There is no use looking for novelty in Aal’s story-line. The film is an official remake of Aamir, which itself is a copy of the Filipino thriller, Cavite. And from what we’ve seen of all three, there’s little that director Anand Krishna brings to the Tamil version. The streets of Mumbai give way to the equally crowded streets of Paris, and that’s perhaps the only refreshing change. The tone of the film closely follows the other two versions – gritty, raw and in certain situations, intense.
It’s also a struggle to watch Vidharth try hard to fit into the role…and that black suit. Neither is tailor-made for him. Having said that though, he has managed to redeem himself a little after starring in the ridiculously cliched Pattaiya Kelappanum Pandiya.
Aal carries a very serious message – that of Muslims forced to become terrorists due to circumstances. The story follows a well-educated Muslim man who’s forced to indulge in nefarious activities when his family is taken hostage. There’s a lot of scope for drama and suspense in a story like this, as the previous versions have proved. But, Aal is a watered down version, choosing to focus more on Aamir’s love life, and dwell less on his inner struggles. And, that’s precisely why it lacks the emotional connect a film like this so desperately needs.
Recommended
The music does speed things up a little. Here and there. Composer Johan shines in the background score, and comes onto his own in the last fifteen minutes. His tunes manage to rouse the patriot in us, and is uniquely original in a movie that is otherwise too derivative. Except for those portions shot in Sikkim, which just give Vidharth yet another opportunity to wrap something around his neck (a la PKP) and sing along in scenic locales.
And, while the rest of the movie’s mistakes can be pardoned, this particular one is going to take us some time to forget.
A long time, perhaps.
The Aal Review is a Silverscreen original article. It was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the movie. Silverscreen.in and its writers do not have an advertising relationship with movies that are reviewed on the site.