A Wednesday

A Wednesday

Directed: Neeraj Pandey
Producer: Anjum Rizvi, Shital Bhatia
Starring: Naseruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Jimmy Shergill, Aamir Bashir, Deepal Shaw, Gaurav Kapoor, Chetan Pandit
Editing: Shree Narayan Singh
Screenplay: Neeraj Pandey

The movie titled 'A Wednesday' and released all over India today (Friday, Sept 5th) though based on the backdrop of terrorism is yet different from other movies made on this subject.

Not only the movie's theme, but also its star cast is impressive comprising highly experienced and talented actors like Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah along with Jimmy Shergill, Aamir Bashir and Deepal Shaw in vital roles. Debutant director Neeraj Pandey deserves accolades both from the audience as well as the critics for sensitive and deft handling.

Significantly, the movie was first screened for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and then shown to the Chief minister of Delhi Ms Sheila Dixit at a special show in South Delhi on Wednesday (September 3rd) The presence of the two main artists of the movie -- Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher -- along with director Neeraj Pandey lent more importance to the special show.

A Wednesday' has nothing to do with the train explosions or any similarity with 'Bombay Meri Jaan'. In fact, it talks about the status and power of the common man. So, it's likely to rank as the best thriller of 2008 inasmuch as being an educational as well as an eye-opener.

Even though this is a Ramzan month when a large section of the Indian audience, the Muslims, keep a fast, the movie is sure to attract the movie watchers because of being a part of serious cinema. Incidentally, this is the third good movie in a row during the past three Fridays:

The first being 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' and the second 'Rock On' last week, and 'A Wednesday' this Friday. The story is good and brilliantly filmed. The movie tells the story of certain events that take place between 2 and 6 pm on a Wednesday in Mumbai though they are not on record.

In the flashback, Anupam Kher playing Prakash Rathod, the Commissioner of Mumbai Police, receives a strange call from the militants as they seek the release of their colleagues and not informing about leaving a bomb at some place to explode.

Initially, Prakash suspects that to be a hoax call, but soon finds a bomb in front of his police headquarters! He taps all resources, and even hires help to track conversations and also the location of the anonymous caller.

This shows that the director takes terrorism as the theme and gives it a new twist. Beginning with Naseeruddin Shah playing a terrorist and planting bombs in the most densely populated part of the city (police headquarters). Then, he introduces his other characters:

Anupam Kher as police Commissioner, Aamir Bashir as police officer, Jimmy Sheirgill as ATS Officer and Deepal Shaw as television journalist. The director weaves his story around these persons.

We regret that the story suffers from lack of cohesion among subplots and original characterizations. The characters are introduced to play not a big deal and therefore end up just like that. The entire cast comprising Irrfan Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Ritesh Deshmukh and Rajpal Yadav is wasted.

Arya Babbar is relegated to the rank of a junior artist. Danny dies before you notice him. The characters come and go; maybe they mark their presence without much to do. It is wondered if these players were obliged even though they do nothing in the movie.

Yes, there are no sub-plots, no songs, no movie Masala, yet it tells the story. Jimmy Jib's handling of camera is excellent. The cinematographer captures the scenes relating to Naseeruddin Shah brilliantly. . He captures the Mumbai skyline as Nasser places himself on the top of a building. And, this is perhaps one of Naseer's top five movies.

Then, comes the most refined acting of Anupam Kher. These two Bollywood giants have acted together in a movie after a very long time.

How could a movie connoisseur miss watching them together; only they could stand to each other? Jimmy Sheirgill plays a volatile cop but with a very limited role. Aamir Bashir is great and so is Deepal Shaw who shows self-confidence in herself. Chet Pandit plays an effective chief minister and Kali Prasad Mukherjee a terrorist.

Overall, the movie turns out an outstanding one as the theme, its execution and the selection of cast, especially the two Bollywood giants , are likely to draw large rowds for weeks together.