Starring: Bobby Deol, Lara Dutta, Hritesh Deshmukh, Rahul Dev, Tara Sharma. Director: E. Niwas
Music: Himesh Reshammiya
Producer: Pooja Galani

E. Niwas' BARDAASHT may not be the most intriguing experience you've had, but you do feel positive at the end of the screening. The film has its share of plusses and minuses, but more than anything else, BARDAASHT drives home the point that Bobby Deol is not merely a star, but an actor as well.

The ex army guy is Bobby Deol who now runs a traveling agency. He was thrown out of the army for cowardice when actually he refused to kill an innocent young boy. When he loses his job he also loses his girl friend Lara Dutta. His brother, Ritesh Deshmukh, a college student is like all boys his age, a fun loving boy who sometimes breaks the rules. After an argument with his elder brother Ritesh leaves the house in a huff, never to return.

The police claim he was a drug runner killed in an encounter. The truth is that he was a victim of police excess by the ACP Rahul Dev and his two cohorts. This was witnessed by his girl friend Tara Sharma who has been terrorized into keeping her mouth shut. Bobby cannot accept his brother to be involved in such stuff, and he starts doubting the police for some foul play. He decides to get to the bottom of the matter, and thus starts his search for the truth.

 Lara drops in as a lawyer, and so as to continue the old romance track, she joins him in his quest. The obstacles in their way are Rahul Dev, Ganesh Yadav and Vishwajeet Pradhan. Tara Sharma also drops in to provide a twist in the tale. The truth, of course, is something else. So Aditya decides to get to the bottom of it and nail the real criminals. Ex-girlfriend Payal re-enters his life. By now, she is a lawyer — just what Aditya and the script ordered. Bardaasht isn't an extraordinary script, but it holds you till the intermission.

Niwas builds a tense atmosphere by avoiding unnecessary songs (only three tracks in the film), comic relief, or pompous dialogues. 'Bardaasht' is the kind of film Sunny Deol would have done a few years ago. Written by Vikram Bhatt (obviously influenced by Raj Santoshi's 'Ghayal'), it is a typical revenge drama that formed part of popular mainstream cinema a few years back. Himesh Reshammiya's music is melodious, in keeping with the mood of the film.

The film has three songs in all and at least two stand out - 'Janaabe Aali' and 'Silsile'. The background music [Amar Mohile] is adequate.Cinematography [Rakesh Manikantan] is first-rate. Dialogues [Girish Dhamija] are punch-packed. In fact, the lines delivered by Bobby Deol and Virendra Saxena stands out in the enterprise. Even the war of words in the courtroom is proof of able writing.

 Abbas Ali Moghul's action scenes are well executed, especially the fight in the first half [Bobby's flashback]. It is Bobby's show all the way, and he does not disappoint. He is turning into a fine actor slowly but surely. Lara Dutta is competent as always. Ritesh Deshmukh is fine in a short role. The surprise package certainly is Tara Sharma who displays some emotions for a change. Rahul Dev is a really fine actor and leaves his mark. Don't go in with much expectation and be pleasantly surprised