panhar issabella happea
Juanjo Pollreisz
ACP Malvika Chauhan (Sushmita Sen) is a widowed cop with a 10-year-old daughter. She is saddled with the murder case of a reputed businessman, where the killer has left no evidence. Before she can get into the investigation, a famous heroine is killed. Malvika suspects that it might be the work of a serial killer.
Investigation reveals that the victims were not connected with each other. Plus, even the suspects with motives were not near the crime scenes. Suddenly Malvika realizes that somebody is stalking her. Malvika accosts her stalker, but he reveals that he was just doing it for a criminal named Suleman Bhai. As Suleman has that much expertise to kill someone without leaving evidence, Malvika thinks she has got a killer for at least one case. But when Malvika goes to Suleman's house, she finds Suleman dead.
Malvika goes to the shop to investigate, where the assistant says that her eyesight is perfect, but her vision is very weak. Malvika does not realize what he means, but after learning that the assistant did not turn up that day, she realizes that she talked with the killer (whom she could not see, as the room was dark). Later, she finds out from the list of customers that a person named Amod Parekh (Jackie Shroff), also with eye power -2, visited the same optical shop on the days when all the three murdered persons visited the shop, and believes him to be the killer.
A frustrated Malvika sends her associate Satya (Sushant Singh) to investigate the whereabouts of the killer, while she tries to figure out who the next target is. She finds that a renowned musician, who also has a power of -2, is the customer of the shop and is performing the same evening. Malvika arranges for a tight security, but the musician is not killed by the killer even after the given time (9 pm).
Meanwhile, Malvika's associate finds out the killer's address. Amod reveals himself to Malvika in front of the musician. Amod explains that he was also a graduate from the '94 batch of the police academy, the same batch from which Malvika graduated. He explains that his credentials were much better than Malvika's, but he was toppled, as he had poor eyesight with power -2.
Amod vents out his anger by saying that this same fault did not affect the lives of his victims, in fact, they became famous. He also goes on to say that he did not want to kill them, but time was not on their side as somebody else, too had a motive to kill them. Malvika thinks that he is trying to prove that she has lost, and he has proved himself a genius, if not as a cop, then as a killer.
Malvika asks why Amod did not kill the musician. Suddenly her associate arrives with a broken pair of glasses retrieved from Amod's house. Amod tells her that her daughter was the perfect daughter of the best cop. He clarifies that he killed her daughter instead (9 pm), who also has an eyesight power of -2 and came to the same optical shop in the same evening. He again taunts Malvika that her eyesight is perfect, but her vision is very weak as she didn't notice her daughter's name in the customers' list. Malvika's associate begs her to not to kill the killer, as he wants her to do the same. However, an angry Malvika shoots the killer dead (12 am).
Samay was well received at the box office, and Sushmita Sen was praised for her professional portrayal of ACP Malavika Chauhan. Reviews praised the well-written screenplay, and its storyline kept its audiences guessing until the last minute.
Samay: When Time Strikesis adecent film, which outlines the relationship between ACP Malvika Chauhan (Sushmita Sen) and her subordinates well. Hersentiments, sense of pride and the way shecares for her daughter, Anjali,is also nicely depicted. Sushmita's scene with her superior and the different scenes with her doctor-friendare well etched. The police procedures are authentic. Sushmita gives a satisfactory performance except for the last scene, where she is not up to the mark. Sushant Singh puts in a good performance.
Samay opens as a whodunit, but gradually shifts gear to a tense (?) thriller with murders. First, a financial wizard gets killed, then a top actress gets killed and then the best contract killer is killed. Malvika may be next in line as she is the best female cop. The chase and raid scenes are captured well. The mood of the movie, colour and background music build on the theme.
Samay on rediff.com!
Samay: The rediff review
Samay: The Hours
Robby: Sushmita is not Kiran Bedi
Quiz: Simply Sushmita!
Debutant director Robby Grewal does afair job in his narration. But the movie should have been 20 minutes shorter with a compact screenplay to really make an impact. He should have resisted the temptation to include songs, though I have to say theskin show is welcome. The dialogues are crisp.
The climax is a direct take from the Hollywood film, Seven, starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Do notwatch Samay if you have seen Seven because there will notbe a surprise element when the killer makes an appearance. But thelogic behind the murders is not convincing. The murderer'sdialogue delivery is also not very articulate.
