The welcome trend of new concept based experimental movies continues with “404” directed by Prawaal Raman of ‘Darna Mana Hai’, ‘Darna Zaroori Hai’ and ‘Gayab’ fame. Striking back with a similar kind of movie based on an abnormal subject, the director takes one step ahead of his previous works since 404 is not the usual, over the top ghost movie made in the typical Indian horror style. In fact this is neither a complete horror movie nor an exciting suspense thriller capable of bringing the viewer on to the edge of his seat.
In real terms, 404 is an intelligent move, no doubt, which is also both directed and acted pretty well. But the problem is that the film keeps on hanging between the different genres of horror, thriller and suspense/mystery movies and in the end fails to satisfy any particular section of viewers on the whole. Another problem from the business point of view is that there are not many takers of such thoughtful, slow paced, logical type of movies which don’t have much to offer to the audiences in the name of entertainment.
Without giving you the real mystery plot of the film, I would only like to reveal that it’s a script largely talking about Ragging in a Medical College and its cruel consequences. The basic plot revolves around a suicide committed by a student of the college in the past after being brutally ragged by his seniors. The room where he had committed the suicide has the number 404 and from that day onwards it has been kept locked, declared as Haunted. A new student asks special permission to stay in that room, which in turn starts the real game in the movie involving all its lead characters.
But unfortunately the outcome on the screen is not that interesting as it may seem to be after reading the plot given above. The twists and turns do shake you a bit at regular intervals but the pace is extremely slow and the interesting things actually happen only towards the climax. As a result, at times the film becomes quite heavy and intolerable. In other words it can appeal to only a tiny section of the viewers who are used to seeing such kind of World Cinema, particularly the movies made around some psycho characters.
Another big flaw of the script is that it is not at all possible to continue such kind of secret and controversial projects within the campus by a hugely famous renowned, responsible professor and that too without the knowledge and consent of the College’s Dean. Further, I found one particular scene of the film completely unacceptable where the Professor proves his theory by using his living medium in front of a large audience. The scene felt like a silly psychic show where a living human person was being used as a lab instrument in front of all learned and well experienced achievers of their fields, showing no objection to such insane practice.
But coming to the better things in the movie, it has some superlative performances by both Nishikant Kamat as the professor and Rajvvir Aroraa as his fresh student. Where Rajvvir impresses you with his silent and expressive language, Nishikant bowls you over with his powerful portrayal of a tough character, particularly in his last scene of the movie. And those who may not know, he is same director who gave us films such as Dombivli Fast and Mumbai Meri Jaan. In fact with this performance he readily proves that he knows the medium much better than many more in the field.
Imaad Shah is eye catching and cool. But I wonder why he chose to give music and lyrics in a project which is not going to have any of his songs in the film itself. He is a gifted musician and as a logical start, should have given music in a film which at least had few of his own songs in the movie. Anyway as an actor he has got great potential and he should positively do some regular work in the industry suiting his unique personality. Tisca Chopra gives another fabulous performance as usual. But Satish Kaushik has nothing new to offer in his comic type of role. The remaining cast is fine but I really didn’t find the seniors shown in the movie actually looking like the seniors of a medical college. The film has been shot on a lower format but still the cinematography is great, with good use of lighting, matching the horror cum suspense theme of the movie.
But in all, it’s not a film which would get an appreciation from majority of its viewers. It’s only for the people who are used to such kind of thoughtful and intellectual movies. So go for it, only if you consider yourself one of them.
Ratings : 2.5 / 5
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