Star cast: Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Huma Qureshi, Shruti Haasan
Director: Nikhil Advani
What’s Good: Without an ounce of jingoism, the film’s plain, non-judgmental storytelling with a thought provoking narrative is ace. Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan put up a marvellous show!
What’s Bad: The editing in the film’s latter half could have been tauter.
Loo break: None at all.
Watch or Not?:
Nikhil Advani’s D-Day traces a labyrinthine story of India’s unsung war heroes. With its chilling action scenes and thrilling emotional quotient, D-Day is perhaps one of recent times’ most rivetingly told stories. With Bollywood celebrating Dawood mostly, here’s a filmmaker who has made a daunting movie which effortlessly gives the character its correct hue.
The nabbing operation of India’s most wanted man that is carried out by four undercover agents, all of them come with their own personal baggage! Nabi Ali, stationed in Pakistan for years has already set up for himself emotional attachments. Rudra Pratap Singh, a formed Armed Force’ officer is exactly the opposite and prefers being detached. Zoya dumps her familial happiness and chooses her patriotism over it. And Aslam who serves as the spy in the Don’s ‘kafila’ joins hands in an impossible mission. On the eve of of his son’s wedding, the mission that will result in the downfall of this notorious don is to be executed. How brilliantly the climax is tied up with its shockers and teary jerks are what make D-Day so unparalleled.
Script Analysis
The script of this gritty thriller is based on the lines of Zero Dark Thirty, naturally sketching it on an Indianized canvas; the film is 2 hours plus of sheer edge-of-your-seat thrill. For most part, the story sticks to being purely artistic even as its revels in nail biting action. Emotionally wrenching and ripping, the story of D-Day follows the lives of 4 war heroes who are on a mission ala ‘The Charge of The Light Brigade’. Advani absorbs us easily into his story as he uses the tool of terrifying realism and paints the terrifying picture of atrocities that we have incurred in the name of terrorism. To begin with, it is the extraordinary script that entraps you in the nuances of its dramatic folds. An undercover agent who must give up the warmth of his wife and the love of his son is caught in between his duty call and his family! It is a tribute to the story writers that the audiences don’t find a single sag in the film’s tapestry. The film’s climax is 15 minutes of spectacular adrenaline rush as all the pieces of the film finally blends into one. There are its share of clichés in each character as you almost know what they are like, but the wonderful choice of actors render to their roles both beauty and believability. The film exudes immense confidence in its mannerism of telling the story that makes its fabric so brilliantly suspenseful.
Star Performances
This high octave action films depends heavily on the prowess of its actors to valiantly carry forward the film and each of the vital work of these actors turn out to be nothing short of stellar.
Rishi Kapoor as Goldman, the man fashion on the iconic underworld character Dawood Ibrahim arrives with the enigma that his name is meant to convey. Getting every note right, he gives an impactful performance as the man who is colossal in his notoriety.
Irrfan as Wali Khan is impeccably wonderful both in his tender moments and the high drama ones. How in a matter of one simple film this man has in his role such diverse hues is unimaginable. The accomplished actor he is, his tendency of constantly pushing the envelope further is what makes each of his work so distinct and yet doesn’t blur in terms of marvel. He makes Wali both delicate and fiery with stunning ease.
Arjun Rampal has evolved for the better as an actor. His infallible personality and his portrayal that has hints of both anguish and strength is what makes him stand out despite the presence of more powerful actors. He acted like a dream and that is commendable, to say the least.
Huma Qureshi tackles her part with gusto and as compared to her role in the recent Ek Thi Daayan, she is light years ahead. A female soldier whose sacrifices are way beyond merely putting her life on stake, Qureshi’s strength is in her simplistic acting.
Sriswara as Irrfan’s wife is an excellent actress who known the right mode to enliven her role. Her chemistry with Irrfan is so adorable-ish, that your heart goes out to her helplessness!
Shruti Haasan as an actress is obviously great, but her character is quite misplaced. Nevertheless she carries out her role to perfection especially the power with which she manages to choke you up in the song ‘Alvida’.
Direction, Music & Technical Aspects
Nikhil Advani’s tangible movie is innovative in its vision and involving in its demeanor. The direction is so deeply fascinating, that one remains obviously latched to the movie. He carefully refrains from making any bit of it melodramatic which is perhaps the most effective part of the movie. Perhaps the only hiccup for me was the song ‘Alvida’ which is my opinion attempted to romanticize tragedy and pain very wrongly. It’s a quite a shock that this man went wrong enough to make squibs like Chandni Chowk To China and Salam-E-Ishq. Tom Struthers and John Street’s (of Inception and Dark Knight fame) stunning stunts right from Hollywood frames terrorizes with the right punch. Tushar Ray’s cinematography is picture perfect as he gives the right amount of anxiety to the story. The film’s mayhem doesn’t get anarchic and furnishes itself convincingly. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s soundtrack croons with a haunting feel and syncs wonderfully in the film’s story.