Dam 999 Review

Seriously, if at all there was a film that had to be one of the most confused, incoherent and pointless affair this year, it had to be 'Dam 999'. No wonder, just like the basic plot of the film, it would always forever remain as a mystery that how are such films ever made.

There are so many plots and sub-plots to this film that for the entire first 30 minutes, one doesn't even know who is the main character here? First it seems that a 'videshi' officer and his Indian Muslim wife are the key protagonists as they go about unveiling a book (yeah, it is titled 'Dam 999'). Then it so happens that a 'desi' character who is suffering from a troubled past takes centre-stage. A confusing flashback and a few listless songs later, it is still unclear where the film is headed towards.

Now the thing is that this 'desi' guy has a back-story where he couldn't marry the woman of his love because his father (Rajit Kapoor) felt that their marriage would be a disaster due to non-matching horoscopes. A 'Bodyguard' kind of episode happens as the guy returns with his son to his father's house after years and comes face to face with his lady love who has not yet married. While one tries to find a meaning of this all in context with 'Dam 999', there is Ashish Vidyarthi as a corrupt Mayor who arrives on the scene to give the film a Bollywood touch. Not just that as he has a wife at home who is paralysed for years, only to turn 'bhali changi' after precisely two Ayurveda sessions. What does that have to do with the film? Don't ask!

A series of bizarre episodes continue as songs in English, Hindi and other languages play in the background even as the 'desi' guy's 'videsi' wife arrives out of nowhere. Now this character is enacted by Linda who had played a journalist in 'Kabul Express' as well. After around 60-70 minutes of a complete no-show and sheer bewilderment on screen, finally a viewer gets to see the very USP of the film, the 'disaster sequences'. Worse, the film fails here as well as the VFX is tacky, background score unimpressive and the series of events such that they are more comical than tense.

Oh yes, let's not forget about the 3D part of the film. Now this has to be one of the biggest disappointments because there are just a few parts in the film which are in 3D and they too clearly belong to the 'converted' variety. Moreover there are exactly two shots, one involving a bat and the second featuring some flying stones, where you actually get a 3D effect!

As the end credits start tolling, one wonders what is this movie all about? Does it belong to 'disaster' genre? Is it about Ayruveda? Is it about a failed triangular love story? Is it about some mystical elements? Is it about horoscopes, prayers and vibrations that can change the destiny? Is it about marine officers? Is it about corruption in politics?

Guess one would never know.

Rating: *