Unfortunately, the film isn't original — it bears too close a resemblance to Philippino film 'Cavite' (which had similarities to 'Nick of Time' and 'Phone Booth') to be coincidental — but Gupta's control of the medium is still masterful.
Aamir Ali (Rajeev Khandelwal), a doctor returning from London, puts up with the insolence of the customs officer with remarkable patience. The minute he steps out of the airport his nightmare begins.
A cell phone is tossed to him by two sinister men on a mobike, a voice tells him to take a cab and come to Dongri (a Muslim-area in South Mumbai), and that his whole family has been kidnapped and will be killed if he won't obey.
Aamir is made to go on a mad chase through the slums and ghettos of the area, presumably because the caller (Gajraj Rao) wants the privileged doctor to see how poor Muslims live, and feel the anger and urge to fight "them." Eerily, the film captures an ordinary day in the life of the caller — including his playing with a cute child.
Aamir's complete passivity is odd, as is his not taking off his suit jacket and tie in Mumbai's heat; at a few points in the film it looks as if Aamir will attempt to fight back, but this is not about unreal herogiri, it's about an ordinary man's extraordinary heroism.
Finally, in a tense few minutes shot in real time, his courage and humanism come to the fore. It is this kind of Muslim, the film seems to say again, who suffers the most and still holds on to his innate decency.
Apart from Khandelwal's superb performance, the other hero of the film is cinematographer Alphonse Roy, who realistic work (a lot of handheld and hidden camera shots) gives the viewer goose bumps --a scene in a filthy toilet makes you hold your breath, as if you were there yourself. The actors all look like they were picked from the real locations. The editing and music are near-perfect too.
Gupta worked with Anurag Kashyap earlier and the similarity in style is discernable, but the newcomer has all the makings of an excellent director. If only he can come up with an original script the next time.
Source: India Syndicate
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