Special 26 : Movie Review

Neeraj Pandey, who  bagged  accolades  both from audiences & critics for his debut movie “ A Wednesday”  ( 2008 ) is back with another “special” movie based on a notorious true-life incidence.  The sleeper hit of 2008 " A Wednesday " which helped Pandey to bag so many awards (including  Indira Gandhi award for best first film of a director )  was  considered as a path breaking movie for its realistic treatment and social importance of the subject.  The way he treated the story line of  a Wednesday to deliver his ideology  on the punishment of terrorists, shows his definition of social justice .

If  a Wednesday was a low budget movie with starless casting, after 5 years Neeraj Pandey comes with a team of powerful actors and a superstar for Special 26.  The Primary attraction of the movie is Super star Khiladi AKshay Kumar’s new avatar. But after watching the movie we will realize the fact that the real star in the film is the well written  script which makes us engaging & entertaining . The real life story adopted from the police records of 1987’s fake CBI raid held at the opera house , Mumbai is presented in an interesting and realistic manner with the flavor of an action thriller. The writer Director has inserted necessary conflicts and drama to make the audience hooked in the narration throughout the movie.

The logic of using special26 as the title for the movie may be questioned until  you watch the 3^rdact of  the Movie. The story is about four dare devil  con men addressing themselves as the CBI officers and  loot the black money from politicians and businessmen.  Ajay Singh ( Akshay Kumar) is the mastermind behind the operations whereas  P.K. Sharma ( Anupam Kher) leads the operations as the senior officer. Even their operation spread from Delhi to Kolkatta and to various other city nobody claimed any complaint against them . It was then when an honest policeman Ranveer Singh ( Jimmy Shergill) who was fooled by the Cons, join hands with CBI to trap them   the looters journey becomes much tricky and risky. When the efficient CBI officer  Whaseem Khan ( Manoj Bajpayee) comes across their way the story line goes forward like a cat-mouse chase.

The movie takes us to the 80’s golden era of Bollywood. The 80’s style is reflected from the very beginning of the movie by using big bold cut outs for the titles. The production designer Sunil Babu has given a periodic look for the movie by making realistic sets for the 80’s  Indian cities .  The periodic touch is visible in the clothes and props ( the cars, the interiors of hotel etc.)  as well. Even the background music used for making the scenes thrilling, will make us feel like we are watching a real 80’s movie.

Bobby Singh’s ( who dead few months back) cinematography and Narayan Singh’s editing gave a thrilling look to the shots and made the viewers engaged and hooked throughout the movie. The songs were just as helpful to portray the romantic part of the movie which actually deviated audience from the movies thrilling experience .

Akshay Kumar is out of his stereotypical Khiladi and comic character through this movie. You can see a matured and realistic middle class man who fights against the corruption through his character Ajay Singh.Manoj Bajpayee has done complete justice to his well characterized role of CBI officer Whaseem Khan.   The real show stealer of the movie is Anupa m Kher who delivered a fabulous performance by giving life to his character P.K. Sharma.  The performance of Jimmy Shegill, Divya data and Kajal Agerval where appreciatable.

Even though  viewers may not have expected a commercial flavored  film from a critically acclaimed director, special 26 is  special for its brilliant treatment  and thrilling narrative style.