Prassthanam review :
Wonder what made Sanjay Dutt turn producer with this remake of namesake Telugu film which itself wasn't great shakes critically as well as commercially. Was it to reunite with his 90s peers - Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Chunky Pandey - and make a nostalgic effort for kids of that decade? Well, Prassthanam ends up being exactly that. A dated 90s film which ain't too bad nor too great. Average at best.
Sanju Baba plays the political patriarch - a 'Sarkaar' (2005) of sorts - with his two sons (Ali Fazal and Satyajeet Dubey) warring against each other for satta and power. Jackie Dada is supposed to be Baba's trusted henchman but is made to stand like a khambaa (I mean a pole not the bottle Tee hee!!) without any dialogue for most of the film. The pretty Manisha Koirala gets a couple of dialogues in her four odd scenes. Criminal wastage of fine talent!!
Chunky Pandey plays an opportunist businessman convincingly. Ali Fazal and Satyajeet are both sincere. Particularly, Satyajeet as the wayward loser.
The film's sub plot involves rape as well as double murder but none of the proceedings hook you to the hilt. Indeed, there is absolutely no novelty factor here with even the final twist appearing tame and downright predictable. Tsk tsk.
On the positive, Sanju Baba still has his style and swag intact and he truly shines in few scenes. Like the one when he literally growls on his erring son. With his towering screen presence, Baba is the sole reason for enduring Prassthanam for close to two and half hours. Risk it if you must!
Regards Sumeet Nadkarni
Wonder what made Sanjay Dutt turn producer with this remake of namesake Telugu film which itself wasn't great shakes critically as well as commercially. Was it to reunite with his 90s peers - Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala and Chunky Pandey - and make a nostalgic effort for kids of that decade? Well, Prassthanam ends up being exactly that. A dated 90s film which ain't too bad nor too great. Average at best.
Sanju Baba plays the political patriarch - a 'Sarkaar' (2005) of sorts - with his two sons (Ali Fazal and Satyajeet Dubey) warring against each other for satta and power. Jackie Dada is supposed to be Baba's trusted henchman but is made to stand like a khambaa (I mean a pole not the bottle Tee hee!!) without any dialogue for most of the film. The pretty Manisha Koirala gets a couple of dialogues in her four odd scenes. Criminal wastage of fine talent!!
Chunky Pandey plays an opportunist businessman convincingly. Ali Fazal and Satyajeet are both sincere. Particularly, Satyajeet as the wayward loser.
The film's sub plot involves rape as well as double murder but none of the proceedings hook you to the hilt. Indeed, there is absolutely no novelty factor here with even the final twist appearing tame and downright predictable. Tsk tsk.
On the positive, Sanju Baba still has his style and swag intact and he truly shines in few scenes. Like the one when he literally growls on his erring son. With his towering screen presence, Baba is the sole reason for enduring Prassthanam for close to two and half hours. Risk it if you must!
Regards Sumeet Nadkarni