It’s a raw deal

Nonika Singh

In a time when a whole lot of us, Bollywood very much included, are wearing jingoism as a badge of honour up our sleeves let it be said that Romeo Akbar Walter does not scream patriotism in loud tones. It sure is about dedicating your life for the nation. Only the voice is muted, even understated as it tells us the story of a patriot, in short an undercover agent, who you guessed it—goes by three different names. 

The setting is the same as Raazi, the background is 1971 when India Pakistan clashed and Bangladesh was born. And yes, like Raazi it does not demonise Pakistan or its countrymen. Wars, tells us the head of RAW Srikant (Jackie Shroff), are won by information. And to get information we need spies. So, Romeo Ali (John Abraham) is disguised as Akbar and sent to Pakistan- occupied Kashmir from where he is conveniently patronised by a Pakistani arms supplier. The relationship he builds with Pakistani nationals is reminiscent of the warm ties of Raazi as well.  

Only unlike the Alia Bhatt-starrer where we had many ‘heart in the mouth’ moments, here the pace is so placid that it could put you to sleep. There is little tension or biting edge and that for an espionage film is a real downer. Even when it attempts to whip up the adrenalin rush, the tropes are familiar.

The last minute glitches, which could blow our agent’s cover, are by now so regular and passé. What is different here is that there is no unwarranted action, again both a plus and a minus. Romance too is fleeting, only Mouni Roy is wasted. Though in the second half the director does try to pad up her part and gives her some meat, yet in the end she is almost inconsequential to the storyline and the film.

Shroff as RAW chief, however, is impressive and so is Sikander Kher as Pakistani army officer with a peculiar accent. Detailing too is on the mark and the climax throws in a decent surprise. But how, where and why did it all transpire, as a viewer you find it impossible to connect the dots. For a film that actually doesn’t take your intelligence for granted, then has to hand held you and take you back in time to make you privy to what was going on in the writer-director’s mind.

Abraham’s impassive face too doesn’t give away much, neither to his adversaries whom he hoodwinks time and again, nor to the viewers who remain untouched by his peerless sacrifice. There is emotion, however, in Shroff’s voice as he says in the end, ‘He chose motherland over mother’. Sadly the precious thought of how there are so many unsung heroes working tirelessly and selflessly for no reward or award seeps in far too late. By that time our cover to enthuse enthusiasm is blown. Check it out if all shades of patriotism work for you.

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