| Contemporary
India, a majestic fort and a royal dynasty that no longer rules forms the focal
point for this Bollywood spectacle. It is a tale of relationships, love, greed
and betrayal. Eklavya
is the royal guard of Devigarh palace whose main purpose is to protect its
members. But he harbours a dark secret which will affect all concerned. Jealous
king, Rana Jayawardhan, won't allow his wife Rani Jayawardhan die in peace. She's
uttering Eklavya's name with her final breath. Rana's
scheming brother Jyotiwardhan and nephew Udaywardhan are plotting against the
king. The
arrival of Rana's estranged son, Harsh, after his mother's demise, brings further
complications. But
it is Harsh's mentally challenged sister, Nandini, who sets off a chain of events
which forms the turning point for this complex tale. As
Jyotiwardhan and Udaywardhan start their devious schemes against the king, a series
of grisly events unfold, calling for lower caste police officer (Sanjay Dutt)
to investigate. These
include the assassination of the king at the railway crossing amidst a speeding
train. The gun shots that ensues causing the camels to run randomly in sheer panic
is also an excellent scene. Watch
out for the scene involving the murder of Udaywardhan followed by Jyotiwardhan
and nephew Udaywardhan which will make your hair stand on end! This
is director Vidhu Vinod Chopra's best work to date. His meticulous handling of
the dialogues, colourful visuals, crisp editing and powerful scenes are worthy
of awards. But
at the centre of this intriguing drama is Amitabh Bachchan. He proves that age
is no barrier when it comes to brilliant acting skills. Saif
Ali Khan too, has come leaps and bounds since his performance in Parineeta
and Omkara. It's a pleasure to watch such an on-screen natural. But
it is Raima Sen in a significant role as the mentally challenged Nandini and Jimmy
Shergill in a villainous role which lingers in your mind. These two actors have
finally gained recognition for sheer hard work. As
for Boman Irani, he brings some eccentricity into his character as the king although
he can go over the top at times. In
its opening weekend, the film has collected
拢163,783
on 40 screens, with the per screen average working out to 拢 4,095. A
gripping emotional drama, Eklavya is one of the finest works to come out
of Bollywood. Makes compelling viewing for every movie goer. A must see! Reviewed
by Manish Gajjar,
大象传媒 Bollywood Correspondent 
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