Ek Villain

Cast: Sidharth Malhotra  (Guru), Riteish Deshmukh (Rakesh), Shraddha Kapoor (Aisha), Aamna Sharif (Sulochana), Prachi Desai (Special Appearance), Kamaal Rashid Khan, Shaad Randhawa, Remo Fernandes, Asif Basra

Genre: Action, Romance, Thriller

Direction: Mohit Suri

Production: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor (Balaji Motion Pictures)

Music: Ankit Tiwari, Mithoon, Soch (Band)

Cinematography: Vishnu Rao

Editor: Deven Murudeshwar

Distribution: ALT Entertainment

Release Date: 27^th June, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Ek Villain, directed by Mohit Suri under Balaji Motion Pictures, characterizes people with grey shades. People have good and bad wolves within them, and ultimately, that wolf wins to whom they give more food. Yeah, the movie is about two bad people, both of them are ruthless, heartless, murderers. Both of them have their own stories to be so. One of them gives more food to the good wolf and gets transformed due to love of his life, whereas the other turns into a psychopath killer of females due to constant humiliation by the love of his life and other females who cross his path. The good part of the movie is that, in spite of the violent scenes (probably it was integral to project this theme of the movie), the romance between two lead protagonists tones down the violence in the movie.

Aisha (Shraddha Kapoor) has scrapbook of fancy and strange wish-list. And the day, her one great wish is fulfilled i.e. to see her husband Guru (Sidharth Malhotra) settling down with a job, tragedy strikes her in the form of a brutal villain who murders her by throwing her out of the window. One might wonder that what more Mohit is about to convey, since from the beginning frame itself, one can figure out the whole concept of the movie. Basically, there is no suspense, a very much predictable plot. What is to be seen is the approach taken by Mohit. How the story unfolds after the catastrophe occurs?

Mohit has cleverly blended intricately - parallel past and present tracks, which genuinely raises the curiosity in the audience to understand how actually the events might have unfold. Reverse narration happens: 2 years before at Goa. Guru is shown to be ruthlessly killing a person. He is hot-headed, cold-blooded assassin working for Goan Don Ceaser (Remo Fernandes). Aisha happens to see Guru in the lock up, and immediately scribbles in her scrapbook another wish – to save a life. Aisha starts following Guru, and tries to bring smile into his face through her jokes. Aisha is successful in pulling Guru out of the darkness. Guru’s life changes for the good. And when things start getting into track for both of them, life seems blissful for them, Aisha is murdered.  

Rakesh Mahadkar (Riteish Deshmukh) is very convincing as the antagonist of the movie. What a change from the usual set of ‘comical’ roles which he does. His expressions absolutely suit his stone-hearted character. Riteish’ menacing act sends a shiver down your spine. I remembered Ashutosh Rana of Dushman who was merciless.

We know from the beginning that who killed Aisha, but what happens when Guru’s hands reaches the collar of the murderer? How the confrontation happens? How does Guru take his revenge? Does Guru manage to get even with Rakesh? Does Guru return to his old bad world or continue in Aisha’s path of living?

Sidharth Malhotra as Guru has proved again that he can carry a movie on his shoulders. He emotes well. And his screen presence is also great. There is a scene, where, Sidharth barges into a mental asylum, where people are watching Amitabh Bachchan’s blockbuster Shahenshah movie, Sidharth’s image gets projected on screen alongside Amitabh Bachchan. Was it a conscious effort on behalf of the director to project the next Shahenshah of Bollywood?

Shraddha Kapoor as Aisha is gregarious. Although she is natural, chirpy, sweet, at times, she seems to take efforts. She has done her singing debut in this movie with the song ‘Galiyan…’. A very good effort. She is the only character in this movie who brings smiles on our face.

The movie has its own set of flaws. Aisha’s wishes on the scrap book are her last wishes, she is dying. But what is her illness, script doesn’t cover that. Another astonishing thing which needs to be researched and further studied is: can a constant humiliation from spouse / or the ones whom we love so much, make one a psychopath, obsessed with killings. This is not convincing enough. All those scenes where Sulochana (Aamna Sharif) keeps on ridiculing her husband or nagging make the movie a bit boring, although these scenes are the justification for shaping Rakesh’ brutal character. The complexities of various characters are not justified properly.

But yes the relief is the romantic moments between Guru and Aisha, although, I wish, the relationship could have been explored beyond just sharing jokes. The song ‘Kisi Shayar ki Gazal’ covers wonderful moments of togetherness of Guru and Aisha and also Guru’s efforts in fulfilling Aisha’s wish-list one by one.

Other songs like Galliyan, Banzara are also soulful and good.

Certain scenes are not required at all: Guru’s friend Brijesh (Kamaal Rashid Khan) slapping his wife in front of Guru, when she did not bring ice along with the drinks. And the obnoxious Brijesh says that slapping one’s wife is the only way middle class men can get rid of their frustration.  

Certain Dialogues which are noticeable: Don Ceaser tells Guru that “Maut ko gale lagane ki vajah dhundhne ke bajay jeene ki ek vajah dhundho” (though, how unlikely of a don to say this, but a good one indeed). Aisha telling Guru: Kisi ke hamdard jab tak nahi banoge tab tak hum dard se aur dard hum se juda nahi ho sakta.

Certain messages, though heard off, are good: Darkness can be removed with light only. Even a villain can be transformed with love. One’s pain would reduce, if he / she is able to share other’s pain. Last but not the least, what we give to the society, that would come back to us. If we give good, definitely good will come back to us…and if we give bad, no doubt, bad will come to us.

Ek Villain, the tag line says, there is one in every love story…and the movie says, every person is a story in himself / herself. ‘Just Watchable’.

Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)