Game is a relief

KATHMANDU, April 3: After back-to-back flops – “Raavan” and “Khelein Hum Ji Jaan Sey” in 2010, Abhisek Bachchan has once again proved through Abhinay Deo’s “Game” that he can deliver much more as an actor if a director has the knack to get the best out of him.



After going all haywire in Tanu Weds Manu, Kangana Ranaut is back on her own heels, though she does not have much to do in “Game.” [break]



Abhinay Deo’s directorial debut is executed in a way that offers a sigh of relief to the viewers from the clichéd Bollywood dramas.



Bravo to scriptwriter Athea Delmas Kaushal for penning a script that goes well with the screenplay. The writer creatively maintains the jigsaw in the film with surprises and suspense unfolding every minute.



Shot in the exotic locations of Greece, Mumbai, Istanbul, London and Bangkok, this action movie is one of the most aesthetically-bestrode Bollywood murder mystery of recent times.



The movie begins on islands of Samos in Greece. An island here is owned by Kabir Malhotra (Anupam Kher), a business tycoon in Greece. Kabir sends out letters to four elitist dignitaries in Mumbai, London, Istanbul and Bangkok, all of whom have dark secrets in their lives and an imperfect future ahead of them.



All four pack their bags for Greece without giving a second thought about what may be in store for them. Clueless of the motive of a wealthy tycoon, all four land on the stunning island of Samos, where they cannot access cell phone networks and an escape is almost impossible.



The graphical details in action scenes are carefully taken care of. A crime-thriller, enriched with suspense at every turn pays a tribute to the genre often depicted in Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christine’s novels.







Director Abhinay Deo refrains from focusing on the visual feast and rather concentrates on the script that has enough breathing space for Abhisek Bachchan, who for a change is made to focus more on the characterization than the flamboyance.



Director Deo cleverly keeps tensions going throughout the plot. Though the movie loses its intensity to some extent after the intermission, this however can be overlooked as art direction by Shashank Tere and the cinematography by Kartik Vijay overshadows such minor flaws.



Almost all the characters in the movie are watchable. Abhisek Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Boman Irani, Jimmy Shergil, Sahana Goswami, Gauhar Khan and Sarah Jane Dias have strong enough presence to justify a tight suspense thriller film.



The show stealer Abhisek Bachchan speaks most through silence and represents cynicism at its best. Sadly, I would have loved to see Sarah Jane Dias do a little more than flaunting in the spicy number with the skimpiest outfit she barely can carry off.



Game is certainly not just a poker that you would bet and forget. Director Abhinay Deo definitely knows how to get viewers to tighten their seat belts till the very end of the movie. For sure, director Deo has a long way to go in the industry with another directorial venture, an Aamir Khan production, “Delhi Belly” slated to release this July.



Screening at QFX Cinemas.



The writer is Program Officer at Indian Cultural Centre.

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