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Contains strong violenceA politician's henchman hammers an enormous nail in the skull of a person in broad daylight while a corrupt cop witnesses the gruesome murder and walks away smirking. Not many Bollywood filmmakers besides Ram Gopal Varma would dare to open a film with such a gruesome scene and go on to explore the dark underbelly of Indian society. But boldness alone isn't enough to save Shiva from being a tedious tale of an honest young cop (Mohit Ahlawat) who fights to change the system.
Just why Varma felt compelled to remake his debut film 16 years after its release is a mystery. The original Shiva, starring South Indian superstar Nagarjuna, failed to make an impact in 199. And judging by the wooden performances and lifeless script, so will this updated version. Ahlawat plays Shiva, a soft-faced rookie with a tough physique who defies his seniors to stand up against Bappu (Upendra Limaye), a local gangster turned politician who has everyone from police officers (Zakir Hussain, Raju Mavani) to the home minister on his payroll. Added to the predictable plotline is crime journalist Sandhya (Nisha Kothari), who walks into Shiva's life and also attracts the fury of the baddies.
"EVERYTHING REEKS OF A BAD DECISION"
With a track record that boasts critically acclaimed films like Satya, Company and Sarkar, it astonishes that Shiva has been hand made by Varma, who is evidently off form. Everything from the dull good versus evil storyline, to the terrible casting of lead actors reeks of a bad decision. But the biggest culprit is the film's theme. An honest cop fighting unscrupulous elements holds little novelty today, even if an accomplished storyteller like Varma directs it. Compared with his previous works, Shiva comes across as a pale photocopy.
In Hindi with English subtitles.
