Movie Review: Halla Bol by SmokerJoe

January 14th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Although I am not a big fan of Rajkumar Santoshi (I liked Andaz Apna Apna), I was looking forward to this one. Pankaj Kapoor was reason enough and fortunately he didn’t disappoint me, as usual. The movie is supposedly inspired by Jessica Lal murder case and life of Safdar Hashmi (who was killed during one of his street plays). The two events mixed together can really make a good script.

The movie starts with the launch of biography of super star Sameer Khan (Ajay Devgan) and we are told that he is the kind of person who can go to any extent to remain at the top. He is even ready to sacrifice his marriage for his acting career. Then in a party he witnesses the murder of Rashmi Sahani, by sons of two very influential persons, one a state minister and another a liquor baron. He decides to keep quite in order to stay out of any controversy. Sameer Khan’s past is told to us, using flash back. We are told that he was Asfaque, who used to work in street plays on social issues by a retired (not sure about the choice of word) decoit Sidhu (Pankaj Kapoor).

By the time movie reaches towards interval our hero decides to fight for the girl and appears in front of police claiming that he can identify the killers. Suddenly his life changes. Fathers of two accused try everything in their power to stop him. Over the course of the film, his wife and friends join him in his fight and then Rajkumar Santoshi’s Safdar Hashmi, organizes a street play ‘Halla Bol’. No points for guessing what happens next.

Rajkumar Santishi has yet again tried his hands on socially relevant subject. The movie is being compared with RDB, but let me tell you. This one is different. RDB was a class, this one is not. RDB was targeted to awaken the masses, this movie does not do so. The movie has a very bad supporting cast. Except the brilliant lead cast, none of the supporting characters impress you. Pankaj Kapoor is brilliant as always. He has made 2 time national award winner Ajay look dwarf in acting department. I liked all the scenes involving Pankaj Kapoor. I have seen sword fights in many bollywood movies and none of them looked real, but give the same sword to Pankaj Kapoor and he makes it look real. Look forward to scenes where Sidhu is talking to media outside hospital and where Sidhu confronts with two truck drivers who are sent to kill Sameer. I am also not convinced with casting of Ajay Devgan as a superstar. I feel Santoshi is missing Amrish Puri badly. The movie lacked an impressive villain.

The story has many flaws in it and one of them is, it defies logic. Someone should tell Mr Santoshi, that there is a huge difference in Shayan Munshi and Sharukh Khan or Safdar Hashmi and Sharukh Khan for that matter. A Safdar Hashmi can be beaten to death in front of a crowd, but nobody would dare touch SRK in public, no matter how powerful he is. The story would have a been a bit more convincing if Sameer Khan was an struggling actor instead of a super star. I am also not very fond of watching villains who make weird gestures and speaks even more weird dialogs. Negative characters could have been written better and also Santoshi should have casted better actors to play those roles.

Overall, the movie is not a masterpiece but it deserves one viewing, if nothing, watch it for Pankaj Kapoor, one of the greatest actors we have in bollywood. I would rate this one as 6 out of 10.

Related posts:

  1. Ajay Devgan becomes a ‘Khan’?
  2. ‘Halla Bol’ based on Safdar Hashmi: Santoshi
  3. The ‘Ghayal’ Santoshi is back with ‘Halla Bol’
  4. Rajkumar Santoshi plans a film on a book
  5. Halla Bol : Movie Preview

There Are 7 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Bolami on 14 January 2008:

    Gr8 work!!!

  2. Comment by AksFilmi on 14 January 2008:

    This Movie have nothing , Nothing Special as many might consider as Raj Kumars come back

  3. Comment by gauravt168 on 14 January 2008:

    I disagree aks… this movie has Pankaj Kapoor, who is life in this otherwise lifeless film.

  4. Comment by krishna on 15 January 2008:

    The Movie deserves standing applause because its daring, realistic, entertaining & gripping too.
    i saw the movie it was like the experience i felt when i came out watching other movies like RDB, CDI, TZP. difference is here the Theme & Aim of the movie is quite bigger than that of other Classics.
    i personally recommend audience to go & watch the movie. its worth watching. it is value for you money yet leaves strong impression in your mind & makes u more responsible Citizen of India.

  5. Comment by sanjay on 16 January 2008:

    Halla Bol is the movie with good intention, awesome performances by main actors.
    don’t go with high expectation. i went to movie like raw human, a common man and i just followed the Mr. Santhoshi’s thinking for 2.5 hrs and you know what!. i just amazed at the experience i felt.
    Also, i saw how well am njoyying Hard-hitting movie like HALLA BOL. thats because all these yrs i put lotz of expectation in AJAY & other MAVERICK directors like Santoshi, RVG, PJHA etc. and every time i felt they fell short of my expectation, i started hating their moviess & finally i thought good to go BACK TO BASICS. hence started watching such realistic movies as a common man & now am again njoying the movies. really HALLA BOL ROCKS. :)

  6. Trackback by Reel Suave on 18 January 2008:

    Halla Bol

    A welcome change to have a movie on social issues after “Rang De Basanti”.
    …

  7. Comment by Anshuman Bose on 24 February 2008:

    HALLA BOL is a rocking movie about patriotism and corruption in the society after Rang De Basanti.The music is average but the best tracks are Jab Tak Hai Dum,Is Pal Ki Soch and the Gurudwara song.All the actors have done a good job but the best one is Pankaj Kapoor.A good attempt by Rajkumar Santoshi.
    The story:-
    The film starts with Sameer Khan(Ajay Devgan)releasing a biography ‘Biography of an actor-Abha Mehta’which contains all lies.He and another actor falsely praise each other but behind each other backs they abuse each other.He is a husband of Sneha(Vidya Balan)and they have a son Rohit(Amay Kadakia).Sameer meets a girl Rashmi Sahani and his sister Ritu who goes back home after taking Sameer’s autograph.While coming out of bathroom Sameer sees Rashmi requesting Sameer to help her but after a few minutes she is shot dead by sons of Minister Ganpatrao Gaekwad(Darshan Jariwala)and liquor baron Shiva Nagarajan.Everybody present at the party refuse that they saw anything at the party.Sameer also refuses that he saw anything bcoz he doesn’t want to get involved in any controversy.He gives some money to Ritu.One day during dubbing he watches again Rashmi been murdered.He decides to give justice to Rashmi.He does a street play named ‘HALLA BOL’but is beaten by some goons.Later people realise their mistake after a speech by Sidhu(Pankaj Kapoor)Sameer’s teacher and start again the street play ‘HALLA BOL’.The culprits are proved guilty and Sameer turns a real life hero among the people.
    The movie is rocking.I give it *****=5 stars.

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