Article Updated 31 August, 2007 04:30:05 PM IST   Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag By Our Correspondent ©2007 Bollyvista.com   When old classic songs are remixed, more often than not, the new version lacks the essence of the original. Much in a similar fashion, this remix version of 'Sholay' misses that mark. Giving a brief about the storyline is pointless, as everyone is more than aware about the storyline of 'Sholay'. The director mostly remains true to the original. In Ramu's version though, the film is set in a place called Kaliganj, which is apparently somewhere by the Mumbai shoreline. The atrocities committed by Babban on the inhabitants of Kaliganj are nothing compared to the atrocities done by Ramu on the audience who watch this film! The first half is watchable, but the second half seems to go on and on and is definitely a cure for insomnia. By setting the story in a dingy fishing colony, the visual spectacle of 'Sholay' is completely lost! Also, most of the popular scenes from 'Sholay', redone by Ramu, falls completely flat, be it Heeroo/Viru's suicide scene or the marriage proposal scene with Raj/Jay and Ghungroo/Basanti's mother. Even if this film were to be considered on its merit alone, ignoring the fact that it has something to do with 'Sholay', it still just doesn't entertain. The one thing that completely stands out in this mediocre product and is also its best part is, Amitabh Bachchan! As dreaded gangster Babban, he once again gives an excellent performance, a sure addition to his never-ending list of memorable performances. Ajay Devgan as Heero is good. Debutant, Prashant Raj as Raj is average performance wise, but doesn't have the charm to essay the role enacted in the original by Bachchan. Nisha Kothari's dialogue delivery raises quite a few laughs from the audience, only it is for her atrocious diction. Sushmita Sen as Durga gives a restrained performance. Mohanlal as Narasimha is excellent. The other supporting cast of Sushant Singh, Ravi Kale, Virendra Saxena, Rasika Joshi and Rajpal Yadav, all perform with aplomb. The cinematography by Amit Roy is excellent. The songs composed by various music directors are as memorable as the songs of 'Naach'! Dialogues by Sajid – Farhad are very good. Action by Pradyumna is run of the mill. By saying that, he is trying to make a seventies kind of film, on which he grew up, Ramu is probably trying to pull off a Quentin Tarantino/ Roberto Rodriguez on us. But forget Tarantino and Rodriguez, it would more than suffice, if he became the Ram Gopal Varma we knew....the one who made 'Shiva' and 'Satya'! Is 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag', se door bhaag! ** (Two stars)   close   Print this Article http://www.bollyvista.com   http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/29/8023