There are some minor glitches in the film like the astute ACP failing to see the face of one of the witnesses during an interrogation or when the killer claims to have given Malvika a clue byphoningher from her police station.
During the last few months, we have seenBollywood churn out bad films, calling them 'different' or new generation movies. But Samayis decent. Word of mouth publicity may help the film, thoughI doubt it will do well.
A debutante director, a murder-mystery concept and an actress in the lead playing a super cop, iDream's SAMAY WHEN TIME STRIKES is nothing short of a risk. But does the risk pay off? Not exactly!
It's the murder of a successful industrialist that sets the tone for a suspense-journey. A journey with events and happenings that keep you hooked intermittently, but the finale leaves you wondering, why did you embark on such a journey in the first place?
A.C.P. Malvika Chauhan [Sushmita Sen] starts off the investigation. With no clue or evidence available, it doesn't take her long to comprehend and conclude that the murder is a planned move, committed with utmost precision.
And just as the mystery behind the first murder was slowly being entangled, another murder takes place. This time it is a well-known actress. Circumstances make her believe that they are connected.
Malvika's search leading her to various clues and evidences are very close to reality. The precision and perfect planning of the murderer does keep the audience involved and guessing. The way Malvika puts the scattered pieces slowly in the appropriate place is convincing, to an extent.
However, the film has precious little for the masses, holding appeal for the intelligentsia mainly. But, the real flaw, which incidentally should have been the high point, lies in the climax, which takes the graph of the film downhill.
The revelation of the murderer [Jackie Shroff] and the motive behind the murders will leave a major section of the audience completely bewildered and confused. The climax should've been so strong that the moment the identity of the killer is unveiled, the viewer should've been stunned by the exposure.
Debutante director Robby Grewal has opted for a theme that sounds interesting, but when viewed in totality, the outcome falls flat. The screenplay meanders from plausible to implausible at regular intervals. The climax, as mentioned above, is its biggest flaw.
Music is nothing to talk about. The item number is completely out of place and merely looks like an excuse to provide some skin show. The dialogues are in sync with the proceedings. Ditto for the background score and cinematography.
On the whole, SAMAY - WHEN TIME STRIKES doesn't 'strike' due to a weak climax mainly, which is the backbone of any suspense-thriller. With no hype or publicity to back up, its 'samay' at the box-office will be limited.
Mitchell Starc has done it for Australia! Switches to 'round the wicket and delivers it on a fullish length, outside off, Lockie Ferguson gives himself room but fails to get the elevation and can only hit this one along the ground towards cover. Joy on the faces of Mitchell Starc and the rest of the Aussies. Australia win this thriller by 5 runs!
OUT! RUN OUT! Body blow for New Zealand! A 'Superman' effort by Josh Inglis to dismiss James Neesham! Mitchell Starc misses his length as he hurls a knee-high full toss, at the batter, James Neesham gets cramped for room and gets hurried as he tries to heave it away. He does not time it well and has no option to return for the second run. Marnus Labuschagne swoops in quickly and releases the throw towards the batting end. Josh Inglis grabs it cleanly and stretches out with his left hand to disturb the woodwork. The replays show that the full-length dive by James Neesham was not enough for him to reach his ground.
Sensational save in the deep by Marnus Labuschagne! On a length, slanting in, on middle and leg, James Neesham goes deep in his crease and slogs it towards deep mid-wicket where Marnus Labuschagne throws himself to his left on the boundary and keeps the ball in play. Two runs taken.
Great stop by Glenn Maxwell! Right up there, on off, James Neesham drills it hard down the wicket. Mitchell Starc gets a hand on it in his follow through which reduces the pace of the delivery. Glenn Maxwell at long on, sprints and tumbles to his right to save a couple of runs for his side.
FIVE WIDES! Oh, dear! Mitchell Starc, what have you done? Tries to zone in at the toes, on a fullish length but the angle takes the ball past James Neesham and the ball rears off the footmark to go over the leaping Josh Inglis for a boundary. Bonus runs for New Zealand.
A direct hit and Trent Boult was gone! Strac charges in from around the wicket and goes on a fullish length, at the stumps, Trent Boult moves leg side and stabs it towards extra cover. He sets off for a single and the ball comes at a good height for Marnus Labuschagne but he fails to hit the target at the non-striker's end.
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