ShauryaCast: Rahul Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Minissha LambaDirection: Samar KhanRating: **&1/2
No, no, it's not A Few Good Men. Or its Indian stage adaptation Court Martial. It's Shaurya by Samar Khan who's claiming that he's made a slice-of-army-life original.
Jaane bhi do Tom Cruise-Demi Moore. After all, the outcome does have its rewards. To be fair, there are genuinely gripping moments, fine performances and seamless cinematography by Carlos Catalan.
At the core of the needlessly lengthy screenplay, find a feud between a group of extra-senior army officers and an army legal eagle (Rahul Bose) who's more adventuruous than Stevan Seagal. Order, order, Eagle must get serious now. Because he has to defend a captain (Muslim, of course) accused of shooting an officer with a gun that throws up more smoke than a hookah. Bose, now worried, wriggles toes.
Accompanied by an intrepid journalist (Minissha Lamba looking like none of our female colleagues), Bose plays part Sherlock Holmes-part-superb-lawyer-part-humanist-part-well-just-part-part-all-big-heart. The finale, is at long last reached, with an outstanding solo piece enacted by Kay Kay Menon. Terrific.
Deepak Dobriyal, as the accused captain, is outstanding too. Bankably, Bose infuses credibility into several implausible sections of the script. The sub-plot, involving the belated marriage of Javed Jaffery, is like a wedding reception serving sharbats without ice.
{{/usCountry}}Deepak Dobriyal, as the accused captain, is outstanding too. Bankably, Bose infuses credibility into several implausible sections of the script. The sub-plot, involving the belated marriage of Javed Jaffery, is like a wedding reception serving sharbats without ice.
{{/usCountry}}All seen and absorbed, the result is bearable. It doesn't exactly inspire you to say Kucch Shaurya Ho Jaaye.