Rann: Is a must watch

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Abhijit Mhamunkar
Rating: 4 out of 5*

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Sudeep, Gul Panag, Neetu Chandra, Rajat Kapoor, Mohnish Behl, Suchitra Krishnamurthy and Paresh Rawal

Director: Ram Gopal Varma

An ethical news channel head, Vijay Harshvardhan Malik (Amitabh Bachchan) is facing TRP issues. Not willing to compromise with his principals while running his channel India 24X7, he is forever beaten by a rival channel Headlines 24 run by his one time protégé Amrish Kakkar (Mohnish Behl). Cub reporter Purab Shastri (Ritesh) idolizes Malik and is the new recruit in India 24X7. Malik’s son Jai (Sudeep) is a complete opposite of his father and wants to run the news channel like a business. Jai is frustrated and neck deep in debt with Headlines 24 consistently robbing their new show ideas. Malik’s son in law business magnet Navin Shankhaliya lures Jai into a dangerous plot hatched by wily politician Mohan Pandey (Rawal). Malik trusting his son, unknowingly becomes a part of this treacherous game. Pandey succeeds in toppling the government and India 24X7 becomes the no.1 channel. But what happens after Purab suspects a conspiracy in all this forms the rest of the film.

Ram Gopal Varma is back in super form! Picking a topical subject, one that we all can identify with and lending his superior technical touch, outstanding performances by each cast member, Ramu has a winner on hand. Instead of going on a media bashing spree in his film, Ramu has intricately exposed the media-politician-business magnets nexus and how using a neutral and honest platform like a news channels, our countrymen are being fooled. Rohit Banwalikar’s tight screenplay and a constant under current of tension maintained throughout the film makes Rann a gripping watch. The first half appears deliberately slow paced taking its time to establish the characters and the setting but then picks up super speed post interval as the web of deceit gets thicker. Ramu’s master touch is evident in sequences such as the lunch table scene, Ritesh’s interview of Paresh Rawal, a drunken Rajpal Yadav venting his frustration out with Gul Panag or the climax.

Just when you think Paa was his best till date, Amitabh Bachchan comes back with yet another ace act. His expose speech in the climax is a perfect example of how the angry old man is simply getting better with his every film. Ritesh Deshmukh perhaps in his first ever serious act is excellent. His silences speak volumes. Kannada star, Sudeep exhibiting superb panache holds his own despite being pitched along acting powerhouses like Paresh Rawal and Bachchan. Paresh Rawal after a long time in a serious act is menacingly good as the slimy politician. Gul Panag playing Ritesh’s gf is fine but has nothing much to do, ditto for Neetu Chandra who plays Sudeep’s fiancee. Rajat Kapoor fits the part perfectly. Rajpal Yadav’s character through his humour puts for the glaring truth. Mohnish Behl after a long time gets a meaty role and he utilizes this opportunity well. Suchitra Krishnamurthy is good too.