Rann (2010) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

India 2010
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sudeep, Ritesh Deshmukh, Mohnish Bahl, Paresh Rawal, Gul Panag
Rating: -
Language: Hindi, Urdu
Release Date: 29 January 2010
Running Time: 2 hours 18 minutes

The Movie Review

Rann film still 1


RANN
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Watching this deep-thinking Indian drama movie got me very amused. The story is about the battle of 2 TV stations that are trying to best each other out. It does feel like some kind of regular competition, but once it touches the realm of politic, religion and money, it becomes something very dangerous. Because they can indirectly control what the viewers suppose and not suppose to think. What's making me personally tickled that right now in my beloved country of Indonesia, that's exactly what's happening these days with 2 TV stations trying to be the best. It's ridiculous sometimes with some of them trying to sing, cook and other unlikely stuff in conveying news that insted of making them friendly, it turns them into something over-the-top. But Rann is trying to convey much more important subject, because the biggest tickling question is "To broadcast news?" or "To create news?"

Rann is about two major News TV Stations In India called India 24x7 and Headlines 24. India 24x7 is owned and also broadcasted by an honest and respectable man, Vijay Harshvardhan Mallik (Amitabh Bachchan). While Headlines 24 is owned by Amrish Khakkar (Mohnish Bahl), once a former low-rank employee of India 24x7 but is now seemingly trying to sabotage India 24x7's every move. This is apparent for example when India 24x7 creates a new show called "Common Man", not very long Headlines 24 also launches a show called "Ordinary Man".

But the problem is not just about mere competition of Advertising cookies. But currently there are two politicians battling each other out to counter terrorism. Mohan Pandey (Paresh Rawal) is the opposition who's mocking and trying to make the current prime minister, Digvijay Hooda (K.K. Raina), look evil. While it is clear Mohan is the one who's willing to say and do anything extreme to be the prime minister. But what makes it complicated that Mohan Pandey's right hand man is none other than Vijay's son-in-law, Naveen Shankalya (Rajat Kapoor) the CEO of Shankalya Group, and he wants Vijay to broadcast everything good about Mohan. While Vijay's own son, Jay Mallik (Sudeep), is also having difficulties himself for competing against the cunning moves of Amrish Khakkar who has planted Marketing Intelligent Agent in one of India 24x7 high executives.

Outside the family ring, we also follow the career life of Purab (Ritesh Deshmukh), an ordinary man who is also an ardent fan of Vijay Mallik. And when he's accepted as the new employee of India 24x7, he proofs to be the channel's best asset. Even better than Jay Mallik himself. Will India 24x7 be able to retain its noble principles against the trickery of Headlines 24 and the progress of time?

I guess teenagers will not like this movie as this is a heavy political drama about the life of a nation concerning bomb, dirty politician and family affair. But those who work in a company will easily relate to everything's going on here. The script is very good and the cast is excellent as well. Nothing is overdone or underdone. Not a single miscast to be found. The subplot of Jay Mallik dating and planning to get married to a moslem woman, Yasmin Hussain (Neetu Chandra), as opposed to his mother's short-minded will is also providing a solid background as why Vijay is the most respectable man in the news realm.

Watching Rann, I was very intrigued on how the movie will end. Of course, a political drama like this is definitely not a novelty, but the way the director execute it is very good. Critic should be given, however, to anyone behind the camera. It doesn't have to be that over-the-top stylish that it somehow resembles a fighting/Kung Fu film, just make it ordinary... Camerawork plays a big role for us to enjoy more the story, but when it's overdone, it really feels cheesy, really out of the place, considering this is a brainy movie about politic. Fear Factor camera style and politic don't match!

The sound effect and mainly the score are something praise-worthy. But it is the actors and actresses that could really pull this thing together, Sudeep steals the scene whenever he's around, he's expressions of confusion, fear and hopelessness are remarkable, including his trembling hands... That's just splendid. My biggest complain, is the ending. The writer seems overly absorbed and emotional in concluding the movie by extending the speech scene of Vijay, it should've been trimmed like 4 minutes shorter to give even bigger impact and to create memorable shocking momentum of an ending! By prolong this scene, it somehow yanks the tension which consequently makes it more humdrum instead of big bang end! However to be frank, the apartment scene in the end is a savior!

But I still am very entertained by the movie and honestly recommend this Indian film for all political drama fans to see. It's brainy, the actors are splendid, especially Sudeep and provides something for all of us to think about...