Despite an intriguing plot, Chehre tests one’s patience

Mona

A mock trial or call it a ‘surgical strike’ to avenge the judgements that couldn’t deliver justice, Rumy Jafry’s Chehre sure has an intriguing plot. A confident CEO ends up in a lonely haveli where a retired judge, a prosecuting and a defence counsel play a game in the evenings to pass time. Sameer Mehra (Emraan Hashmi) willingly becomes a part of the game.

While the first half sets the tone, it’s during the second half the story picks up its pace, barring a rather long speech by Lateef Zaidi (Amitabh Bachchan) on how the judicial system has been failing to deliver justice.

The comparisons with the Nirbhaya case, acid attack victims for reference to surgical strikes; the monologue takes one’s interest away from the original plot. But then post this ‘case’, this story finds a new lease of life and its writer Ranjit Kapoor redeems himself to some extent. One thing for sure, if you like your intrigue drama fast-paced, this is not for you. One needs patience for this plot to unfold. What certainly works is the sound design by Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty. The lightning, the thunderstorms transport one to the mysterious setting. This quaint town, located some 270 km from Delhi, comes as a jarring blunder.

The actors play their part effortlessly. One marvels at Senior Bachchan, who in his late seventies has a spring in his step and delivers long shots with cadence and expressions right in place. Annu Kapoor, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Raghubir Yadav shine in the brief moments they get on screen. Krystle D’Souza looks stunning, doing justice to the seductress part well. Rhea Chakraborty as Anna disappoints. Emraan Hashmi as Sameer Mehra delivers in bits and parts.

All the premises of creative liberty apart, the story and its execution in 2 hours and 20 minutes becomes predictable and falters at times, losing its audience.