Waste of time

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

The infamous 1959 Nanavati case had spawned a couple of early films, neither of which came close to the lurid excitement of the real- life incident which involved a handsome naval officer, his lovely-but-lonely wife, and her lover, and a sensational murder. And yet both Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke and Achanak bear a stronger allegiance to the Nanavati case than Akshay Kumar's Rustom, which borrows the core idea, and then adds a layer of extra intrigue. The idea may have been to spice up an already spicy plot, but the result is dilution, and it doesn't work in the favour of the film.

The infamous Nanavati case has inspired couple of Bollywood movies in full and many in parts over the years.Rustom advertised as another inspiration is the latest addition and turns out to be no different than its predecessor.A distorted, fictional account with only frame similarities with the actual incident with lots of Massala and added flavors that end up making it just another exaggerated Bollywood flick. Bollywood has never been competent enough to portray real incidents on its merit and has traditionally always relied on eccentric counter stories, jingoism, nationalism to make a mockery of what may have really happened.It could have been an excellent opportunity to do justice to the Nanavati story by staying loyal to the actual story since the movies made in the past on this subject have not been able to do thatSo you have the character based on Nanavati fighting his own case, the cop playing chess with KM Nanavati in lock up, Jury screaming and arguing with each other as if they are sitting 500 meters apart and many many more instances when you feel your are watching just another Bollywood masala movie. The biggest distortion comes in with the Nationalist and Corruption angle in the story when there was none.Screaming eccentric witnesses add to the agony.The production team has done an equally bad job as the house interiors, loud bright colours and sets look like a 2015's idea of 1959 rather than what 1959 would actually have been.A brilliant opportunity wasted. It could have stayed true to the case, been more subtle and could have become a truly international classic.A major disappointment because the KM Nanavati Case by itself is so interesting and holds a historical importance in history of Indian Justice System for being the last time when a Jury decided a case. It marked a landmark change in the process because it was concluded that Jury could be influenced by cultural upbringing and be emotional while deciding on a case and thus could be a loophole for future convicts.The only Bollywood movie that has stayed true to history is Black Friday on 1993 Mumbai bombings and hence is very well respected in international circuit. Its a pity, this movie could have well attained that stature because the truth itself was so meaty that it did not require it to depend on fiction to make it interesting.Sigh ...........

As we all know Rustom is based on the Nanavati case which was responsible for the abolition of the the jury trial system in India. So the subject is pretty serious and you expect a serious thriller which would keep you to the edge of your seats till the end. Alas a half hearted attempt by the director makes it an average Bollywood movie. It seems like an opportunity lost. The movie starts well and keeps you intrigued for the first 45 minutes. But as the courtroom proceedings start the film fails. Unnecessary humor and silly jokes spoil the game. Akshay Kumar does justice to his role and is the soul of this movie. The rest of the cast have hardly anything to do. The screenplay and direction are weak. The director seems to believe that the protagonist is not human but god. Also the patriotic angle of the movie of the movie is not presented well. Rather at time it seems unnecessary. The climax of the movie is good and saves this movie somehow. Overall I would say that this movie could have a lot better if there was seriousness in it.

I watched Rustom when it aired on Zee TV last evening. I did not expect too much from it based on press reviews even though it had done well at the box office. Was I surprised!Even though everyone knows this movie is broadly based on the infamous Nanavaty incident, it was well made and riveting till the last scene.Everyone but everyone essayed their role so well, especially the bawaji newspaper walla :) Akshay could well pass off for aapro Russi!Rustom is one heck of a slick production, good plot, fabulous period sets, crisp dialogues, superb acting, cinematography par excellence.This movie holds the interest throughout and the climax keeps you on the edge of your chair even though you very well know what is coming.Well done Akshay, with Special 26, Holiday, Baby and now Rustom, you have really come well out of the Khiladi mould. Looking forward to more such slick productions.