Review of “24”
I am not very fond of watching TV
first because of my professional commitments & secondly because of the
content shown on Indian TV. Though I am an Indian to the core but when you
compare the serials, soap operas etc on TV channels like Star World, AXN, Fox
you don’t find it difficult to make your choice.
I am not against the so called
SAAS-BAHU serials but they lack in storyline, content by virtue of which
younger generation fails to connect with them. I am sure, the majority of the
audience of the Saas-Bahu sagas are our preceding generations (our moms, dadis,
aunties, etc). When I heard about 24 produced by Anil Kapoor and directed by
Abhinay Deo(Delhi Belly Fame), I thought to watch it .
It started with a bang and from
the very first episode had an impact on audience . I always felt, while
watching 24 that my heart started beating
faster purely because of the thrill it offered. I could not take my eyes off
the TV because of it being an edge of the seat thriller.
Though it was an adaptation of
famous American series by the same name which was also hit but its storyline
was adapted to Indian political system (loosely based on a political family)
beautifully. The depiction of life of Jai Singh Rathore, The ATU Chief,
intertwined with all the characters was excellently shown. All the characters
right from Anil Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Mandira Bedi, Neil Bhoopalam, etc played
their parts as if they were tailor made for them.
A political thriller based on the
happenings in the life of an ATU chief who is torn between loyalty for his
family and his country and the would be PM of India in 24 hours. Each episode
showing one hour in their lives. The plot was gripping and riveted. Each
character was in a sort of problem and it seemed that it was the most difficult
day of their lives which when we came to the end of the show find indeed it
was.
Storyline
It started with Jai celebrating
his wife’s b’day suddenly got a call
from Anti Terrorist Unit, of which he is the chief, that India’s would be PM
Aditya Singhania’s(Neil Bhoopalam) life is in danger. Aditya is surrounded by
his mother Naina Singhania(Anita Raaj) an ambitious politician herself, Divya
Singhania(Shivani Tanksale) a caring sister, Divya’s Husband Vikrant
Maurya(Rahul Singh) and Prithvi Singhania(Raghav Chanana) his cousin. As he has
to leave for office midway of his family’s get together, his daughter
Kiran(Sapna Pabbi), angry with him, leaves
for a late night party where she was kidnapped by the same people wanted
to kill Aditya. His wife(Tisca Chopra) trying to trace her daughter falls in
the trap too and got abducted by the same terrorists. The terrorists tries to
blackmail Jai that in return of his family, he has to assassinate Aditya. As
the plot unfolds, Jai rescues his family and kills the terrorist. But this is
not the end. He was removed as ATU chief and framed in a case of making an
attempt on the life of PM. Aditya came to know and meets him. Jai was
reinstated as ATU chief and then came to know that Aditya’s press secretary
Pooja(Pooja Ruparel) is involved with LTFE’s terrorist Bala(Ravindran’s son).
She ,in an emotional state, stabbed Bala after knowing his reality. Jai again
lost a clue. Jai knows that it has something to do with his mission in Sri Lanka
which ended in death of LTFE’s chief Ravindran. In the meantime, Jai’s son Veer
also got kidnapped by terrorists.
In a press conference, Prithvi
shows a proof implicating his mother in the murder of a journalist. Jai , after
getting a clue, reaches an unknown place where he came to know that LTFE’s
chief Ravindran has been kept there in a high security prison. The terrorists
managed to rescue Ravindran and he blackmails Jai to make him talk to Aditya on
phone. Meanwhile, escaped from a life threat, Jai’s wife suffers a stroke and
in hospital. As Jai passes the mobile to Aditya when Ravindran calls him, he
discovers that it is a bomb. Jai again manages to save Aditya Singhania and
plays a game by which Aditya Singhania is declared dead in the blast. Aditya
came to know about Vikrant’s involvement in his assassination attempt and questions
him. Their conversation changes to altercation and takes an ugly turn resulting
Vikrant pointing a gun on Aditya. Divya Singhania shoots Vikrant, her husband,
to save her brother i.e Aditya Singhania. Meanwhile Jai successfully rescues
his son Veer from Ravindran’s clutches and kills Ravindran. Jai takes his phone
and on checking its messages, he came to know that somebody closer to Aditya is
involved in this plot. In the last episode, Naina Singhania organizes a press
conference for Aditya. Jai discovers that another attempt on Aditya’s life will
be made. He , with the help of Nikita and Ravindran’s phone unrevealed the
secret behind this whole plot and the person responsible for it. Its none other
than Aditya’s sister Divya who wanted to end his life to become PM.
In
terms of performances, Anil Kapoor is simply brilliant as Jai Rathore. Tisca
Chopra , as his wife, acted beautifully as a protective mother and a wife
trying to save her marriage. Mandira Bedi(Ex- girlfriend and Second in command
of Jai in ATU) fitted in the role of Nikita Rai as hand in glove. Anita Raaj as
Aditya’s mother (after a long time came on screen) is superb, Divya as his
sister, Prithvi, Vikrant all acted very well. ATU staff be it Mihir, Tejpal or
Gill all were very good. Terrorists like Ravindran’s leutinant Raja and Yakub
were simply brilliant. But Neil Bhoopalam as Aditya Singhania was a revelation.
He seemed like young Indian PM in every way. He has a long way to go. Well done
Neil.
Overall, I’ll give 4.5/5 to “24”
because of its tight script, star cast, acting, presentation. Definitely it has paved the way for different kind of
audience which likes to watch closer to the life stories on TV. And those who
missed it, I strongly recommend them to watch it on YouTube. Waiting
for another series. Eagerly.
Thanx
Bhupinder
