Prahaar Movie Review: There’s a tendency to mistake the importance of a real-life story for the quality of its cinematic retelling. With Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story, the weight of the subject and the significance of the man at its centre may invite a certain reverence, making any criticism of the filmmaking seem misplaced and almost blasphemous.
This is a man who has prosecuted cases such as the 2003 Gateway of India blast, the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune, the 1993 Bombay blasts, Gulshan Kumar’s murder, Shakti Mills gang rape and, of course, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. But the importance of his story doesn’t automatically translate into compelling cinema. The film has intent but heavily suffers due to a bumpy screenplay.
Prahaar is all over the place, struggling to decide what it wants to focus on. Is it the terror attacks and the subsequent trials, Nikam’s family life, his complicated equation with his son or Ajmal Kasab’s background and life in Arthur Road Jail? By attempting to juggle all these threads, the film loses sight of its central narrative.What emerges is a muddled mishmash of storylines that leaves you wondering what you’re supposed to invest in. That’s not to say the film is devoid of moments that move you to tears, fill you with rage or make you appreciate the sheer brilliance of its actors. But are a handful of powerful moments enough to make a good film? Seems unlikely.
Prahaar opens on the day of the 1993 Bombay blasts verdict. Having won the TADA case, Nikam remains remarkably equanimous even as those around him celebrate. “Kaam adhura reh gaya hai,” he says, refusing to rejoice before the entire terrorist network is exposed. Years later, as he attends his daughter’s wedding, a phone call shatters the celebrations. Mumbai is under attack.
The date is November 26, 2008. A series of coordinated shootings and bombings across the city leaves it reeling. Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, becomes the face of the trial that follows, with Nikam entrusted with the responsibility of prosecuting him. Standing on the other side is Kazmi, who agrees to represent Kasab after the Mumbai Bar Association refuses to take up his defence.
