Nakshatra Review – No chance of survival

Sometimes, interesting ideas go haywire due to amateurish and inept writing. Nakshatra is a glaring example of this statement. The film may've sounded like a perfect thriller on paper, but what unfolds on screen leaves you cold. There are gaping holes in the screenplay, which remain wide open till the end.

Carelessly scripted Nakshatra suffers because the writer takes the viewer for granted. Besides, if you're attempting a suspense thriller - which Nakshatra is - the identity of the culprit should catch you by complete surprise, when the mask is taken off. But the villain's identity can be guessed midway through the film, which only goes to prove how fragile the written material is.

When an opportunity to write a script for a movie comes to Ajay (Shubh), an aspiring screen writer, he is thrilled, more by the thought of finally being able to prove himself to Jiya (Sabina Sheema), the girl he loves. A robbery being the main theme of the plot, Ajay works hard at getting the script right. Just when everything seems perfect, Ajay is arrested for a crime he hasn't committed.

Sharad (Anupam Kher), a family friend, promises to bail him out as soon as possible. But the mystery deepens when a spate of murders start taking place.

Like I pointed out at the outset, the screenplay leaves a number of questions unanswered. The most vital question being, how and when did the burglary (of the necklace) take place? Besides, the convenience with which Shubh cracks the code startles you. Also, the (casual) manner in which Sabina Sheema hacks government sites is bizarre. The murders that occur simultaneously are equally perplexing. Also, there's an incident of the hero being kidnapped by a comic don, which was meant to evoke laughter. Sorry, it doesn't!

There's very little director Mohan Savalkar can do since he's handicapped by a sketchy screenplay. The music is equally uninspiring (ideally, Nakshatra should've been a songless film). The sole silver lining is the chase sequence, which is expertly executed.

Shubh Mukherjee shows ample improvement over his debut film Aasma. Sabina Sheema seems confident. Milind Soman is stereotypical, while Anupam Kher is wasted. Suhas Khandke and Mahru, as Sabina's parents, are passable.

On the whole, Nakshatra has no chances whatsoever.

Director: Mohan Savalkar
Cast: Shubh, Sabina Sheema, Milind Soman, Anupam Kher, Rozza Catalano, Anant Jog, Gajendra Chauhan