Despite its multiple flaws, Rustom can be watched for Akshay Kumar, whose action/comic brilliance often overshadows his acting prowess. He reminds you to value the honest officers who serve our country with dignity and valour. He makes you want to support the man who probably did the right thing the wrong way. Akshay proved yet again he can play range of diverse roles with brilliance. Rustom was based on real life story of K.M Nanavati who killed her wife's lover and was one of the most sensational court cases in India. Rustom has its flaws, but was overshadowed by Akshay's performance. With good soundtrack and brilliant acting, Rustom is one of the best movies of Akshay Kumar. I go with 3.5/5 for 'Rustom'.

It's been a while since I saw a Bollywood movie & that was primarily due to a dearth of trailers that caught my fancy. However, this Friday we have two big starrer movies lined up with the producers hoping to cash in on the long weekend. With the Olympics in full swing & the new season of EPL kicking off, it is a matter of what the audience want to spent their time on. Anywaz I found the time to check out "Rustom" which was inspired from the Nanavati murder case that had caught the fancy of the public in 1959. But will the movie reap similar results???

Just a decade into Independence & India was finding its feet in the new world order. Our defense forces were making steady strides through the efforts of dedicated officers with Commander Rustom Pavri (Akshay Kumar) being one among them. Rustom was a decorated naval officer who led a happy married life with his wife, Cynthia (Ileana D'Cruz). His duty required him to be away from home for months together which provided the fodder for his friend, Vikram Makhija (Arjun Bajwa); a playboy businessman to work his charm on Cynthia. Eventually he managed to swoon her which Rustom discovers in due time that leaves him distraughted. Seeking a closure to his pain, Rustom kills Vikram & surrenders to the police. What subsequently followed was the drama which unfolded at the courtroom that left the judicial system bewildered.

Based on the Nanawati murder case, even to the point of naming characters which sounds quite similar to the real ones; there was absolutely no excuse for the director Tinu Suresh Desai to mess it up. The actual event had all the ingredients of a potboiler but it seemed the writer Vipul K Rawal had other ideas. His plan to include a sub-plot barely provided an impetus to the movie but also diluted the main thread. Hardly anything happens in the first half as Tinu takes his sweet time to set the ball in motion while the second half also doesnt quite arrest the attention of the audience. Apart from the trite screenplay, even the whole watching experience wasnt gratifying as it looked extremely artificial thanks to the mediocre art direction, makeup & visuals by Santhosh Thundiyil. The music done by a host of individuals fails to leave its impression & also proved to be undesirable appendages.

In recent times, Akshay has made conscious efforts to juggle with a variety of genres & kudos to him for that. Even as Rustom, Akshay has given a decent performance as he seemed an ideal choice as the officer but somehow the emotional aspect of the character doesnt get displayed for some odd reason. Pawan Malhotra has done a fine job as the investigating officer while Kumud Mishra was wasted in a comic relief role & lacked the impact that the real character had on Nanavati's release.

Verdict: Since the movie is based on a real life event, there is definitely a certain deal of curiosity which the makers would hope to cash in. There are a couple of factors which could work in its favour such as the relatively lower budget, long weekend & patriotic fervor due to Independence day. It will be able to recover its investment but making a sizable profit seems like a long shot. In short, the basic thread had the content but the makers made a mess of it!!!

Rating: 2.25/5

Regards...Ben

Very poor direction and writing. I was thinking that it would be a serious movie but the whole movie appears as a comedy show and the court scenes developed the comic scenes.. some unnecessary scenes are added for the #deshprem purpose. If you are a movie buff you better watch a comedy movie again..

Vipul Rawal gave us the excellent sports drama (Iqbal) in the last decade, and this time around tries his luck by fictionalising a sensational incident into a crime drama. However, the cardboard representation his director provides causes the film to look appealing without a strong foundation.



Rustom Pavri (Kumar) is a highly decorated and patriotic Indian Naval officer who returns home from an assignment one day only to learn that his pretty wife Cynthia (D'cruz) has been going out with an acquaintance, automobile mogul and playboy Vikram (Bajwa). Already stressed with the unethical goings-on in the Navy, Rustom plans a plan to kill Vikram, on the grounds of something more than just the good old adultery. The story is basically a courtroom drama which begins gathering moss only in the second half when Rustom decides to play both the victim and the advocate.



Rustom is the protagonist here, much like Devgn's character in Drishyam. I compare these two films mainly because of the problem I had with them: they challenge the code of self-righteousness. While in the 2015 film, Devgn's character tries to cover up a murder his wife and daughter committed, here Rustom tries to cover up his own crime just because he wants to hit two birds with a single stone. 30 minutes into the film, Rustom surrenders at the nearest police station and confesses about his crime.



Deviating from the primary problem, Rustom mainly relies on the effervescent glamour of the post-Independence era (60s) and strives too hard not make any anachronistic mistakes. While the effort is lauded, it does come out as cardboard at times. The plot is too basic, and becomes predictable after a while, giving out thoughts that one has seen these cinematic elements before. So, is the whole recipe a mixture of popular crime and mystery stories? You can say that, but it does have the backing of a real-life story that I am told shocked the nation.



Kumar is compellingly fabulous with his role as a Naval officer. He keeps his cool throughout the film and reminds us how good an actor he is after just having marvelously played the role of a homosexual in Dishoom (2016). D'cruz is gorgeous in her air, but is mostly seen sobbing or staring deadpan at her co-stars. Gupta and Bajwa both do a fine job among other cast members. Overall, appropriate casting helps the film.



BOTTOM LINE: Tinu Desai's Rustom may not be a shocking and novel tale, but it's at least not boring considering that it's a rehash of all those crime mysteries we have seen in Bollywood. Wait for DVD and then rent it.



Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES