Surprise,
surprise,
surprise!
Sometimes,
the
expectations
from
a
movie
are
zilch,
but
what
unfolds
on
screen
is
beyond
expectations.
It
surprises
you,
to
put
it
simply.
On
face-value,
Bolo
Raam
looks
like
it's
straight
out
of
1970s
cinema.
A
movie
with
predictability
written
all
over
it.
A
movie
that
carries
zero
hype
and
matches
it
with
zero
content.
But
Bolo
Raam
isn't
archaic,
isn't
the
usual
masala,
isn't
zero
content.
A
remake
of
the
Tamil
film
RAAM
[2005;
starring
Jeeva,
Saranya,
Rehman,
Murali],
Bolo
Raam
has
an
interesting
plot
with
an
engaging
screenplay
that
compels
you
to
look
at
the
screen
for
most
parts
of
the
movie.
But,
of
course,
there're
hiccups.
A
few
non-actors
and
a
done
to
death
climax
could've
been
avoided.
Raam
[Rishi
Bhutani]
is
charged
with
the
murder
of
his
mother
Archana
[Padmini
Kolhapure].
Raam
falls
into
a
state
of
shock,
brief
psychotic
disorder,
after
his
mother's
death
and
becomes
silent,
refusing
to
talk
or
react
in
any
manner.
The
investigating
officer,
Indrajeet
Singh
Rathi
[Om
Puri]
is
puzzled
and
unable
to
make
Raam
speak.
He
consults
a
psychiatrist,
Dr.
Negi
[Naseeruddin
Shah],
to
determine
the
cause
of
Raam's
state
of
mind
and
the
reason
for
his
silence.
Rathi
interrogates
various
personalities
for
the
case,
questioning
Raam.
Every
possible
motive
that
Raam
might
have
for
murdering
his
mother
is
explored.
Furthermore,
Raam's
neighbours,
Sub-Inspector
Sajid
Khan's
[Govind
Namdev]
daughter
Juhi
[Disha
Pandey]
and
son
Sameer
[Krishan
Khatra],
are
summoned
by
Rathi
for
interrogation.
Will
his
silence
solve
the
puzzle?
Without
wasting
any
time,
Bolo
Raam
takes
off
from
its
opening
titles
itself.
The
story
goes
back
and
forth,
several
new
characters
are
introduced,
but
the
narrative
stays
faithful
to
the
main
plot.
The
best
is
reserved
for
the
second
half.
Layer
after
layer
is
peeled
with
expertise.
The
viewer
is
keen
to
know
the
identity
of
the
killer
and
that's
when
the
film
fumbles
and
tumbles.
The
culprit's
track
is
sloppy
and
a
major
put
off.
In
fact,
the
circumstances
that
lead
to
the
murder
are
quite
amateurish
and
look
far
from
convincing.
Surely,
the
writer
could've
thought
of
a
better
culmination.
Also,
the
one-sided
love
affair
is
functional.
Debutante
director
Rakesh
Chaturvedi
'Om'
makes
a
confident
debut,
although
he
should've
cast
some
better
actors
for
key
roles.
There's
not
much
scope
for
music
[Sachin
Gupta]
in
the
film
and
hence,
just
one
song
merits
mention
-
'Maa
Tere
Jaisa'.
The
background
score
[Sanjay
Chowdhury]
deserves
special
mention.
Newcomer
Rishi
Bhutani
does
a
commendable
job.
He
oozes
confidence,
despite
sharing
the
same
frame
with
accomplished
actors.
Om
Puri
gets
into
the
skin
of
his
character
and
is
impressive,
while
Padmini
Kolhapure
is
a
pleasure
to
watch
after
a
long
gap.
She
is
beautifully
restrained.
Naseeruddin
Shah
has
a
brief
role
and
the
veteran
does
it
well.
Govind
Namdev
is
very
good.
Rajpal
Yadav
is
wasted.
Both
Disha
Pandey
and
Krishan
Khatra
are
non-actors.
Manoj
Pahwa
does
his
usual
act.
On
the
whole,
Bolo
Raam
has
decent
merits
[hence
those
2
stars],
but
the
problem
is
its
wrong
release
timing.
It
won't
stand
a
chance
in
front
of
a
hurricane
called
3
Idiots.