Keyur Seta
Mumbai, 13 Oct 2017 14:10 IST
The film, produced by Anupam Kher, shows promise only in parts.
Heists have been a favourite subject for thriller films all over the world. Hindi cinema too has seen quite a few bank robbery dramas in the new millennium itself. Kaante (2002), Aankhen (2002), Fida (2004) and Ajnabee (2001) are a few prominent names that quickly come to mind.
The common point in the aforementioned films and some others as well is that the robbery was on a big scale and the banks were technically sound. But Sattwik Mohanty’s Ranchi Diaries takes a different route as the bank here is the smallest one could imagine.
It is this novel approach, along with some quirky humour that keeps your interest alive. Alas, the film could have been an amusing heist drama if they hadn't ended it so abruptly and had taken care of a few other issues.
Ranchi Diaries takes place in a small town in Jharkhand state which is affected by the Naxals. Manish (Himansh Kohli) and Gudiya (Soundarya Sharma) are childhood buddies who have fallen in love. Although Manish does odd jobs, he earns more through his secret, illegal activity of opening lockers. Gudiya dreams of being a pop artist. But for this, she wants to relocate to a big city. She plans to run away with Manish one night.
But Manish gets involved in a mess created by a few ruffians and their boss Thakur Bhaiya (Anupam Kher) and is put behind bars. A senior cop (Satish Kaushik) agrees to free him and the others on one condition. This forces Manish, his best friend Pinku (Taaha Shah) and Gudiya to get involved in a serious crime.
The film is unimpressive initially. Bringing in the heist angle at the start and then going into flashback was an interesting idea, but the narrative becomes shaky soon enough. There is an angle of kidnapping, which you later realize has no relevance to the main story. Narration using a voice-over generally aids the storytelling. But here Vijay Raaz, as the narrator, spoonfeeds almost everything; from defining all the characters to commenting on even the small twists in the tale.
Thankfully though, the film is brought back on track once the bank robbery angle is brought in. The idea of looting such a small bank and the subsequent events not only provide entertainment, but also some thrill. Pitobash Tripathy’s character pretending to be a terrorist and the others shouting ‘Jee janab, jee janab’ deserves mention for being silly in a good way.
At one point, a major twist takes place. Even though it's predictable in the beginning when the makers pay a special tribute to the old Rs1,000 note, it still brings in a hilarious effect. However, you're in for a rude shock when you realise it's not a plot twist, but the climax. You're left wondering why they end the film so abruptly. The end credits and a dance number seem totally misplaced.
The other songs simply fall in the average category. The technical aspects of Ranchi Diaries are worth talking about though. Pleasing visuals, quirky background score and slick editing are on full display.
The performances are a mixed bag. Himansh Kohli and Taaha Shah try hard but are unable to put aside their urban personalities to get into the skin of small town characters who speak Hindi with a heavy accent. Debutant Soundarya Sharma is more natural and better than the other two.
Although Jimmy Shergill has played a rough-and-tough guy quite a few times before, he is the best of the lot. The subtle and indirect humour in his act pays off. Satish Kaushik lives up to the expectations of a veteran artist. But someone like him deserved a meatier role. Anupam Kher is average and Pitobash Tripathy is amusing, but repetitive.
Overall, Ranchi Diaries has its moments, but is let down by the initial portion and an abrupt climax.