Prague Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2013 | Thriller
Critics:
Prague had it all going for a perfect thriller but with owing to the laxity of the filmmaker the edgy elements go completely haywire.
Sep 27, 2013 By Mansha Rastogi


It's always easy to jot together some really fancy story ideas and expect it to miraculously turn itself into a fab movie. But sorry to break it to all budding filmmakers, there's definitely more to a movie than just having a great script. Take Prague for examples. It appears as if a bunch of film school students weaved a supercool movie idea and thought they could achieve an Oscar worthy product. However, they lose the steam at the execution stage and put together a supposed edge of your seat film which doesn't really leave you on the edge of your seat.


Despite being an enthusiastic and passionate architect who excels in his job, Chandan (Chandan Roy Sanyal) has his own delusional hang ups about love and life. He is sent packing off from India to Prague after having won a project on memorial for World War II. The architect suffers from schizophrenia. He sees his dead friend Arfi who jumped to his death because Chandan refused to listen to his break-up woes. Enmeshed with guilt, the schizophrenic architect suffers from trust issues too when his friend for whom he has a mix of fascination and envy Gulshan (Mayank Kumar) comes again in his life. Gulshan has slept once with his ex-girlfriend and now that Chandan is in love again with Czech Gypsy girl (Elena Kazan) he suffers from massive insecurity too when he sees Gulshan trying to pally up with her too. How his perfectly happy life turns into a nightmare all over again courtesy his schizophrenia is what follows through the rest of the plot.


Right from the poster to a cerebral concept to edgy projection, Prague as an experimental film has all going for it for a person who enters the cinema hall for a heady dose of psycho thriller. But it doesn't take too long for one to get heavily disappointed.


The reason I say so is because the filmmaker Ashish R. Shukla holds fort all the way till the first half. But it's the moment you step into the second half with renewed expectations is when his film starts to crumble all the way to unfathomable levels.


The entire second half relies on a mix between reality and illusions and the execution of which is replete with loopholes really gigantic. The screenplay is so muddled after some point that it appears the filmmaker is trying to make a thriller by confusing the audience instead of building any suspense. Let's break it to you Ashish; the audience of today is smarter than you think.


The cinematography and acting however is what keeps you going through the disappointing times. Being shot at the picturesque Prague, the film has breath-taking visuals. Kudos to Uday Mohite for creating such a visual delight.


Chandan Roy Sanyal is another reason why the film still remains bearable. The actor who for long has been doing bit roles or negative leads is in top form in Prague and gives the best performance of his career.


Elena Kazan who was last seen in John Day struggles with her acting at some places but is still passable. It is Mayank Kumar who is a real surprise here. As Gulshan the actor gives exceptional and crackling performance.


To sum it up, Prague had it all going for a perfect thriller but with owing to the laxity of the filmmaker the edgy elements go completely haywire.


Mansha Rastogi

   

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