Mumbai Mirror

DABANGG and SINGHAM started a trend of sorts. Besides reviving memories of the cinema of yore, these two films depicted the main protagonist in larger than life avatars. In a majority of masala entertainers these days, the star power supersedes the script [although DABANGG and SINGHAM had watertight scripts to compliment the stardom], with cinematic liberties galore. The protagonist breaks into a power-packed dialogue while confronting the villain, besides taking on the immoral brigade and evil forces single-handedly.

MUMBAI MIRROR is cast in the same mould: A defiant cop locks horns with those in power, exposing the nexus between corrupt dance bar owners and police. Also, there's a dash of prostitution and drug trafficking here... The guy has a toned physique, oozes masculinity, bashes up rogues like we swat flies... Like DABANGG and SINGHAM, which had Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn monopolizing almost every sequence, the focus is on the lead man of MUMBAI MIRROR, Sachiin Joshi, while the other characters [Prakash Raj, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Pancholi, Prashant Narayanana, Sudesh Berry] partake in his journey.

Very much like his previous film BHINDI BAAZAAR INC., director Ankush Bhatt mirrors the Mumbai underbelly, but unlike that film, the director tries to cram too many things this time. Oh yes, it's the good versus evil saga wrapped in a new foil, with several riveting moments. But the writing could've been sharper...

Abhijeet Patil [Sachin Joshi], a police officer, takes on an important mission involving drug dealing. But, in the process, he rubs the wrong people on the wrong sides. He messes up with a very powerful man called Shetty [Prakash Raj], who runs innumerous illegal bars and is involved in drug mafia. Abhijeet gets entangled in the drug circuit, where most of his seniors are involved and ends up getting suspended from the job. How he fights back forms the remainder of the story.

MUMBAI MIRROR has a couple of plusses going in its favor: The dramatic moments between Sachin and Prakash Raj, the raw action sequences and of course, the viewpoint of the aam aadmi on issues plaguing the country today, right from corruption to spineless goons to slimy politicians to dishonest cops. Sure, these have been depicted in scores of Hindi movies before, but Ankush Bhatt succeeds in holding your attention in a number of scenes. Additionally, the feverish pace and energy add pep and vigor to the proceedings. And with Sachiin working hard on having a toned physique, the action looks plausible and credible.

On the flipside, you yearn for some innovative stuff that Ankush promised in his earlier film. MUMBAI MIRROR seems like a hodgepodge of so many films put together. Nothing wrong with that, but the tried and tested stuff gets monotonous after a point. Also, the romance doesn't work, with the mandatory song-and-dance routine looking like an aberration. The soundtrack too is plain mediocre, barring the high-on-energy track 'Govinda' at the commencement of the film. Action, of course, is a highpoint.

Sachiin portrays the tough cop with gusto. It's a vast improvement over his previous outing AAZAAN. He has worked hard on his physique and does the head-smashing bit [read action scenes] with flourish. Besides, the confidence that you witness in his second Hindi movie is worth lauding! Prakash Raj is getting typecast in similar roles. Mahesh Manjrekar is first-rate. Aditya Pancholi has a brief role, which he handles quite well. Prashant Narayanan excels yet again. Sudesh Berry impresses. Gihana Khan and Vimala Raman are adequate.

On the whole, MUMBAI MIRROR is for those who relish masala movies. Especially for the single screen circuit.