BAAZAAR review: Good in parts, but not in its entirety.

The thing with a film like “Baazaar” is that it has style and at times seems nice, but every now and then something happens which gets you a bit off track. There is something in this film, and for the most part we are left with hope. But, as the film moves closer to the climax, there is one thought ringing in your head: Even though this film does have a certain element of grip, it could have been so much more.

Lets get to the plot. Rizwan Ahmed’s (Rohan Mehra) dream to make it big in the city! Shakun Kothari (Saif Ali Khan), a dubious figure in the ever-exciting world of share market sharks, is Rizwans inspiration. After successfully maneuvering a couple of sticky situations, the idol and the ambitious protégé set out on a path of deceits, quick dollars (or rupees) and cheating lovers. That right there is an interesting plot. Thankfully, the screenplay moves fast. The film starts out nice and the characters are properly set up and the stakes are well established. We get connected to Rizwan right away. Even the character of Shakun seems real and well defined.

But then the faults begin. What starts off as a realistic film about ambition and greed, set in the world of the stock market, ends up leaning towards melodrama and unnecessary ingredients. Some twists are nice, while some feel forced. Songs could have been placed better, and we start getting a few filmi dialogues that don’t go with the feel of the movie. Things get a bit convoluted and we end up getting slightly disconnected by the flow. It’s as if, while the film was getting made, the directed felt he needed to add more “masala” to spice things up. How I wish they just focused on a better written screenplay with believable situations.

On the technical front, the film gets it right. From the cinematography, to the lighting, to the background score, to the sound design, to the editing, everything works in favor up the film. The film gets a thumbs up for that. In the acting front as well, everyone is competent. Rohan Mehra shows promise. Saif Ali Khan is wonderful with what he is given to do. Radhika Apte seems a bit out of place from a script perspective, but she does her job well.

Overall “Baazaar” is a film that tries to show us a different world (The stock market), but ultimately doesn’t quite make it. It has its share of moments, and truly a lot of effort went into making this film, but that is not enough.

Rating: 3 out of 5.