Ram Gopal Varma is a proficient filmmaker, films like 'Satya' 'Sarkar' & 'Jungle' have gone down as true Cult-Classics. But, for a long,long time he has been wasting his time in crappy & shitty films. 'Aag', 'Nishabad' & 'Darling' were resounding duds. I as a fan of his at a time, I gave up on him! But his latest offering 'RANN' has made me curious after a long hiatus.
'RANN' is a interesting fare, with RGV's direction deserving a clap. Rohit G. Banawilkar's writing is intelligent. 'RANN' however, despite the merits, caters to a very tiny section of audience, it's strictly not meant for those who worship escapist cinema... it's for the 'I Love Serious, Intense Cinema' chaps... unfortunately that section of audience over-here is as good as nil.
RGV exposes the media industry in 'RANN'. It has good twists and turns, and gripping second hour. But 'RANN' is not without it's share of minuses, the film actually takes off in the second hour when the scandal comes all over. The first hour is more on introducing characters & their motives. RGV could've have easily started the engine much before interval, there is a possibility you might lose patience in the first 60-minutes. But guys, the second hour makes up for it. The climax, also, is well-done.
Coming to the acting department, Bachchan delivers a restrained performance. Sudeep is the life of the show. Playing a arrogant mind with amazing understanding & ease. Paresh Rawal is outstanding, as freaking always. What an actor! Ritesh is okay. Rajat Kapoor is excellent. Mohnish Behl is exceptional. He excels in a meaty role. Rajpal provides a few laughs. Gul is wasted, ditto for Neetu Chandra. Suchitra, seen in a film after a long gap, is fantastic.
Bottom-Line: 'RANN' is amongst RGV's better films. It deserved to do better at the box office, it didn't. Now, give the due it deserves.
