Just
a
thought
before
I
review
this
film...
When
you
saunter
in
for
the
screening
of
a
movie
directed
by
a
celebrated
film-maker,
a
movie
which
has
had
a
good
run
at
film
festivals,
a
movie
which
tilts
towards
art
house
cinema,
it
is
expected
that
the
critic
shower
the
film
with
lavish
praises
and
speak
of
it
in
glowing
terms.
If
you
don't,
get
ready
to
be
ostracized
by
pseudos
masquerading
as
messiahs
of
parallel
cinema,
get
ready
to
be
labelled
a
nincompoop
by
netizens,
get
ready
to
face
the
constant
bitching
and
loose
talk
by
the
'Balcony
Class'
presswalas.
Believe
me,
a
few
people
are
in
awe
of
such
cinema
and
feel
they
need
to
prove
how
cerebral
they
are
by
praising
such
films.
Now
to
the
review!
Either
the
film
works
or
it
doesn't.
It's
all
about
the
story
and
how
convincingly
the
storyteller
narrates
it.
If
the
story
is
absorbing,
you
can't
take
your
eyes
off
screen.
If
it
isn't,
you
break
into
a
yawn,
you
fidget
with
your
cell
phone,
you
start
looking
at
all
places,
except
the
screen.
What
you're
attempting
to
say,
is
important.
But
how
many
people
actually
follow
what
you're
saying,
is
even
more
important.
Road,
Movie
narrates
the
journey
of
a
young
man
and
the
people
he
encounters
on
his
way.
But
the
problem
is,
what
is
Road,
Movie
trying
to
say?
You're
clueless!
Is
it
about
the
water
mafia?
Is
it
about
a
touring
cinema?
Is
it
a
love
story
between
an
educated
youth
and
a
gypsy?
Is
it
a
road
movie?
The
sole
factor
that
stands
out
in
this
film
is
its
breath-taking
locations/visuals.
They
are
more
striking
than
the
story.
And
that's
the
sad
truth!
Also,
why
is
it
that
India
is
often
projected
as
a
land
of
snake
charmers,
as
a
poverty-stricken,
hunger-stricken,
drought-stricken
country
with
beggars
and
slums
all
around?
Is
that
what
India
is,
in
their
eyes?
Is
this
what
we
are
trying
to
sell
to
the
West
and
the
world
in
general?
That's
really
sad!
Final
word?
Road,
Movie
caters
to
a
very,
very,
very,
very
tiny
section
of
movie-going
audience,
who
have
an
appetite
for
'festival
films'.
Vishnu
[Abhay
Deol],
a
restless
young
man,
itches
to
escape
his
father's
faltering
hair
oil
business.
An
old
truck
beckons,
which
Vishnu
sees
as
his
ticket
to
freedom.
As
he
sets
off
across
the
harsh
terrain
of
desert
India,
he
discovers
he's
not
merely
transporting
a
battered
vehicle,
but
an
old
touring
cinema.
Along
the
way,
Vishnu
reluctantly
picks
up
a
young
runaway
[Mohammed
Faizal
Usmani],
a
wandering
old
entertainer
[Satish
Kaushik]
and
a
gypsy
woman
[Tannishtha
Chatterjee].
Together
they
roam
in
the
barren
land,
searching
for
water
and
an
elusive
fair.
The
journey
turns
dire
when
they
are
waylaid
by
corrupt
cops
and
a
notorious
water
lord.
Road,
Movie
starts
off
very
well,
but
loses
focus
midway.
Abhay's
interaction
with
the
kid
and
also
Satish
Kaushik
is
thoroughly
enjoyable.
But
as
the
story
unfolds,
the
movie
loses
its
grip
and
starts
going
in
circles.
The
plot
works
till
Abhay
and
Satish
screen
the
movie
for
the
cop,
but
the
portions
thereafter
aren't
engaging,
except
for
a
sequence
or
two
in
between.
The
portions
depicting
the
fair
leaves
you
confused.
Was
it
for
real
or
a
dream
sequence?
Also,
the
sequence
with
the
water
mafia
[Yashpal
Sharma]
is
absurd.
This
sequence
-
when
Abhay
trades
off
water
for
hair
oil
-
doesn't
gel
well
with
the
mood
of
the
film.
Even
the
romantic
track
between
Abhay
and
Tannishtha
looks
far
from
convincing.
The
finale
too
lacks
clarity
and
the
remix
version
of
'Tel
Maalish'
is
hardly
there.
Director
Dev
Benegal
seems
to
have
concentrated
more
on
visuals
than
narrating
a
gripping
story.
Frankly,
the
story
is
so
fragile
that
it's
difficult
to
hold
your
attention
in
those
90
odd
minutes.
The
screenplay
is
bland
and
what
makes
it
worse
is
the
fact
that
the
plot
unravels
at
a
lethargic
pace.
Dialogues
are
well
worded
at
places.
Abhay
Deol
is
a
complete
natural
and
this
film
proves
it
yet
again.
Satish
Kaushik
is
first-rate.
Mohammed
Faizal
Usmani
impresses.
Tannishtha
Chatterjee
does
well.
Yashpal
Sharma
is
wasted.
Virendra
Saxena
is
efficient.
On
the
whole,
Road,
Movie
is
more
for
the
festival
circuit
and
some
connoisseurs
of
art
house
cinema,
who
may
savour
it.
That's
about
it!
Directed
by
-
Dev
Benegal
Starring
-
Abhay
Deol,
Satish
Kaushik,
Tannishtha
Chatterjee,
Mohammed
Faisal
Usmani