Though Siddharth Malhotra Tries His Best, it’s Manoj Bajpayee Who Steals the Show in this Confusing Men-in-Uniform Drama – Aiyaary Review
Aiyaary (2018)
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Neeraj Pandey has wowed us with many surprise hits in the past like A Wednesday, Baby, Special 26 etc. His storytelling methods are such that he focuses on making films that tackle everyday social issues, and he tries to create awareness about such topics through his movies.
Pandey’s highly-anticipated Aiyaary was supposed to be a fast-paced espionage drama that showcased the corruption in the country by highlighting the depravity that is common in the world of arms lobbying. Sadly, the movie fails to hold the attention of the viewer because of its inconsistent narrative and suddenly becomes a tedious journey into the world of human corruption that we all know so well.
It’s too long for a 160-minute movie that is supposed to be a fast-paced thriller!
The Players in the Game – Aiyaary Review
Synopsis:
Two officers who are part of a special unit of Indian Army’s military intelligence with patriotic hearts suddenly have a falling out when one of them turns rogue and threatens to disrupt the country’s government and army. The mentor, Colonel Abhay Singh has complete faith in the country’s system while protégé Major Jai Bakshi thinks differently due to a recent stint in surveillance and decides to take matters into his own hands. Suddenly, Colonel Singh finds himself trying to track down his former protégé to stop him from disrupting the country’s peace and bringing down the government.
The film does start on a promising note. Bajpayee’s entry as Colonel Abhay Singh was a bit overkill, but it was good overkill, and the actor managed to pull it off with his usual gravitas. The movie sets out to tell the story of a mentor and his protégé – two soldiers who are a part of a special covert unit of the Indian army. But, the narration soon becomes confusing and the convoluted storylines end up souring the development of the characters.
Though Pandey tries to portray the clash of different ideologies, the generation gap, the cynicism and distrust of the younger generation at Law & Order, he fails to develop on those issues which end up making the storyline too drab and a bit too bland for the audience.
Aiyaary Review – The Idiot Speaks
Let’s face it: Aiyaary is Neeraj Pandey’s best work. Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher did their part as usual and their presence did add a little more to the movie as a whole. Even then there was a lot missing from the movie. Neeraj Pandey tried to bring something fresh to the table, but it just wasn’t that remarkable.
Aiyaary ties to tell a gripping tale but falls short of its mark, soon becoming an extremely long film with many unnecessary scenes that don’t help in advancing the story at all. The film’s timeframe is puzzling and the different jumps in location don’t help make it any easier. Delhi, Cairo, London, Kashmir – all the information gets lost in the terrible fog of a complicated narrative. Though Manoj Bajpayee tries, even he does not have the power to lift a dull script with his powerful acting.
What could have been a daring thriller revolving around the world of Armed Forces and the corruption encapsulating it, Aiyaary instead becomes a drama that takes too long to unfold.
P.S: The disclaimer at the start of the film is just another sign of how safe people feel in this democratic, secular and ‘tolerant’ nation of ours. Have we become that sensitive as a country that we get so easily upset?
Now, now! Let’s not pull at that thread!
Verdict of The Idiot
Idiot-o-Meter: Take It Easy, Dude!
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The Idiot’s Rating System:
4.0 – 5.0: The Dude Abides!
3.0 – 4.0: Far Out, Man!
2.0 – 3.0: Take It Easy, Dude!
1.0 – 2.0: You’re Out Of Your Element!
0.0 – 1.0: The Goddamn Plane Has Crashed Into The Mountain!
The Idiot's Corner 