Here is one more
gangster movie from
the genre of Satya,
Vaastav and
Chhal. But
the maker looks
at the whole business
of gang wars and
police encounters
from an entirely
fresh angle, and
that is, a police
officer's humane
and conscientious
approach to a killing
at his own hands.
ENCOUNTER
- the killing, is
written and directed
by Ajay Phansekar,
a new name in Hindi
cinema. Having been
through the happenings
on the screen leaves
one quite upset,
provided one is
sensitive enough
to the issues raised
by the film-maker.
The
strength of the
movie is Naseeruddin
Shah, who plays
the conscientious
cop, inspectorBarucha.
The other actor
who achieves the
height of histrionics
is Shah's wife Ratna
Pathak doing the
same role on the
screen.
Ajay
observes all the
encomiums for the
courage of conviction
and the power of
communication that
his work develops
during the unfolding
of the shocking
drama of Encounter.
His medium of
narration is a TV
reporter (Tara Deshpande).
She has done a perfect
job of paparazzi.
Ajay catches the
reaction of other
characters who get
irritated by Kiran
Jayawant's intrusive
camera and mike
outfit in a very
effective manner.
Tara seems to know
how these things
happen. Though she
is not part of the
main plot, here
is a key hole in
the film.
The
theme of the film
is very contemporary
and strongly relevant
to the society.
A man, highly respected
in society as a
law-abiding, successful
professional person,
tries pathetically
to conceal the fact
that his eldest
son was a member
of the underworld
or at least a small-time
goon.
The
boy is killed in
an encounter when
as part of a gang
three boys start
firing at the chasing
police team led
by inspector Barucha
in a desperate bid
to escape from the
clutches of law.
Later, two of the
bodies are claimed
by relatives, but
nobody comes forward
to take away the
remaining one.
Barucha
cannot bear the
thought of the boy's
body being disposed
of as unclaimed.
The boy seems to
be from a good family
and he has a feeling
that his parents
must be around somewhere
and it is his duty
to inform them in
time so that they
can cremate his
body in a proper
way. He does not
want to face situation
when it may be discovered
after cremation
by the police that
the dead man's parents
are alive and that
they are demanding
the body of their
dear one.
The
rest of the story
is the inspector's
desperate search
for the real parents.
He seeks more time
from the judge for
doing the job and
chases a liquor
joint's owner who
claims knowledge
of his quarry. Ponappa's
is a very interesting,
unusual character
and is executed
with lot of life.
His contribution
to the building
up of suspense is
very valuable and
leads to a touching,
conscience-rocking
end.
