his table to another's table. He kills people and then approaches their families. He watches Television, jokes with his friends and enjoys company of his good wife (Revathy) without any indication of a sin. For him killing a criminal is his daily roaster. The tally stands at 56 (Chhappan as the title speaks). However, those who work with him feel jealous of him because even if the team shoots a criminal, it is he who gets publicity.
click for larger view
Sadhu takes liberty as he enjoys confidence of police commissioner Pradhan (Mohan Agashe). But the situation changes fast when Pradhan is replaced by Commissioner Shuchak (Jeeva). Shuchak has his own favorites and those who have been sidelined earlier are jubilant. Now Sadhu is sidelined and his rivals accuse him guilty. The new commissioner orders his removal. Even Sadhu's trusted men ignore him. Sadhu seeks help from those who had been his target no.1. Underworld Don Zameer (Prasad Purandare) offers him help, and having seen his wife die a brutal death in front of his eyes, Sadhu could not help but accept this offer. He flees out of the country but the hunt for him continues.
click for larger view
Shimit Amin who has been hopping from Los Angeles to Mumbai and vice versa may find a permanent base in Mumbai after this film. Whatever its fate commercially, his work will always find a mention. Though, more recently 'Kagaar' and 'Khakee' were made on the same note, but 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is closer to Govind Nihlanai's 'Ardh Satya'. Nana's performance is nearer Om Puri's anger against the system in that film than the highly pitched performance of Amitabh Bachchan in 'Khakee' (Nana may not like his work being compared to Big B as he is the worst critic of this super star, sorry, Nana!). But Nana surpasses Amitabh's performance in Khakee. If 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is called a comeback vehicle for Nana, it won't be wrong. Nana comes on the screen in a different style than his recent ones in 'Shakti' and 'Aanch'. He has worked in a certain style in this film that is poles apart from his earlier performances down the years. Shimit and Nana work as a team as the film progresses. It is only the work of Yashpal Sharma and Prasad Purandare that manages to shine. Nakul Vaid and Kunal Vijaykar too try to show their best, but Revathy is wasted in a miniscule role. No one notices if she was there or not. 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is a Nana film. Even his buddy says Na Na for this.
Technically the film has full marks. Salim Suleman's background music score works as the narrator for the film. After 'Bhoot', the duo once again shows its importance, especially if you're making a grim film. Vishal Sinha's camera work is superb too though one encounters with many jump cuts and breaks in editing. The film will be mainly liked by the metro crowd, especially in Mumbai. Down the suburban lanes the film will face tough time at the box office.
Press News
Content Syndication
Help/FAQ 
)
)
)
)