contract movie review

Producers :Ajay Bijili, Sanjeev Bijili, Praveen NIschol Banner
Screenplay :Ramgopal Varma
Direction:Ramgopal Varma
Released on: Jul-18-2008
Camera : Aseem Mishra
Editing :Nipun, Ashok Gupta MusicAmar Mohile, Sana Kotwal, Bapi Tutul
Cast : Adhvik Mahajan, Zakir Hussain, Prasad Purandare, Sakshi Gulati, Vineet Sharma, Sadia Siddique

There were high expectations on Contract due to three reasons. First, RGV has back in form with the stupendous SARKAR RAAJ. Second, it is the genre what he is best at, i.e. genre of the underworld films. Third, it is supposed to be the final installment of his trilogy on underworld (Satya, Company & Contract). As RGV's said, while Satya and Company were an insider's view and overview of the underworld respectively, Contract touches the new horrific angle of the underworld. Unfortunately, the cold presentation, lack of focus, meager production values makes Contract a disappointing film. It is far below the director’s own standards. This is RGV’s take on Martin Scorcesse’s The Departed (not Infernal Affairs). Like The Departed, Contract is also about the story of a man infiltrating into the underworld, with an extra angle of Terrorism


Plot:

The protagonist of Contract Aman Mallik (Advik Mahajan), is arrested and being taken to the jail, recollects his life bits and parts with flash back. Aman is an Ex-Army man, happy with his civil life with wife Divya (Amruta Khanvilkar) and daughter. ACP Ahmad Hussain (Prasad Purandare) asks Aman to work as an undercover informer. Aman refuses his offer as he is content with his life. One day he loses his wife and daughter in a bomb blast by notorious terrorist Sultan. Now the devastated Aman joins with ACP Hussain to avenge Sultan who operates with the help of underworld don RD (Sumeet). Hussain changes Aman’s identity as Amaan Ali Yusuf with criminal background and send him to jail to kill the aid of GOONGA (Upyendra Limaye), the biggest rival of RD. With this murder he becomes popular and gets RD's attention that bails him out. Amaan gets his entry in to RD's camp and gains his confidence by eliminating GOONGA’s gang members one by one. Aman's mission is to nab Sultan through RD. But soon he discovers the deep nexus between the underworld- terrorists-and politicians.


CREATIVE SIDE

Contract has an interesting premise but fails big time in the execution. The first half is a let down with loos screenplay. The opening sequence of army men capturing Sultan and his escape is too dramatic and unconvincing. With the flash back, it took the momentum but comes down towards interval. The second half is compelling to watch with all the double crossings. There is no conviction in RGV’s taking except in few scenes like the cinema hall killing. The character study, research and realistic milieu which are predominant in all his films were missing. The characters and gang war events were also repetitive as in his other films. The narration went dragging in second half. There is no room for chemistry between the lead pair. Moreover, the love track was not in coherence with the tone of the film and distracting. Prashant Pandey could’ve done little more work on the script. It lacks entertainment values too. Dialogues are good; especially the silly arguements between Goonga and his wife evoke laughter.


TECHNICAL SIDE:
The film is technically good. The background score is good. There is less importance given to songs. The item song Rabba Khair kare is worth mentioning. The cinematography by Aseem Mishra is good. The DI tried to mask the low-budget production values. Allan Amin’s stunts are too good. The blast scenes were very brutal and real. The shootout scene on the boat was terrific. Editing and art direction are adequate.


PERFORMANCES:
RGV won half the battle with perfect casting and fine performances. He extracted best performances from the cast. Most of the actors are new comers. RGV’s regular Zakir Hussain steals the show as the international terrorist. Though he appears in couple of scenes, he delivered the best performance so far. Adhvik Mahajan made a promising debut. He is not like the guy next door type. He played the tough guy with confidence and intensity. He is good at action but weak at emotions. He has a good physique but has to work very hard on body language and diction. The heroine Sakshi Gulati is pretty and expressive. She has to improve her acting too. Otherwise she’ll be vanished with a blink. Upyendra Limaye as GOONGA and Amruta Subhash as his wife Mirchi excelled in their roles. Prasad Purandare as ACP Ahmed Hussain is exceptional. The female cop played by Vibha Chebur so good. All these performances were very rustic and realistic. Item girl Shama Sikander adds glamour.


VERDICT:
Contract is neither a good film nor a bad film. It is an average film. Though it is a typical RGV’s film, it looks like one of RGV’s factory production directed by his assistant.

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