Cinematographer- Thiru
It takes lot of nerve to make a mainstream film based on a national tragedy like the assassination of former (and one of the most adored) Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Films based on such real-life incidents aren't frankly that popular in India unlike abroad. There is nothing much you could do in terms of masala. Major Ravi was very much aware of the thin line that he was treading when he began this film based on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
This is his next big film after the blockbuster hit 'Keerthichakra' with Mohanlal. It therefore came as no surprise when he announced his next film with Mammooty.
In his real life, Major Ravi was the leader of the group that first stormed the hideout where Shivarasan and his gang were hiding after carrying out the assassination plan. He had committed suicide by shooting himself while other members of his militant group had ended their lives by consuming cyanide.
Ravi had two big challenges when he made the film- he had to stick as closely as possible to the real-life incidents and he also had to make it entertaining without compromising on stark reality. So, we have Mammooty as Major Shivaraman. Tulip Joshi is his wife. Major Shivaraman is a duty conscious and courageous officer in the Army.
On the 21st of May, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi is killed at Shriperumbudhoor. The very next day, the government constitutes a Special Investigation Team. Major Shivaraman is brought in to head the team that actually goes after the assassins. He is given one simple instruction- to capture the assassins alive.
Soon, Murugan and Nalini are picked up and interrogations begin. Slowly and carefully, Shivaraman tracks down the whereabouts of the main man and his gang. They also ensure that the hunted doesn't know that they are closing in on them. They come to know that the gang, including the one-eyed Shivarasan, is in Bangalore. They surround the house at night and Major Shivaraman intimates to his higher-ups and waits for their go-ahead.
At that point, one-eyed Shivarasan and his gang are very much alive and unaware. But, something goes wrong at the headquarters and no orders come forth. Instead, the officials are hurrying over to project themselves as the part of the team that stormed into the hideout. By the time they reach the spot, the night has ended.
At around 9.00 AM the next morning, with the media and large number of police personnel, the higher officials make a grand entry into the hideout. But by then, the entire gang had committed suicide. As if making a mockery of the Army efforts, Shivarasan waited until the last moment before shooting himself in the head. His body is still warm and blood still oozes out when the house is broken into.
Major Ravi has stayed away from getting into any political controversy. He has made it a point to not take sides. He hasn't tried to interpret the motives behind Rajiv Gandhi's decision to send the peace-keeping force to Srilanka.
But he does make it very clear that the Army could have captured the killers alive had they not been caught in the bureaucracy game.
Comparisons between this film and Major Ravi's previous offering, 'Keerthichakra' are bound to happen, but fact remains that the new film too is as good, if not better, as the former. He is able to create authenticity in his narration. Quite a number of other films were launched based on the theme, but they weren't able to make their way out of the Censor Board because of the controversial interpretations and political bias that the filmmakers had demonstrated.
In all, it is a film worth watching simply for its brilliant presentation.
The Good:
Mammooty
Major Ravi
Thiru's cinematography
Performances from other artistes
An almost well-balanced family-and-personal angle to the story
The Bad
The director could have reduced the film's duration...
Cinesouth Says: Almost takes you "live" to the assassins-hunt
- 14.07.2007
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