"Halla Bol" - Movie Review

‘Halla Bol’ – An average fare with big names

Rating -- **1/2

Rajkumar Santoshi has the rare distinction of raising an issue in each of his films and his latest film ‘Halla Bol’ is no different. In this film, much on the lines of his earlier celluloid ventures, ‘Halla Bol’ exhorts the audience to raise their voice against anything wrong in the society.

‘Halla Bol is the story about a small town boy Ashfaque (Ajay Devgan) who dreams of making it big in Bollywood. Ashfaque, who later makes it big with a screen name Sameer Khan, conveniently forgets his values and ideals in the quest of moving up the show biz. He even forgets the contribution of his guru Siddhu (Pankaj Kapoor) who helps him to achieve his dreams. Even his wife Sneha (Vidya Balan) has little importance for him at this stage.

However, he is not insensitive either and when he witnesses the murder of a girl Reshmi Sahani in a night club in cold blood, he begins to change. Initially, he is a bit reluctant, but later relents and takes on the might of the powers that be, who leave no stone unturned to get the accused freed.

Incidentally, Ashfaque does not even inform the police about the incident keeping his status and position in the society in view. On the contrary, he takes up cudgels against the criminal who become his personal enemy. This act of courage makes all close to Ashfaque happy and they support him in his fight. Ashfaque tries to create awareness among the people and mobilize them against the crime through ‘nukkad nataks’.

Rajkumar Santoshi adapts ‘nukkad nataks’ as a vehicle to create awareness among the masses and this is a new concept brought forward by the film, which is otherwise very slow paced. The music of the film by Sukhwinder Singh is soothing to the ear. Sukhwinder has intelligently utilized a ghazal by late Dushwant Kumar in the background music of the film.

Although Ajay Devgan does his best to make the character come to live, a poor screenplay often comes as a hurdle in his way. Pankaj Kapoor as Siddhu has put up a brilliant performance in the film, Vidya Balan has proved her worth – both in acting and looks. Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Sayali Bhagat make special appearances in this otherwise average Bollywood flick.

-Rajnee Gupta (SAMPURN)