SAZAYE MAUT
A film review by Amin Meghani
Copyright 1995 Amin Meghani
SAZAYE MAUT[vvc] (Naseer,Radha Saluja) ****
What starts out as a promising engineering job opportunity soon turns into a horrible nightmare for Omkaar (Naseer); in the space of a few terrible minutes, he is sucked into a vortex of events that culminate in his being accused of murder and sentenced to death. And this is where our story begins. (Have I caught your interest now?) On death row, Omkaar finally seems resigned to this cruel twist of fate when a high-priced attorney mysteriously appears to appeal his case. Omkaar is proved insane and the court orders him locked up in an asylum. There, he is offered a bargain to regain his freedom. Realizing by now that he is merely a pawn intentionally trapped in the web of a sinister conspiracy, Omkaar acquiesces to the deal.
Vidhu Chopra's debut movie is as a multi-carat gem on a revolving display in a fancy, well-lighted jewelry store: no matter how you look at it, it dazzles you with its sparkling brilliance, not occasionally but continuously, leaving you slightly dazed at the end, but wanting more. From the opening frame (which by its very ordinariness, aided by some nifty background sets, is made extraordinary) to the closing credits; from the menacing steel and concrete jungle of Bombay to the breathtaking beauty of the countryside to the deceptive serenity of Goa, Chopra holds, make that commands, our attention. The script is intelligent and well-crafted: VVC and team have ensured the conspiracy is no hokey 'saazish' that often gives indigestion to yours truly, but a genuine, no-way-out jaal that begs for recognition independent of the movie's human stars as it attempts to swallow our hero.
Talking about our hero, m'man Naseer is fully up to the task and in top form (as he always is). His Omkaar is well-scripted for sure, but Naseer truly brings him to life, imbuing him with an evolving ability to adapt to his rapidly changing circumstances born out of a desperate struggle for survival. This low-key metamorphosis is a marvel to watch and we have only Naseer to thank for this all-too-rare acting treat.
This is a riveting movie; as the end credits roll, and we slowly come out of the trance Chopra has put us under for two hours, we know we have seen a master craftsman make an impressive debut. Is this just a flash in the pan, or will he indeed climb to new heights with his subsequent projects? Will he go far is the question. Having the benefit of hindsight, we smile a secret little smile and whisper, "Khamosh, Parinda, 1942. Does that answer your question?" You bet.
-- Amin
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