Raid Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2018 | UA | Drama
Critics:
Audience:
An honest Income Tax officer leads a team in a raid to find hidden assets of a local heavy, a political leader, at his bungalow called 'White House'. The dialog is tight, the good guys are as smart as the bad guys are clever, the danger seems real and it's money well spent when you watch this film. If only the thrill of watching money tumbling out of walls was not marred by silly songs and a whiny wife.
Mar 15, 2018 By Manisha Lakhe


An honest Income Tax officer is recognised by one thing: he gets transferred ever so often. Ajay Devgn brings his Singham style dialog delivery (but none of the action, because government officer) to his role as Amay Patnaik, who has just been posted in Lucknow.


When his fellow officer says, 'He's just been posted, so he's like a bottle of soda that's just been opened. Will make a bit of noise...' you know you're in for a decent viewing because a non-descript chap has been given a nice line. The film does not disappoint.


Saurabh Shukla plays Tauji, the big, bad bully in UP (a state not exactly known for its lawfulness) who lives in a sprawling bungalow called 'White House' and his fiefdom extends all over the state and he knows he's the man political parties come to for money before the elections. He fancies himself as a political kingmaker as well. So when Amay Patnaik shows up early in the morning, Tauji chews up the scene when he says, let me drink my tea first and then disturb me. Saurabh Shukla has done this role so many times, he makes a really good bad guy.


The income tax officers search the premises, the family of Tauji make great adversaries (the men and women alike, and you will fall in love with the old granny) and we watch the drama unfold. Ajay Devgn is good as a stern officer, but you wish he too would get his hands a tad dirty instead of strategising. The strategies are good fun too. And the audience as well as the officers are surprised.


But, there's a 'but' in the story that prevents this film in becoming a super watch. This involves a really stupid whiny wife played by Ileana D'Cruz. 'Don't go!', 'Be safe!', 'I worry when you're gone', 'I didn't know marrying you would mean getting transferred so often!'... She is so redundant to the story, they could have simply made the narrative tighter by removing her (and the two ridiculous, unnecessary songs filmed on her), giving Ajay Devgn a free hand to be the strong honest tax guy.


The background music is jarring and at one point you wonder how much of Dunkirk's music they're imitating. And badly. Also there's one character who is shown to be dishonest who suddenly turns out to be a good guy. But there are so many good things about the film you can forgive these illogical things. All because the granny is supremely fun to have around.


The script has been written with lots of restrained humor and no one ruins the lines. The politics of wait and frustration is very well shown. Not just Tauji's family, the politicians are cast well. The reveal in the end is good. This movie could have been brilliant but for the wife.

Manisha Lakhe

   

USER REVIEWS
Victor Banerjee

Was a good idea but poorly executed. Was monotonous from start to finish and some parts were over exaggerated Towards ... Show more
Was a good idea but poorly executed. Was monotonous from start to finish and some parts were over exaggerated Towards the end I couldn't wait for the movie to end.
Malli

Unbelievable performance by Ajay Devagan and lavishing beauty of illeana makes the movie a delightful watch!
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