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'Grahan'

By N K Deoshi
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It is the story of a rape victim’s quest for justice. But justice is hard to come by because the culprit happens to be the pampered son of an influential minister. The traumatic experience ruins her life, and her pet up emotions make her go to dangerous limits.

Manisha Koirala takes a break from the pelvic grind routine and plays the hapless rape victim in Jackie Shroff's first home production "Grahan". Directed by Shashilal Nair, the film has Jackie playing a lawyer and Manisha's sole savior. The film also marks the debut of the Delhi-based model-turned actress Anupama Verma.

"Grahan"

is a legal drama with a political twist". At the center of the story is a simple girl Parvati (Paro as she is fondly called) who makes a living teaching dance to kids in a school. But happy days are transient as a politician's notorious son Sanjay Acharya rapes her.

To bring the wrongdoer to the book, she drags him to the court. But she realizes that justice is not easy to get in a system where custodians of law are marionettes in the hands of the wicked ones.

The saving grace is the chief minister, who believes in upholding the law even if it means sending his own son to the gallows. But before truth can prevail, he is assassinated and his daughter Sunita (Anupama Verma) sets out to fill the political void left by him.

Meanwhile, the law takes its course and Sanjay is arrested. Sunita, however, sees this as the oppositions' trick to finish her party. She entreats her lover Jaggu Sinha (Jackie Shroff), who is an aspiring lawyer, to defend her brother. The case is Jaggu's first one. And a special one because it involves the brother of his heartthrob. So he tries his level best to prove Sanjay’s innocence.

Ultimately, he wins the case, Sanjay is acquitted and Paro ostracized as a whore. A shocked Paro retreats into oblivion.

But soon Jaggu realizes the truth: that he was hoodwinked into believing Sanjay's innocence. Having lost his peace of mind, the conscience stricken Jaggu sets out to find Paro so that she can get justice.

Distraught Paro is, however, no more keen on getting justice the right way. In a desperate attempt, she shoots the rapist and surrenders before cops.

Now comes the biggest challenge for Jaggu. Against the wishes of his lover Sunita, and his lawyer brother (Raghuvaran) he sets out to ensure justice for Paru.

Although "Grahan" brings a welcome respite from the mushy romantic sagas of Bollywood it fails to offer anything fresh. The script is tight but the dialogues are devoid of any subtleties. Even the presence of newcomer Anupama Verma fails to lift the film. She has a long way to go and needs to spruce her histrionics.

Still, it is good to see Manisha in a sensitive and finely etched role. She carries off her character with the ease of a veteran.

Jackie too impresses with a convincing performance. He does well in the courtroom scenes and arguments.

All in all "Grahan" turns out to be an average fair.

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