Review : Sehar

Rating : Excellent (4.5/5)
Genre : Drama, Action
Year : 2005
Running time : approx. 2 hrs
Director : Kabeer Kaushik
Cast: Arshad Warsi, Mahima Chaudhary, Pankaj Kapoor, Sushant Singh, Suhasini Mulay, Ravi Jhankal

SEHAR : Nicely done !

Once in a while you come across this little known movie, which didn’t even make it to the cinema halls (in the US), and you see it because you are an avid movie watcher. And this little unknown movie with secondary star-power turns out to be a diamond in the rough. “Sehar” is excellent, better than “D”, though not as good as “Company”. Acting is good, screenplay taut, and dialogues are meaty, succint; not a syllable goes waste. Director Kaushik is here to stay.

The film is narrated in flashback by a University Professor Tiwari (Kapoor). The professor, a scholarly man has helped the police in tracking criminals. Ajay Kumar (Arshad Warsi) is the newly appointed, honest SSP of Lucknow police. Of his family only his mother (Mulay) remains, and she inspires and motivates him to do the right thing. Ajay tries to crack down on the UP mafia, but more often than not is betrayed by information-leaking local police officials. His boss tries to aid him by shielding him from political pressures, and by getting sanction for Ajay’s brainchild – a Special Task Force (STF), which would work across local jurisdictions, and state lines.

Criminal activities in UP are dominated by Gajraj (Sushant Singh) and his gang. Aided and abetted in his nefarious activities by feudal lords and politicians, Gajraj is an intelligent and ruthless criminal. Trying to pin him down, the STF takes help from a physics professor Tiwari (Kapoor) who helps them track down cell-phone conversations, and thereby the location of the criminals. The STF then makes headway in combating crime across the state, but is still unable to get Gajraj.

The final attempt to get Gajraj forms the climax of the film.

The romantic angle is provided by Anamika (Chaudhary), daughter of an erstwhile friend, an Army Major. Perpetually chiffon clad Anamika is an Economics professor at the university. Although her acting is passable, Mahima presents a highly glamorous and very unrealistic “look” for an Economics professor – a slip-up in an otherwise stunning film.

The film is moderately paced, a well-thought out and beautifully executed presentation. This is a novel story, in that it’s from the policeman’s perpspective, giving credence to the police force for the work they do. Warsi delivers an under-stated but highy effective performance as SSP Ajay, portraying Ajay’s willingness to fight criminal targets as well as his inner demons. With this display of finesse, Warsi proves that he is actor to contend with in meaty, serious roles. He is ably aided by other fine artistes like Mulay and Kapoor.

Most characters in the film are well-defined, and speak true UP-ite hindi. The basic cop-against-hoodlum story is strenghtened by apt dialogues, a strong screenplay, and the presumption of intelligence (very rare these days). Be prepared however, for graphic (sometimes gory) fight sequences. A “clean” film by any standards, it doesn’t have any item numbers (probably accounts for lack of film’s commercial appeal) or bare skin (except Mahima’s deep neck-lines). Nowhere does Kaushik let slip the reins of direction, giving us a polished, interesting product. This is a sincere, tell-it-like-it-is film, and it’s earnestness doesn’t fail to touch the viewer.

In the filmworld, there are hits and misses. “Sehar” is a direct hit.

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