cineTALK

Not Quite The Triumph

Satyamev Jayate

STARRING John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee, Aisha Sharma and Amruta Khanvilkar

DIRECTOR Milap Zaveri

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Satyameva Jayate which means, ‘Truth always triumphs’, is designed as an action thriller. It is a revenge story, where a son fights the system, and makes it his raison d’etre to restore his father’s lost dignity.

The film begins with Veer (John Abraham) an ex-army man becoming a vigilante, killing corrupt police officers in the city of Mumbai. The first police personnel killed was from Santa Cruz police station. The second from Andheri police station. The police force is baffled with the ghastly deaths.

The Commissioner puts his favourite and most honest DCP Shivansh Rathod in charge of the investigation. No sooner than he takes charge, the vigilante calls DCP Shivansh and forewarns him about his next target.

The DCP accepts the challenge only to realise too late, that the killer had a systematic approach in targeting his victims. He decodes the motive too in a jiffy. But then, nobody can break the law, so the vigilante has to be arrested. Thus begins the cat-and-mouse chase between the vigilante and the investigating officer.

The plot disrobes the police and exposes the horrific level of corruption prevailing within the system. While the premise of the film is anti-corruption, it does have a patriotic tinge, but all that is lost in the drama.

While the narrative is earnest, the plot, laden with cinematic liberties although credible, takes you by surprise. It seems like a Manmohan Desai fabrication with all the tropes of a good Bollywood masala film, which include an item number Dilbar picturised on Nora Fatehi.

The dialogues are intermittently impactful. They seem to be over-egged in an attempt to give its characters a larger than life image.

The first half of the film is done up in a slick and exciting manner which is intriguing and keeps you glued to the screen.

The second half that starts with the back story of Veer, off tracks the momentum set in the first half and hence, the tale drags.

Being an action hero, John Abraham is sincere as Veer, who has turned into a large-hearted and conscientious citizen who loves the oppressed immensely, after the death of his father. He essays his part with panache. John is aptly supported by Aisha as Veer’s love interest Shikka, Manoj as DCP Shivansh Rathod, and Amruta as the DCP’s wife Sarita. Though the film with its messages is kind of fascinating, its impact as a vengeance drama lacks the superhero punch.

Troy Rebeiro

Bole chudiyaan, bole kangana Kya khubsoorati hi sab kuch hai?

Dear Auntyji

I need your advice desperately. Ours was an arranged marriage. Neel’s family is old school, almost princely and very well off. I fell in love with Neel almost immediately after the shaadi, and I like to think we had three happy years together. Our honeymoon was in Switzerland, Maldives and Oslo, and I received many gifts from the family. Neel is handsome and charming. I knew how his family lived and was looking forward to a good life.

Now my family was not as well off, but we were very comfortable. In any case, teen saal baad, Neel decides that he doesn’t want to be married anymore, saying there are a lot of differences. I don’t know what differences he means, but he says that all we seemed to do was go on holidays, and he is more social minded about helping poor people.

I was desperately unhappy when the shaadi ended: I wanted my life back. But what broke my heart was that Neel asked for some jewellery back, saying that it belonged to his family. Auntyji, those family jewels were given to me as a wedding gift, why should I give them back? They rightfully belong to me. Neel calls me at least once a month to ask if he can take them back, but I tell him he should have stayed married. It’s been a year since we separated. What do you think, Auntyji?

Auntyji Says

Thodi si bhi maryada nahin hai aap mein? The family heirlooms are probably generations old, and if I know the way of these nawabs and thakurs, they pass jewels down to bahus

You turned out to be a lousy bahuinstead of serving the state and helping the less fortunate, you wanted to live a glamorous life like a desi Kardashian. And I would think that Neel’s family - having old money - would be more inclined towards social pursuits that included philanthropy, a foreign concept to you. Hence the barbadi of the shaadi Baat rahi gahenon ki, they do not belong to you. They belong to Neel’s family - and you’re not part of it anymore. I recommend that you give back what does not belong to you. And maybe start doing some social work? Maybe the marriage can be salvaged. That might be a start to finally acknowledging that you have been a selfish little thing.

Dear Auntyji

I am happily married, but I am a little concerned about my wife’s behaviour. I love my bride of one year, lekin uski ek baat gives me much trouble. She likes to say that I am very handsome, and that I look like Hrithik Roshan. Even other people have told me this. Auntyji, I don’t care about looks. I have many other good attributes - I am a good person, I read, I help my friends and I always try hard not to say unkind things about others. But Jiya never talks about that - she only tells me, at least once in the morning and once at night, that I am super handsome. Am I an object? I am a man with many qualities. Why is she only focussing on my khubsoorati?

Auntyji Says

Arre mera chikna shonu monu, kyon apna man kharaab kar rahe ho with wifey’s compliments? Shukar karo ki you are such a hunk, such a hero, ki your wife is besotted. Ok, so ye such hai ki your wife is a superficial person, who only sees the skin deep beauty of the god that you are, but you have only been married for a year. Enjoy this while you can, because who knows how long this will last? What if she gets used to you and starts picking on other things? Like the fact that you might be lazy, or that you don’t acknowledge and appreciate that she is complimentary of your physical traits? Your other option is to ask her which of your qualities she likes the most. If she only lists your mardangi, ok, then there might be a problem. We will know she has a major crush on Hrithik Roshan - and who can blame her. He is, after all, a god. You can also nudge her towards a more nuanced appreciation of your traits by being more explicit and grateful when she highlights other features. Perhaps it’s your reaction she seeks. Maybe you puff up and walk around like a hero looking for a villain each time she says you look beautiful. Maybe it’s time to look at your own behaviour to see why your begum chooses to compliment your badshah jaisi surat.