Review: Contract

Contract
Cast: Adhvik Mahajan, Zakir Hussain, Sakshi Gulati
Direction: Ram Gopal Varma
Rating: *

Two – okay make it three paragraphs – should be more than sufficient space for Ram Gopal Varma’s Contract. Because it sends you out of the auditorium in a state of thorough depression, head throbbing, eyes bobbing. Stop, in the name of God, Mr Varma, Enough is enough. Those Unsteadycam, Handycam, Feetcam, Whatevercam shots wouldn’t even impress an FTII student any more. Neither the spilling of guts, entrails and gore.<b1>

To call Contract a spin-off from The Departed would be a gross insult to Martin Scorsese. Here a commando, who has quit the services to watch MTV, is sent undercover to infiltrate into the lair of Sultan the Terrorist. No prizes for guessing if the mission clicks..but in the bargain, you are subjected to sights like an encounter cop running naked on the streets (in pixillated shots, phew). Plus, there’s much blather about politicians organising riots before elections..you get the drift. Besides one straight cop, everyone on this planet is BAD, BAD, BAD. How sad is that?

There’s no glimmer of hope at all. Women scream, one is beaten up black-blue-and-purple (off screen, thanks). And there’s a rotund female police commissioner who encourages yet another encounter. Of the cast, only Sumeet Nijhawan as R D the don is worth a mention. The finale of this brain-basher suggests that there could be a sequel. Scary. Now, don’t even dream of signing this Contract. At most, recommend it to someone who merits punishment.