Review: Mukhbiir - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Review: Mukhbiir

Hindustan Times | ByPriya Rajendran, New Delhi
Jul 14, 2008 02:29 AM IST

Mukhbiir's USPis that unlike other terror films, it focuses on informers who die in police operations, remaining unknown. Priya Rajendran tells us.

Mukhbiir

HT Image
HT Image

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Director

: Mani Shankar

Rating: ***

You may have watched terrorist movies under varied themes: the most common being a terrorist on the run from the Interpol, a Gangster's love story, a don running a Company, a Satya and perhaps more. But have you ever given a thought about the 'informer' who tips off the cops about the 'terrorist'? His life? or even his mere anonymous existence? The answer is a big NO.

The first rushes of Mukhbiir would make you think that its one of those 'run-of-the-mill' terrorist movies. But as the scenes unfold, each layer of the movie reveals new details you would never have imagined.

Kailash (Sameer Dattani) as the protagonist, plays his role of an anonymous informer with aplomb. Like other police officers, the local SP (Om Puri), also picks up Kailash in one of the rounds and uses him as his informer for dangerous operations. From helping the police to find a naxal leader to exposing the top brass of the police department involved in drug trafficking and global organ trade, he leads a dark, anonymous existence. Apart from this, with every operation, Kailash has to change his appearance and even religion to protect the operation and his identity.

For a police officer, his 'Mukhbiir' is his biggest asset to cracking cases and in this case, Om Puri is under pressure at all times, to reveal the name of his informer. Mukhbiir empathises with this informer whose life is quite unstable, and often unpredictable. It borders on the extremes as he has to put his life in danger at all times.

So as to not make it look like parallel cinema, Mani has even managed to insert a love angle with Raima Sen playing Sameer's love interest (just one scene!).

The film has spine chilling moments when Sameer is tortured by a gang to identify his cop 'friend' Om Puri and also when he is asked by gang leader (Sushant Singh) to shoot at a woman and child. Sameer's intense acting manages to Mani Shankar has managed to keep the film gripping towards the second half.

Perhaps the movie's USP lies in the fact that unlike other terror films, it focuses on the informer/informers who probably die in operations, remaining unknown.

The movie has its weak moments which have been overshadowed by some brilliant piece of acting. The musical score of the movie has been given by Illayaraja and Karthik Raja.

Whether it is protagonist Sameer Dattani who breaks his chocolate boy image, Sushant Singh as the cruel gangster warlord or Rahul Dev as a calculative, global terror leader, Suneil Shetty and Om Puri as the honest cops - director Mani Shankar has managed to keep the intensity of the film and the audience focus on the theme. And unlike other terror films, it focuses on the informer/informers who probably die in operations, remaining largely unknown.

This movie may not be a song-and-dance one, but it will surely give you something to take back and cherish!

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On