Ram
Gopal
Varma
is
itching
to
tell
a
new
story
in
his
movies.
You
may
garland
him
for
his
efforts
or
loathe
him
if
you
feel
letdown,
but
you
need
to
hand
it
to
him
for
picking
up
stories
that
defy
stereotype.
This
time,
in
Rann,
the
maverick
film-maker
does
an
expose
on
the
games
the
heavyweights
in
the
media
play
to
further
their
interests.
RGV
goes
into
the
newsrooms
and
also
behind
it
and
throws
light
on
the
politician-industrialist-media
nexus.
Also,
it's
an
insider's
account
of
how
news
channels
that
are
greedy
for
ratings
sensationalize
stories
to
grab
eyeballs.
On
surface,
you
don't
want
to
know
what
goes
behind
the
scenes
and
how,
at
times,
news
are
'created'
by
vested
interests.
But
Rann
scratches
the
surface
and
opens
a
can
of
worms.
Rann
also
mirrors
the
fact
that
just
like
there
are
good
and
bad
people
in
every
field,
there're
some
rotten
ones
in
the
media
too
who
succumb
to
temptations
and
create
news
to
climb
the
ladder
of
success.
Rann
is
a
serious
film
and
RGV
knows
what
he's
talking
this
time.
It
wouldn't
be
erroneous
to
state
that
you
recall
RGV's
Sarkar
while
watching
Rann,
even
though
the
two
films
are
as
diverse
as
chalk
and
cheese.
You
recall
Sarkar
because
Rann
is
an
equally
powerful
film
that
shows
a
world
we've
only
seen
from
the
exterior.
Rann
is
for
those
who
enjoy
serious
cinema.
It's
more
for
the
intelligentsia,
for
the
thinking
viewer.
Definitely
not
for
those
who
seek
refuge
in
frivolous
masala
capers.
Vijay
Harshvardhan
Malik
[Amitabh
Bachchan]
is
the
founder
of
a
private
news
channel,
India
24/7.
A
hardcore
upholder
of
journalistic
ethics,
his
channel
is
battling
for
survival.
Jay
[Sudeep],
his
son,
looks
at
his
father's
news
channel
purely
as
a
business
enterprise
that
must
make
profits
to
justify
its
existence.
He
hates
that
his
competition
[Mohnish
Bahl]
is
doing
better
than
him.
The
story
takes
a
turn
when
a
corrupt
politician,
Mohan
Pandey
[Paresh
Rawal],
decides
to
use
the
channel
to
his
advantage
by
using
Vijay's
son-in-law
Navin
[Rajat
Kapoor].
Pandey
aspires
to
be
the
Prime
Minister
and
indulges
in
a
vicious
campaign
against
his
political
opponent.
Navin
is
the
most
insecure
man
on
earth
and
won't
rest
till
he
becomes
the
number
one
industrialist
in
the
country.
He,
in
turn,
involves
his
brother-in-law
Jay
in
Pandey's
game
plan.
A
film
like
Rann
would
fall
into
the
pit
if
[i]
its
writing
wouldn't
be
razor-sharp
and
[ii]
the
choice
of
actors
would
be
incompetent.
RGV's
movies,
generally,
are
embellished
with
competent
actors
who
deliver
super
performances.
In
this
film,
every
member
of
the
cast
shines
in
his/her
role,
the
length
of
the
role
notwithstanding.
The
writing
is
watertight
and
convincing.
Besides,
the
subject
matter
has
been
presented
in
the
most
simplistic
manner,
which
makes
it
easy
to
decipher.
However,
the
episode
showing
Riteish's
investigation
tends
to
get
confusing
at
one
point,
but
the
climax
compensates
for
the
minor
hiccups
here
and
there.
Amit
Roy's
cinematography
is
eye-catching.
Dialogues
are
power-packed.
In
fact,
one
can
identify
with
the
well-penned
dialogues.
The
background
score
plays
a
crucial
role.
It
heightens
the
impact
of
various
scenes.
Amitabh
Bachchan
is
spectacular
yet
again,
especially
towards
the
finale.
His
speech
and
the
way
he
delivers
it
are
remarkable.
Sudeep
is
terrific.
To
stand
up
to
giants
like
Bachchan
and
Paresh
Rawal
is
no
mean
achievement.
Riteish
is
only
getting
better
and
better
with
every
film.
In
fact,
he
surprises
you
constantly.
Paresh
Rawal,
seen
in
an
RGV
film
after
a
long,
long
time,
is
at
his
vicious
best.
Rajat
Kapoor
is
incredible.
Mohnish
Bahl
gets
the
role
of
a
lifetime
and
he
sinks
his
teeth
into
it.
This
film
should
open
new
vistas
for
him.
Gul
Panag
is
natural
and
so
easy
on
the
eyes.
Neetu
Chandra
does
her
part
well.
Suchitra
Krishnamoorthy
is
too
good.
Rajpal
Yadav
contributes
to
some
funny
moments.
Neena
Kulkarni
and
Simone
Singh
are
perfect
for
their
parts.
On
the
whole,
Rann
is
truly
a
well-made
film.
No
two
opinions
on
that.
The
film
should
be
patronised
by
viewers
of
serious,
sensible
cinema.
Recommended!