Shootout at Lokhandwala'

Tagline: Based on True Rumours - Runtime: 114min 57sec - Written & Directed by: Apoorva Lakhia

Plot Outline
On a calm summer day in 1991, in the bustling Lokhandwala Complex, five criminals including Maya (Vivek Oberoi) and Dilip (Tusshar Kapoor) were counting 70 lakhs in flat no. 32 B, when 286 policemen, headed by ACP Khan (Sanjay Dutt), took strategic positions around their building. A gunfire ensued and the entire nation witnessed the most talked about daylight encounter lasting 6 hours that transformed suburban Mumbai into a virtual war zone.

Shootout at Lokhandwala is the story of how the maverick lawmen chased Khalistani extremists, the story of handpicked cops like Inspector Kaviraj Patil (Suniel Shetty) and Constable Javed Sheikh (Arbaaz Khan) who dared to engage trigger-happy gangsters in a residential locality of Mumbai.

On the flipside it is also the story of the other side of the law - Maya, who along with the like of psychotic Dilip Buwa (Tusshar Kapoor), made extortion the buzzword in the early 90's, dared to disobey the big bhai (brother) of the underworld and fought back a posse of policemen for six hours.

This caused massive controversy afterwards as it was rumored that the 'Big Brother' had asked for the shootings to take revenge on his aides who had fallen out with him using the police as his weapons.

Overall Impressions
Interesting to find a film calling itself based on true rumours, rather than inspired by true events. Anyway, from the very opening this throws at you impressive puddles of blood (quite literally). We find ourselves catching the aftermath of the incident with the rest of the nation being reported live on television.

As the police inspectors are being investigated by officials led by Dhingra (Amitabh Bachchan), it takes us back to the beginning, to the events that led to the current day shootout. The rise of the gang, the formation of the Anti-Terrorist Squad, the progressing tension between the two.

We get to know the characters a little and as the narrative progresses, it is interesting to see the parallels between the two sides. How in the end, the deeds of both sides of the law were not so different from each other. The film is engaging throughout (except the songs which are a total hindrance and only flaw to the film), but the best is reserved for the big finale.

Saying the film is raw and crude would be an large understatement. The subject demands that kind of a treatment and thankfully the director has executed it accordingly, but they really really should have not included songs. It only helps break up the tension that had been built up so well.

In a nutshell, blood, gore, guns, no good guys per say, just bad guys vs bad guys with Sanjay Dutt and an equally impressive supporting cast, it's right up my street & if that description doesn't appeal to you, you'll probably hate it, but if it does, don't miss it!!