Angel Review

Choreographer turned helmer Ganesh Acharya fetish for 70's came into existence when he gave his first impression as a helmer in `Swami' which moved a bit. The movie starring Manoj Bajpai and Juhi Chawla didn't ring much bells but Ganesh entry into the helmers club was welcomed.

He then himself threatened to resign from the elite club by giving a turkey like `Money Hai Toh Honey Hai'.

Now he wants to tell us that dude, my cinematic inspirations are beyond bollywood. so he mixes the desi liquor borrowed from Dulal Guha's `Dushman' (1971) starring Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz and Mena Kumari.

And mixes it with the Korean wine called Oasis (2002) by the master film maker Chang-dong Lee which is and will remain the most stunning, brave and perhaps the best love stories told on celluloid in the last decade if I let pass the beautiful Iranian story of love by Mohammad Ahmady proudly known as `Poet of the Wastes'(2002).

Well it's a crime to compare such cinema with this one but when you get inspired from such magnificent work of art like `Dushman' and `Oasis' then my dear your vision should be clear.

But alas, Ganesh's `Angel' doesn't gel and the operation ends up more interesting in theory than it is on the screen.

Debutant Nilesh Sahay drives his bike recklessly going home after a party, and he kills a man in the accident. Surprisingly he is jailed for two years only.

Coming out of the jail, Nilesh goes to his elder brother Manoj Joshi. Manoj allows Nilesh to work in his garage on the condition that he would behave well in future. Nilesh goes with flowers to the house of his accident victim.

The dead man had left behind a son and a daughter. The daughter is handicapped and the son does not care for his sister. He had even discontinued her physiotherapy.

Nilesh develops a soft corner for the girl played by debutante Maddalsa Sharma. They are caught by the brother in a tender moment. He accuses Nilesh of rape. A friend and Maddalsa try to save him.

Choreographer turned director Ganesh Achary makes mess of a theme. The script is full of loopholes and utterly unconvincing from the start to the finish. The pace is slow and it drags most of the time.

The only saving grace is Maddalsa Sharma. She looks pleasant and lively despite being physically challenged. Nilesh is playful but his antics are annoying instead pleasing. Manoj Joshi is okay. Aruna Irani makes a brief appearance. Amjad Nadeem's music does not lift up the film.

Conclusion: `Angel' is a brilliant idea gone wrong while execution. It's too shapy to attract any eye.

Rating *&1/2