RUSTOM Hindi Movie Review

If we can tolerate the excess amount of melodrama and the unnatural presentation of the courtroom drama, Rustom is a watchable film. Based on the sensational true story of naval officer Manekshaw Nanvati that happened in the late fifties, the film recreate this case on the big screen adding additional ideas. Film is not a total washout but could have been far better had the screenplay been more careful with its approach while presentation of the case happens in court.

Commander Rustom Pavri is a naval officer with decorated ranks. Finding about an illicit relationship between his wife Cynthia and a wealthy businessman Vikram Makhija, Rustom goes and kills the man and surrender before the police. An intense courtroom drama follows where Rustom defends himself by pleading not guilty.

The funny sequences in the courtroom seemed to be too artificial and the dose of excess drama that follows the murder is what that makes Rustom confined to an above average watch. Neeraj Pandey's name is just limited to the production side and Rustom the film bear no stamp of him.

Directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, Rustom could have done away with some of the scenes where we see people carrying placards with silly wordings like "I love you Rustom" , "Marry me Rustom" and " I want your baby Rustom". These were totally out of place and seems to be fictional scenes. Also the court room drama had all the elements of a decent thriller but the public prosecutor and the judge were behaving quite artificially. I haven't seen courtroom proceedings in real but from what I have seen in some exceptional films of this genre, the drama was handled by trying out too much.

Akshay Kumar handled the role of Rustom Pavri with utmost care bringing out different emotions at different times. He was a husband , a responsible and sincere officer and also he had a difficult phase in life defending himself for a murder. He also had to witness his wife having an extramarital relationship. As an actor, all this makes up for a few challenges to the role he was doing in which he could attain the pass mark.

Illeana D'cruz was just about okay as wife of Rustom while Arjan Bajwa was apt in the role of Vikram Makhija. Pawan Malhotra was notable in the role of investigating officer Vincent Lobo. Sachin Khadekar and Anang Desai as public prosecutor and the Judge were not bad but nevertheless their performance was annoying at times that was mainly attributed to the writing. Esha Gupta looked totally out of place in that sister' role to Vikram Makhija.

Director is not able to fully bring about the tensions and thrills of a courtroom drama but the presence of Akshay Kumar saves the film as he carries the film on his shoulders right till the end. Cinematography is good and the cuts could have been done at many places that would have reduced the running time by another twenty minutes or so. Art department was able to create a tone suitable for the period of fifties but it also had its share of trouble in some portions that gave the frames an artificial and mediocre flavour to it. Music was good especially the song Tera Bin Yaara which is worth hearing again and again.

Rustom even with the presence of excess melodrama and average direction is a watchable thriller. A bit more care on the way they have presented the second half where the courtroom drama takes place would have ideally changed the outcome of the film to another zone.

Rating - 3 / 5