Punit Modi

Saaho will be to audiences, what Kryptonite is to Superman - unbearable. The no-story, over the top action and limited plot will drive genuine movie-goers to the brink of insanity. The undertaking by Sujeeth (writer/director) kicks off when Roy (Jackie Shroff), the head of an organised group of criminals is unexpectedly murdered. From thereon the plot revolves around a few of the remaining board members who are keen to inherit his empire and fortune. The key to achieving both, however, lies in a finding a black box. Amidst the chaos are police officers Ashok (Prabhas) and Amritha Nair (Shraddha Kapoor) who whilst trying to nab thief Jai (Neil Nitin Mukesh) are drawn in to solve the case of Roy. The film fails on many counts. Firstly there is no real backbone to the narrative. The mysterious contents of the black box creates a wild goose chase and throughout the first two acts, the police are foolishly pursuing the bad guys to no avail. The screenplay in tandem defies all logic; in one scene, a wanted 'chor' by the whole of Mumbai Police takes the role of a police officer within their very own crime branch and nobody is to know. The only major theme to come out of the film is that of betrayal. Yet its us as the audience who feel cheated since the main take-away is the high-octane, shallow (though somewhat entertaining) action sequences. Prabhas is seen in an exotic car chase, butchering a society of goons, flying in a jet suit and bringing down everything from buildings to helicopters. Something has to be said of the character he portrays too; the laid back, cool, careless persona doesn't work, not especially when he falls head over heels for Amritha. Their chemistry is a lot like the action, hit and miss. Chunkey Pandey who plays the role of the arch-enemy tries his level best, but the cringe worthy dialogues he's fed to deliver, smoking a cigar and donning a flash suit is a far cry from the greed of Gabber or the might of Mugambo that have reigned in this genre. The villainous Gods are surely to be disappointed; in an action film where the nemesis drives much of the story, the casting of Chunkey is out of synch. The vfx and stunts in most cases is new age, though the former fails miserably in some pivotal moments, notably Prabhas' free fall parachute dive which perhaps uses the same green screen technology of Ekta Kapoor's Naagin. At least with Ekta Kapoor, budget can be cited as a valid excuse. With a 350 crore production cost for Saaho, one wonders how a digital disaster ever came into fruition. This confusion can be extended in many areas, from the haphazard dance numbers showcasing nothing but glamorous far away locations of Austria, Romania, Australia and Dubai to the lazy plot twists of one-upmanship and superiority. The 'sahi' question that needs to be asked is - what is the film trying to achieve? Years ago, an action film would take viewers on an adventure. The hero/heroine's quest would inspire us to look inward, and overcome the personal struggles of our own lives. Whilst the genre has evolved over the years, Saaho is a film that we simply cannot connect with. It's a shame that nothing more beyond the film's trailer is worth a watch. Bring back Superman - the asli hero of our hearts.