Prahaar is based on how public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam exposed the wrongdoings of Ajmal Kasab in front of the world. There have been many films made on 26/11 episode and its aftermath, but there has been no films that shows how the trial was conducted. Director Avinash Arun meticulously and interestingly depicts the trial's happenings, making it a great watch. A few scenes are clapworthy and unlike most biopics made in India, this film doesn’t shy away from showing some of the mistakes made by Ujjwal Nikam. Moreover, it's not a propaganda film – it exposes Pakistan’s hand in the attacks but also doesn’t paint people from a certain nationality and community with the same brush. On the flipside, the makers downplay the biryani episode from Ujjwal Nikam’s life. The interest levels drop in some scenes while the Wamiqa Gabbi track doesn’t work as intended. Moreover, both Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi don’t look that old. However, Rajkummar Rao’s performance is stellar and award-worthy. He gets the mannerisms and dialect right and is fiery in some scenes. Wamiqa Gabbi puts her best foot forward, though the writing lets her down. Lalit Prabhakar (Ajmal Kasab) is terrific and the way he displays various shades of his character are seen to be believed. Ritvik Sahore (Aniket Nikam) leaves a huge mark. Sikandar Kher (Kazmi; lawyer) and Ashish Vidyarthi (M L Tahilyani; judge) deliver terrific performances. Jaideep Ahlawat (Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali) is superb in a special appearance. All in all, Prahaar is a well-made film on an important chapter from history.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

WILL NAYYI NAVELLI AND PRAHAAR WORK AT THE BOX OFFICE?

Tomorrow will see the release of two mid-sized but exciting films at the box office. Both the movies may not do well on the first day but have the potential to pick up if reports are on their side.

Nayyi Navelli stars Yami Gautam in the lead and marks her first association with director Aanand L Rai. The idea is very interesting - a woman is suspected of being a daayan by her husband's family, leading to madness. Yami's casting has further added to the buzz. This is her immediate release after her National Award win and therefore, the timing is just right.

However, the buzz is still limited for the film. But due to Yami Gautam and the horror-comedy genre, it'll definitely entice a section of moviegoers to check out the film. As of now, it looks like it'll open at Rs. 2-3 crores.

Prahaar, on the other hand, stars Rajkummar Rao as public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and focuses on how the 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was convicted of his crimes. The teaser was decent but the trailer was quite powerful and managed to catch attention.

However, the film belongs to the niche genre and therefore, it would attract only some section of the moviegoers. Also, as it’s a Mumbai-based story, it’ll largely appeal to the people of the city. That’s the ugly truth of our country – people in other parts of India simply shun stories based in Mumbai. This was also visible in the box office performance of films based on the Mumbai underworld like Satya, Shootout At Lokhandwala, Shootout At Wadala, etc. Prahaar, sadly, will go the same way.

The courtroom drama should open at Rs. 1.50-2 crore and may go higher. Both films have released at a great time. Monday is holiday of sorts while Dussehra falls on Tuesday. In other words, these films will enjoy a five-day weekend.

Jailer was a fun, timepass watch and usually, sequels are not as good as the first part. But Jailer 2 is an exception. It begins on a rocking note and nicely takes the story forward from where the first part ended. The massy moments, obviously, are memorable. But the film also scores big on the humour quotient. In fact, the first half relies more on humour than action. However, whenever the action and massy moments kick in, they are sure to send the audience into a frenzy. The special appearances further add to the fun. On the flipside, the interest dips at the beginning of the second half. A few developments are convenient. Agreed that the Jailer series belongs to a space where one is not supposed to look for logic. Yet, these loopholes dent the impact, more so when they crop up even in emotional scenes. Speaking of performances, Rajinikanth is simply outstanding. At the age of 75, he continues to pull off such a performance with effortless swagger and charisma. Hats off! Vidya Balan looks stunning and delivers a stupendous performance. S J Suryah, as expected, rocks the show, while Mithun Chakraborty, too, makes his presence felt. Namo Narayana (Moorthi) is the surprise package of the film, and in some scenes in the first half, he even overshadows Rajinikanth! Yogi Babu raises laughs, while Suraj Venjaramoodu (Dileep) is memorable. As for the cameos, Hrithik Roshan steals the show, followed by Shiva Rajkumar, Mohanlal and Jackie Shroff. All in all, Jailer 2 is not just a worthy sequel but also manages to surpass the first part.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!

November 5 is when filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious epic, ‘Ramayana: Part 1’, will reach the audience. Interestingly, the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer will also reach the corridors of power that day. mid-day has learnt that the film will be screened for political leaders at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. The makers are said to be currently seeking the required permissions for the event.

A source revealed, “The Rashtrapati Bhavan screening is being planned for the same day as the film’s worldwide release, adding a high-profile engagement to the launch of Indian cinema’s most ambitious project. The event is yet to be officially confirmed, with the team understood to be pursuing the necessary permissions.” Kapoor, Pallavi, and Yash are expected to attend the screening along with Tiwari.

The makers are also working on two premieres, one in Mumbai that will be held at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, and another in Delhi for dignitaries. 

mid-day reached out to the film’s production team, which didn’t respond till press time.