Shootout At Lokhandwala

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Shootout At Lokhandwala takes it plot from a six hour long battle between a horde of cops and a group of gangsters that actually happened years back on the lanes of Lokhandwala in Mumbai. It is based on one of the most long and drawn out encounters in the history of Mumbai police in which underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's henchmen Maya Dolas and Dilip Bua and few others were killed by the then commissioner of police, Aftaab Ahmed Khan and his team.

Shootout At Lokhandwala is a multi-starrer film with Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi, Arbaaz Khan, Tusshar Kapoor and Sunil Shetty in pivotal roles. The movie also stars Abhishek Bachchan in a guest appearance, Rohit Roy and Shabbir Ahluwalia in supporting roles. Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia and Aarti Chabria are the female supporting roles. Rakhi Sawant makes a special appearance.

Director Apoorva Lakhia has taken a lot of cinematic liberties when making SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA that it?s simply not possible to take this movie as a factual piece of evidence trying to recreate the shootout at lokhandwala; however it would be unfair to say that Lakhia was trying to be accurate. Infact, he makes it quiet clear with the tagline BASED ON TRUE RUMOURS that this is the version of the story HE has chosen to tell from the number of stories that he has heard. As a director Lakhias narrative was great for the most. The movie perfectly balance and shows an insight into not only the lives of the policemen, but the gangsters as well. The rise to power of Maya Dolas and A.C.P Shamsher Khan has been well portrayed and keeps the viewers interest alive.

The story by Apoorva Lakhia and Sanjay Gupta has been no doubt heavily researched as this is evident right from the very start. The movie revolves around A.C.P Shamsher Khan (Sanjay Dutt) ?a no-nonsense, tough cop who along with Inspector Kaviraj Patil (Suniel Shetty) and Inspector Javed Shahikh (Arbaaz Khan) gunned down a group of trigger-happy gangsters in a local residential area in Mumbai city. The movie traces the nexus between police and gangsters right back from the late 80?s through to the 90?s as it traces the rise of Maya Dolas, as well as the rise of Khan and the A.T.S (Anti Terrorist Squad). Meeta Mattoo (Dia Mirza) is a bold and beautiful reporter who covers the encounter live. Tannu (Aarti Chabria) is a bar dancer. Neha Dhupia is Sanjay Dutt's wife. Aai(Amrita Singh) is the proud mother of Maya.

Sanjay Dutt delivers his finest performance. His dialogues delivery, body language and get-up are very good and the movie is worth the price of admission alone to see Dutt in such a grand role and performance. Vivek Oberoi delivers his finest performance as he is trained by a real gangster. Amitabh Bachchan is not in great form here, and this is a character and performance that Bachchan actually sleepwalks through. He plays the lawyer investigating Khan and co. and the entire movie is revealed in flashbacks as Bachchan interrogates Khan, Patil and Shahikh. Suniel Shetty is in top form after a long time with a mixed personality of both gunda and a police officer; carry the role of a ruthless and heartless police officer excellently well. Rohit Roy is effective in the few scenes and Shabbir Ahluwalia is OK. Dia Mirza, as a reporter, has performed well. Aarti Chhabria is mesmerizing as a dancer girl. Neha Dhupia is good. She has very few scenes and nothing to be judged in them.

However once the battle lines are drawn between Khan and Dolas the movie is a relentless, violent and extremely tense and exciting thrill ride. The scene where the officers start to harass the gangster?s family and loved-ones only to have the gangsters do the same back to them is a masterstroke by Lakhia. The verbal showdown between the ?cops? and the ?gangsters? all in different scenes in settings just before the Interval is a great masala moment and again marks Lakhias growth as a director.

Overall, the raw and crude handling of the movie by the director is fantastic. The background scores where good. Two songs in the movie were unnecessary and also meaningless. Special appearance by Rakhi Sawant was an unwanted inclusion. Shootout At Lokhandwala has curtailed its audience by its crude and violent theme. It's definitely not a family entertainer. Business will be good at multiplex and especially in Mumbai. However the movie is a rip-roaring action film which delivers more than enough bangs for your bucks for action-buffs. Those who thrive off the ?gangster? genre too will enjoy the film immensely.

Viewer's Review

Excellent Underworld Thriller

by Amarish (posted on : 27-May-07) Rating: (Excellent)

I will rate this movie slightly better than Company, Satya Sehar and other classic underworld thrillers. Sanjay Dutt and Vivek Oberoi both were at their best. It also shows that Dawood connections with Police hit squads and how he uses the state machinery to his advantage. Vivek would be back in league after giving many below average performances. Must watch, Should be among top 5 best movies of this year.

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