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Producer : Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Gupta
Director : Apoorva Lakhia
Music Director: Strings, Euphoria
Rating: **1/2
The early nineties were exciting times to be a part of the underworld if not the Mumbai police! With Maya Dolas and his gang growing at a terrifying pace, it was clear that he would cross paths soon with the biggest 'Bhai' of all who then ruled from Dubai.
The film is a journey which tells how the Anti Terrorist Squad, which was dismantled in 2003, actually came to action. It shows how ACP Khan, played by Sunjay Dutt, selecting right candidates for the squad before he launches his war against crime.
The film is basically a series of flash backs. The opening montage shows the blood drenched scene of the shootout. And then we find three officers – ACP Khan, Kaviraj played by Suniel Shetty and Javed Shaikh played by Arbaaz Khan facing questions from Advocate Dhingra who is enacted by the Amitabh Bachchan. Dhingra shoots accusations and questions the three. Among others, accusations against the ATS are of human rights violations and putting the lives of over 400 people of the area in risk. And the three answer with accounts from history which led to the shootout.
Abhishek Mahtre (Abhishek Bachchan) is an inspector who is shot by Khalistani terrorist who are trying to find a foothold in Mumbai city. Organised crime gets headway and ACP Khan wants secures permission for the new ATS cell – a model influenced by SWAT cell from LA. Meanwhile, Maya Dolas (Vivek Oberoi) along with his partners Bua (Tusshar kapoor), RC (Shabbir Ahluwalia), Fattu (Rohit Roy) and Doubling (Aditya Lakhia) grow up to defy their boss in Dubai. The clashes finally result in the boss lifting his hands off their heads leaving them to fend for themselves. And ACP Khan wastes no time.
But while the film shows the evil side of the underworld what makes it interesting is that each character in the gang is also given human flesh. While Maya has his Aai played by Amrita Singh, Bua wants to have a family with his love interest Tarannum (Aarti Chhabria). Fattu has his god fearing parents and RC is afraid of ghosts of innocent families he has killed. It's not just the gangsters. The police offers have their slice of family trouble as well. ACP Khan and Kaviraj have unhappy wives and Javed wants his son to do better than himself in school so that he grows up not to be a police officer but a respected 'doctor ya engineer' and earn good money.
The story of the film is done well. And it has been carried out pretty well too. But the shootout scene which is supposed to be the central subject of the film however fails to generate much excitement. The background music as the shootout film reaches climax gives out some emotion and the cinematography is breathtaking at times.
There has been a rising tendency to shows chaos and action through lots of shakes and cuts in films nowadays. And Shootout at Lokhanwala exemplifies this. At times the shakes and cuts end up leaving your head dizzy and create confusion.
The playback music of the film did not have much scope and hence not too impressive except the track by Strings which is played during the end credits.
Performance wise, the film is quite mediocre. There are so many actors that there is hardly enough time for each to do anything significant. In between all this however I would like to mention Amrita Singh. As the proud mother of Vivek Oberoi she stands, Amrita has done a terrific job. Amitabh Bachchan lends his charm when ever he is on screen. Sanjay Dutt also comes with a good performance, taking into account his troubled times during the shoot. Tusshar Kapoor has improved a lot as an actor. His expressions are good but then his vocal chords just let him down. May be Tusshar should stick to roles like the one in Golmaal where he need not speak! Debutant Shabbir Ahluwalia is also good as a goon. Overall, this is Vivek's film and he is good as a gangster. In him, there is the same spark as in Company.
After a stylish Ek Ajnabee Apoorva Lakhia's third film is a commendable effort. Especially since he handled such a huge star cast and story! Worth a watch not two!
Shootout at Lokhandwala Wallpaper
By the way, there are special thanks to both the Bachchans right in the beginning. Hmm, that's no doubt for waving off their fees.
-Sanskriti Media
Exclusive Photo Gallery from Shootout at Lokhandwala - Movie
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