Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
Thanks to a friend of mine who recommended me this movie else I would have missed out on one of the finest dark movie of the year. Debutant director Bejoy Nambiar has suddenly become my favorite director :) A bit of looking up revealed that Bejoy has been an Asst. Director for 'Guru' and a Line Producer for 'Raavan' (Mani Ratnam venture), respect quotient for Bejoy went up. I can't wait for his next release.
'Shaitan' is intense, hard hitting, a dark contemporary thriller that gives and insight to the Shaitan (evil) that resides in each one of us. There was this movie 'Company' released a decade back directed by Ram Gopal Verma and Ajay Devgan delivers a line saying 'Hum sab mein ek rakshash chuppa hota hain' (There's a monster that hides in all of us) ... 'Shaitan' demonstrates and proves just that. 'Shaitan' is not really a nail biting thriller ... but it sure has it's moments where the audience will find themselves seated on the edge of their seats frantically biting their nails. Bejoy has crafted one of the finest dark thrillers. It's amazing to see that film making in Bollywood is really evolving and new debutant directors are trying their best to experiment with unconventional storyline and directing styles. It's a sad thing that because of a tight budget these newbies don't get to market their ware's hence not getting the fame and exposure they deserve. I repeat myself I think it's high time Bollywood gets a chain of small screen multiplexes to exclusively cater to a niche art loving cinema crowd. It makes no sense in releasing a billion rupee masala movie starring the Khans or Kumars or Roshans and a low/mediocre budget art movie in the same multiplex on the same day. Movies like 'Shaitan' stand no chance to be noticed and appreciated while in competition with a movie starring industry heavy weights.
Anyway, coming back to 'Shaitan'. 'Shaitan' is a story of 5 friends who are leading a carefree life doing drugs and alcohol until one night an accident changes it all and brings out the 'Shaitan' in them. Guys and Gals ... please please please watch 'Shaitan' for it's hard hitting screenplay that does not beat around the bush and superbly builds up tension, gripping moments follow, some dark humor, top notch performance by the ensemble cast of new comers (Kalki and Nikhil Chinappa being the only known faces) and brilliant direction by Bejoy Nambiar ... I specially loved the scene where a gun fight happens in slow-motion while a yesteryear song 'Khoya Khoya Chaand' plays in the background ... seriously ... that's some creativity :)
Bottom-Line: Full marks to Bijoy Nambiar for the screenplay and direction and full marks to the ensemble cast too who have done a fantastic job. Positively a must watch if you dare to think of Bollywood as not just a masala movie making industry.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1836912/
Rottentomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shaitan/
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