THAT SEAMLESS POLITICAL THRILLER BOLLYWOOD NEEDED

military forces. It seems miraculous that Siddharth Malhotra, playing an army renegade, is allowed to mouth dialogues that openly castigate the corrupt political system. Illegal arms-deal scams are not only whispered into the commodious plot. The narrative screams in wounded agony at the dizzying heights of corruption in the highest places.

This is no mean achievement.

The performances are not consistently polished. Some of the actors are impossible high-pitched, clamouring to make themselves heard over the bustling officious background music by Sanjoy Choudhary that could have been less hammering in its impact.

Blessedly, Manoj Bajpai and Malhotra play against each other with vitality and force, giving both heft and history to their respective parts of a veteran who won’t desert the cause and the junior who won’t stay within the corrupt system. The confrontation sequences between them are a treat to behold, largely because they play not for effect but for reasons that come from within their conscience.

There are two vivid flashbacks in Kashmir where we see the two heroes’ heroism from each other’s point of view.

Taking the bullets from the enemies with a refreshing lack of flourish associated with cinematic soldierliness, the two protagonists represent patriotic valour at

Capable actresses like Juhi Babbar and Nivedita Bhattacharya scarcely get to make even a fleeting impression. As for Rakul Preet Singh as Malhotra’s love interest, she looks clueless about her function in the plot.

But truly, my favourite performance in this film of indubitable force and inner strength, is by Naseeruddin Shah. His cameo as a common man who, according to the smart script, brings out the Adarsh Housing Society scam, is peerless.

It takes a vast amount of integrity and guts to bring to the screen a drama that dismantles the image of ‘Saare jahan se achcha..’ to focus on the corruption within. Designed to poke needles into our collective national conscience, Aiyaary is a film that must be seen by every Indian.

Subhash K Jha