Halla Bol is no RDB

First things first.. Unless you know what this movie is all about, you would not be able to know that till last 20-25 minutes of the movie. The movie aspires to be another RDB but fails miserably in doing that.

RDB was about a common man raising his voice against the corrupt system in the country, Halla Bol is about a famous movie star doing exactly the same. Aamir Khan in RDB chose the route of violence, Ajay Devgan suggests Gandhian ways to fight the same.
To be frank, it seems like the director did not have it clear as to what was it that he was trying to focus and convey. On one hand, it had ingredients common with RDB while on the other hand, the first half of the movie focuses on the character of Ajay Devgan (who plays a famous action hero in the movie) and film industry in general. The transition from the film industry to the fight for truth was not abrupt but it was ineffective. Although I would have to agree that some of the scenes reflect that the director wanted to show things from real life but unfortunately, he could not mend up those gaps of artificiality in between.

The movie starts with Ashafaq Khan, an aspiring actor, trying to get break into film industry. He happened to have good references but still no one seems to be interested in signing him. Then he happens to meet a director who was looking for a person in specific and on listening to a fake story by Ashafaq, agrees to sign Ashafaq as hero for his movie. (A very simplistic and very stupid portrayal). Ashafaq changes his name to Sameer and Sameer becomes egotist. He even rejected his Guru’s request to perform for a protest presentation. Everybody leaves him and he is alone in his life, yet focused on his career. (Again too simplistic a portrayal). Then he encounters murder of a young lady he knew from some Acting competition he chaired long back. Everybody refrained from making any comment, even after being eye-witness to the incident, so as to stay away from controversies. Some silly comments and comparisons are being made to celebrities suffering for getting into such controversies (e.g. Aamir Khan’s involvement in Narmada case). The convicts are sons of Member of Legislative assembly and a Liquor Barron (The idea is highly influential people) and obviously threats are being made to Sameer and his family. He fights!! They lose the case but he doesn’t stop. He still fights and decides to perform a protest presentation – “Halla Bol”. Obviously the influential people decide to prevent that but he doesn’t stop. The impact is that he finds himself fighting against death in a hospital. It is then that Junta feels awaken. They come in full heartedly in support of Sameer Khan and there is a nation wide protest. Courts decide to re-open the case and a verdict is passed stating every member who made false statements along with convicts guilty. Junta wins and movie ends!!

As far as my personal opinion goes, an under-prepared script and poorly managed direction is what this movie indicates! The concept might have been a decent concept(although that would make it just another RDB) but unless presented properly, it is worth nothing.

Overall, Halla Bol is a disappointment!

Halla Bol get 1.5 stars out of 5
Why you still might consider watching the movie:

• An average performance by Ajay Devgan
• Vidya Balan is charming as always (although very short appearances)
• Good acting by

You have enough reasons not to watch it:

• Frankly if you read goods above, I don’t need to write any bads as such.
• Wasted actors
• Under-prepared script
• Poor Direction
• Too many fundaes being put into one movie
• A complete “Disaster”

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~~Quality Reviews by AbhiTaneja and Sandy