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Waqt – A Race Against Time
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'Waqt – A Race Against Time' A Family Movie

By Aparajita Ghosh
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Here is a film that attempts to tell a touching story about father-son relationship without resorting to the ‘tearjerker’ stereotype, so often seen in Bollywood films. Director Vipul Shah keeps the melodrama at bay and strikes a chord in viewers’ heart with realistic, subtle and well-executed developments in the story inspired from a Gujarati play.

Aditya (Akshay) never had to keep his nose to the grindstone because he was born with a silver spoon in mouth. He is the pampered scion of a millionaire Ishwar Sharawat (Amitabh). He is frivolous, he shuns responsibilities, spend his dad’s money extravagantly, dreams of becoming a star one day, although without making any efforts to that end.

Waqt

– A Race Against Time tells the story of a father who wants his son to become a mature, self-dependent individual and support his family.

What is good about Waqt is that it is not self-indulgently sentimental. While any other mediocre director would have made many portions of the movie into essential tearjerkers, Shah refrains from doing so. Take for instance the interval point when Amitabh asks his son (Akshay) to leave the house. The sequence is quite plain, without any soppy sentimentality, and it is precisely this that makes the impact.

The first half of the movie is non-serious and focuses on the father-son camaraderie, the son’s romantic escapades, his marriage. The viewers are also subjected to a barrage of songs, most of which are absolutely unnecessary and out of place. There is a Holi song, a wedding song, a father-son dandia song, a dream song etc…

And there is a Taandav dance sequence by Akshay in the second half, which – although intended to show the son’s cathartic release in an energetic dance to qualify for the starhunt contest – lacks the requisite impact and only evokes mirth.

The pre-climax portion of the movie – Akshay’s emotional speech when he finds the real reason behind his father’s action – looks overdramatic. The finale is better and credible.

Amitabh Bachchan has already said in a press-meet that his role in Waqt was not challenging, which is quite true. However, the superstar still brings much vitality to his character, lending it depth and subtle shades.

Akshay Kumar shows flashes of brilliance in his acting, but these flashes have not yet become a steady stream. Priyanka Chopra doesn’t get much footage but still plays her role with natural ease.

Boman Irani and Rajpal Yadav provide light moments in this otherwise serious fare. Their comic timing is appreciable.

All said, Waqt is a fine family entertainer with message. The movie is not without blemishes – too many songs, over-dramatization in the second half – yet it moves you. And the credit for this goes partly to director Vipul Shah (for his sensitive handling of the subject) and to the actors (Amitabh and Akki).

Worth spending time on once.

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