Prakash Jha has gone a few notches higher than his already respectable standards in film making with his latest production, Chakravyuh. The movie is very well conceived and executed. It deals with the issue of growing Naxal terror in India. It throws light on the prevailing situation of Naxal activities and also gives a background of the entire movement. Chakravyuh is a tight knit movie and crisply covers a wide range of incidents, including the macabre episode of Dantewada, to give the audience a holistic view of the entire issue.
The movie boldly portrays the flaws in the system that gave rise to the movement in the first place and shows how the greed and malice of the politicos and businessmen have created a Brobdingnagian monstrosity that threatens the internal peace and order of our country. It is a classic example of a homegrown tumour which is growing at unbelievable pace. The story is so boldly told, I'm surprised how the movie made it past the bureaucracy of the Censor Board.
The dialogues, screenplay and locations are near perfect. Abhay Deol clearly steals the show. Anjali Patil plays a convincing Naxal Area Commander. Manoj Bajpai and Om Puri have rather cut down, yet significant, roles as compared to their previous contributions to Jha's movies. Arjun Rampal and Esha Gupta, though not very great actors, are pivotal characters in the story and definitely add the glamour factor, which was not really a requisite in this movie; Arjun Rampal, however, looks as mesmerising as a Greek God.
What is most noteworthy about Chakravyuh is that it places forth the bare facts from the perspectives of all parties involved. To a thinking mind, it gives enough food for thought. This movie will not be a box office success as most sensible movies are not, but personally I'd call it a must watch. A laudable job by Prakash Jha and the cast & crew.
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