Movie Analysis
Setting a niece example on how to buffon- rap good satirical intentions, Nautanki Films and Pen in association with Shikhar Films ‘Ekkees Toppon Ki Salami’ helmed by first timer Ravindra Gautam ( a known name in small screen) is an exaggerated satire that aims at the common man plight with honest arrows but fails to reach its target (the common audience) as it forgets to ‘bow’ to the genre completely to make any relevant social commentary.
The noble intentions get undermined by this dramatic, melodramatic, sometimes funny, sometimes buffoonish circus sort of a response to the nation’s corruption system that lacks cinematic wisdom required for a satire.
Writer Rahil Qazi had a relevant good intentional thought in this socio -political satire revolving around Purushottam Narayan Joshi (Anupam Kher), an honest BMC worker for whom honesty, integrity is above all goods and riches but unfortunately his two sons Shekhar (Manu Rishi Chadha) and Subhash (Divyendu Sharma) don’t walk on the same road in life. The elder Shekhar is corrupt while the younger Subash is gaga over the ridiculously corrupt state CM Daya Shankar Pandey (Rajesh Sharma).
On final day of his duty Joshi enters his office to fall prey to the dirty corruption disease. The 37 year honest government servant Joshi finds himself accused of corruption. Getting stripped of his pension, PF, and his believe Joshi suffers a low blood pressure stroke.
While his sons are more interested on what will be the future of the government quarter allotted to his father Joshi demands a strange death wish - a 21-gun salute.
The ludicrousness of the demand serves as the piercing weapon to make a cinematic attack on the apathy of the system towards its duties to the common man but Rahil Qaazi’s script meanders from unwanted songs (three of them with one item), astonishing convenience, somewhat unwanted buffoonery, drama, and caricaturing of the relevance.
Rahil Qazi is able to get some humour here and there especially in Sudhir Pandey’s scenes in the second half and Uttara Baokar as CM’s mom these moments saves the film from committing suicide.
Dialogues are surprisingly routine in such a script which demands comments at every possible moment.
Ravindra Gautam narration is episodic, he makes the movie swing genres making it a half baked attempt.
Acting is of good standards here where Anupam Kher excels in a tailor made role for him.
Divyendu Sharma and Manu Rishi struggle to find their Marathi accent sometimes but are fine. Aditi Sharma is alright. Neha Dhupia is terrific though the item song is out of sync but she does a wonderful act. Uttara Baokar as the CM’s mom is outstanding. Rajesh Sharma as the CM is superb.
Sudhir Pande is fantastic. Ram Sampath’s music has nothing to rave about. Technicalities and production values are appropriate.
Business Analysis
Ekkees Toppon Ki Salami has the seed of a good political satire but it’s done by inconsistence script and episodic narration that swings genres. Falling something in between good and bad ‘Ekkees Toppon Ki Salami’ is unbalanced in its attempt. Some good hearted juveniles by heart who want to see changes in the system no matter how phony it is and are overwhelmed by anyone in any manner speaks for common man might endorse but the rest including the ‘common’ man (read audience) is unlikely to salute this good but failed attempt. Satire is not every audience choice and the prospects of the movie will be further hampered by competition, lack of face value. Made at a budget of around 18 crores Ekkees Toppon Ki Salami is likely to end as a sad misfire at the B.O.
Rating **
For acting, concept and couple of humorous moments.
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