Not That Special

We are a country of a billion people and considering each person has at least one interesting story to tell, we live among a billion untold stories. Our films are not known to look for inspiration from the real world as our film culture has born out of selling a distant romantic dream and the wishful thinking that distances us from our reality. Therefore, when a film like

Special 26, based on true events from within us is made, the excitement is obvious. Rare and fascinating alright, the film is not a well packaged product and although brilliant in sparks it never lights a fire.

A group of four individuals, who pretend to be from the CBI, conduct raids all over the country and loot the politicians and businessmen off their ill gotten money. And since it is black money, the victims aren't willing to complain. However, when the real CBI hears of this, the enquiry begins -- just in time for the biggest con that the fake CBI are about to pull. In short, the plot has immense potential and the story just cannot be a dull affair, which it isn't.

However, the screenplay is not consistent and fails to raise the story to the magnitude that it deserves. Ajay (Akshay Kumar) having a romance going on the side is an unnecessary wastage of screen time; the absence of which would have made no difference; the absence of which was the main reason why A Wednesday is so crisp and perfect. The plot unfolds in a very point by point manner and brings nothing new into the telling of this story.

The climax of the film is derivative and although based on a true story, the haphazard manner in which it is narrated, dents the overall impact of the film.

Akshay Kumar is himself, as usual, but the character he plays, Ajay, required that typical performance which only Akshay Kumar can deliver. Anupam Kher, collaborating once again with Neeraj Pandey delivers a great performance and similarly, Jimmy Shergill, who too continues his partnership with the A Wednesday director, does a great job in his supporting role alongside Divya Dutta. Manoj Bajpai continues to impress in what is his second coming into the film industry with Gangs of Wasseypur. Chittagong and Chakravyuh; Kajal Aggarwal, in her lifelong role as the eye candy in Singham and now this film, is an unnecessary recruit.

Special 26 is what can be called a TV movie and the treatment that the content has got, makes it look like a decent three-part TV series. The screenplay is the weakest link in the film and if it was written any differently, maybe it would have not been such a letdown. However, as they say, 'ifs' and 'buts' only make good arguments, they don't make good films.

Rating - 2.5 out of 5

Published in DNA After Hrs (Pune) on February 9, 2013