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NAYAK (2001)- SHANKAR AT HIS BEST

I like larger than life movies. I love movie with all commercial masala in it. But condition is that it should be well balanced. It should have fast pace, powerful dialogues, performances and excellent technique. Nayak-The Real Hero fulfills all those expectations. It is intense, emotional as well as humorous and fast paced.

Shankar has got grip in handling true commercial movies. I have seen his Hum se hai Muqabla, Gentleman, Hindustani and Aparichit. (All dubbed in hindi). Though all of his films have almost same story (a common man fighting against corrupt system by having special power); he treats the subject differently and make audience engaged in the film as well as enjoy the film.

As per my POV Nayak-The Real Hero is Shankar’s best work till date. The major difference and innovative point in story of Nayak is that here hero becomes chief minister for a day. How he works and how public elects him as wholetime chief minister that is rest part of it. It shows working of government and corrupt system around us in humerous as well as serious manner. Two most important scenes (the Mumbai riot/chakka jam scene and Paresh Rawal’s lecture to Anil kapoor to join the politics) of the film which involves huge crowd; are picturised in a manner that I must say Shankar is excellent in handling these type of scenes. The whole sequence of traffic jam and riots in Mumbai is very well picturised.

Besides story; dialogues (perhaps Anurag Kashayp????) is another factor for which I see Nayak again and again. My favourite scene is Paresh Rawal’s lecture to Anil Kapoor to join the politics. “Agar Gandhiji beta beta, biwi biwi kehkar ghar pe baithe rehte to tum aaj kisi angrej ka letrin saaf kar rahe hote (taaliyaan…).

Another humerous dialogue comes when Injured Anil Kapoor is sleeping and in early morning all politicians come and ask him to join their party. One politician asks “kya faisla kiya aapne?” and immediately Johnny Lever answers “Sandaas Jaaneka. Bhagwan ne pet diya to khane ka hi. Hisaab nahin dene kaa.(taaliyaan!). and “subah subah mantralaya, what about Sauchalaya?” I also enjoyed Johny Lever’s punch line “kya be chakkey”. The comic scene where Saurabh Sukla tries to interupt the telecast of interview by showing his chappal and paresh rawal says “chappal neeche kar, yeh assembly nahin hai. TV pe live telecast ho raha hai. tera chappal dikh raha hai aur usme laga hua gobar(shit) bhi”.

Against powerful performance by Anil Kapoor; there is Amrish Puri who superbly leads the bad guy side. Remember the Amrish Puri and Anil Kapoor interview scene. How Amrish Puri’s voice tone and facial expressions are changing after each question. Most of superb one liners and dialogues are given to Paresh Rawal and he makes them more humerous and heart renching by his performance. Saurabh Shukla and Johny Lever support their respective sides superbly. Rani Mukerjee has not much to do.

Nayak has sharp editing and sound cinematography. Rememeber the scene when Injured Anil Kapoor joins the politics and whole crowd welcomes him- the collages of the crowd, election, politicians, televisions and background commentry of Shivaji winning the election with hair evoking background music. it was quite innovative in 2001.

There are memorable scenes
-when police comes to arrest the ministers all of them rushes to toilet
- Amrish puri breaks hand of a follower from his car
- As a one day chief minister he rushes to different places, identify corrupt people and give them punishment.

While watching this highly dramatic movie audience do not get time even for toilet and that is the success of writer, director and whole team.

Weakest point of the film is music (A.R. Rehman). May be it was proper for south India but for hindi it is irrelevant and outdated. Songs are excellently and innovatively picturised but not suitable to the treament of the film. It seems that they are meant to show special effects or for another picture or music video. I wonder Anand Bakshi can write “rukhi sukhi roti tere haathon se khake aaya bada mazaa”, “chalo chale mitwa in oonchi neechi raahon se” “shakalaka baby” and “Saiyaa pakad baiyaa”

Though somehow I felt that in effort of showing technical brilliance,action (the mud action sequence and flying tractors) and performances; Shankar messed up the message of the film. There are some ridiculous scenes also… like Anil Kapoor in Sikh getup capturing the corrupt people or his fight with a goon on bus. Climax could have been better by having crowd and dialogues. But I (and perhaps most of the people) neglected these things while watching the film because life line of any film- (story line, treatment and performances )are excellent in Nayak.

Nayak-The Real Hero is remake of one of the hits of South India but it got flopped in hindi; why I don’t know? My uncle has seen it more than 10 times. I am still enjoying the film every time it comes on TV. It is definitely a Paisa vasool film.

-Shailesh Limbachiya