| Corrupted
superstar and disloyal husband Sameer Khan (Ajay) is living life to the full.
He was
once a young, ambitious stage-actor known as Ashfaque, whose determined struggle
pays off when he gets a break into Hindi movies. Instant
box office fame gives him a new name but amid all the adulation and applause,
he slowly loses his identity. Corruption
takes over, alienating him from all his loved ones and his wife Sneha (Vidya).
It is
not long before Sameer gets a rude awakening when he witnesses a murder. This
incident provokes his conscious to testify in court and bring the culprits to
justice. Director
Rajkumar Santoshi's supposedly hard-hitting flick reminds you of his previous
releases, Damini and Ghayal. With
nothing new to offer, Halla Bol concentrates on good triumphing over evil. This
story also features a corrupt politician, whose son is accused of the murder.
And
when Sameer couldn't be bought, his life is put in danger by the politician, leading
to one man's fight against the whole system. Having
said this, the film does feature some power-packed performances by the lead stars.
Ajay
Devgan gives an award-winning performance, effectively expressing Sameer's emotions
through his eyes. Vidya
Balan as the vulnerable and frightened wife, Sneha, impresses in some scenes,
although she is mostly relegated to the sidelines. Darshan
Dariwal convincingly plays the corrupt politician you would love to hate.
Meanwhile, Pankaj Kapoor (as a reformed dacoit Sidhu bringing about an awakening
in the masses) catches your eye with his superb acting. A true Bollywood veteran
to the core! On
the whole Halla Bol (meaning raise your voice) portrays an underlying social message,
but will the audiences listen? Only
the box office can answer this question in days to come.
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Reviewed
by Manish Gajjar
91Èȱ¬
Bollywood Correspondent 
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