Asthram Telugu Movie
Aamir Khan is a young IPS officer who doesn't compromise when it comes to catching culprits. He wants to rid the country off the pests that roam in the guise of human beings. The reason: he lost his brother and his father has become a vegetable after getting attacked by the goons. That's the reason he became an IPS officer. He is ably assisted by a Muslim police officer, Mukesh Rishi. Sonali Bendre loves Aamir from the college days. Aamir is a big fan of Naseeruddin Shah who is a famous ghazal singer. But he gets the shock of his life when he comes to know that Naseeruddin Shah is a terrorist.
What' Aamir, Sonali and Naseer in "Astram"' No. They were the cast of Sarfarosh, one of the best Hindi movies of the end of the millennium. But yes...you are reading the review of Astram, a Telugu movie. Just change the names of Aamir & Co with that of Vishnu, Anushka, Jackie Shroff and Rahul Dev and you have read the review of Astram.
Astram is such a poor imitation of Sarfarosh that when you watch it you are constantly reminded of Sarfarosh. Even the scene where Sonali Bendre's chunni is blown away in the wind and ends up getting wrapped around Aamir is copied ditto in Astram.
The topic of terrorism was so deftly and realistically dealt in Sarfarosh that the viewers felt like getting a treat watching the movie. The intense Aamir as a plain clothed policeman; the reticent Mukesh Rishi with a lot of hurt and anguish in his bosom for the treatment meted out to him by his own police department for him being a Muslim; the brooding Naseeruddin Shah as a ghazal composer/singer and a terrorist mastermind; and the graceful Sonali Bendre cozying up to Aamir at the slightest opportunity still lingers in the viewers mind. The ghazal, 'Hosh walon ko kya khabar' was sung by the grave yet mellifluous voice of Jagjit Singh. The ghazal and the movie were class acts.
Astram is not even a shadow of Sarfarosh. The saving grace in the movie was the acting of Jaggu dada (Jackie Shroff). He takes the place of Naseer as KV, a singer and terrorist. Vishnu does an average job, as an IPS officer. Please do not ask for comparisons with Aaamir in the same role. Anushka is glamorous as usual and ready for a song and dance at every appearance in the movie. With her twin assets (acting talent and looks) she is poised for the big league, no doubt.
The makers of the movie let go of a splendid opportunity by not being able to cash on a topic that is still 'current' after 7 years. Terrorism by Muslim extremists is still a hot topic and many Telugu people hailing from the towns have not seen Sarfarosh. Unimaginative direction, powerless dialogues and mediocre music have cost the makers dearly.
The bottom line: Suresh Krishna is no John Matthew Mathan and Astram is a bad print out of the original. Even if you consider it independently, Astram lacks sharpness and is as useless as a blunt weapon.
