Zed Plus

After the admirable Dekh Tamasha Dekh, Zed Plus - directed by Dr CP Dwivedi (Chanakya, Pinjar)-is another largely uncompromised and well-crafted example this year. What works in its favour is the primary thread of an ordinary man in an extraordinary situation.

Zed Plus may not be perfect but it doesn't insult your intelligence like most Friday fare.

It's worth a watch for the intent, the unique story, powerhouse performances and bits of genuine humour. After all, who doesn't like a biting parody, even if you wish it were sharper.

Zed Plus isn't a bad film and it's a light hearted move over the off repeated b-town regular potboilers but we expected some depth and cinematic statement from the talented Chandra Prakash Dwivedi's comeback after the brilliant 'Pinjar'.

The film does manage to raise chuckles and has its moments, but the deliberate exaggeration for repeated comic effect ends up making the assorted characters into caricatures. Things are in-your-face and nothing is left to the audience's imagination.

The subject matter could have been interesting but it is mired in tedious, very boring, rural and regional cliches that audiences have already seen, so many times.

You are in for a treat if you forgive the rather silly premise. Writers Ramkumar Singh and Chandra Prakash Dwivedi have created a vivid picture of a vibrant village society, where everyone knows each other inside out. The film was shot entirely on location in Mandawa, a heritage village near Jaipur and hence the milieu feels authentic. The look of the actors too is real and not the uber villager get up that we see in big budget masala entertainers. The dialogue hit home with their earthy humour. It was nice to hear idioms after a long, long time in films.

The film isn't bad, it is definitely not unwatchable- but with actors like Adil Hussain, KK Raina playing key roles, one hoped to be awestruck or overwhelmed. Sadly, 'Zed Plus' doesn't leave you with any such feeling.

On the whole, Zed Plus is a political satire which is well-made and which has some truly fine performances but as far as its commercial prospects are concerned, they are almost nil because the film will find appreciation among a very thin minority, referred to as the high gentry audience in a handful of big cities only.

"Zed Plus" isn't a frighteningly boring or stupid movie; it has its moments and most actors manage to effectively carry their roles. But the film is marred by a conspicuous absence of logic at crucial points. It remains, till the end, just marginally more engaging than your average Bollywood flick.

'Zed Plus' is a highly engaging attempt at socio-political satire with humour laden benefits all along the route. The script has its sublime moments. Unfortunately the plotting is not altogether believable.

Cut from the same cloth from which films like Well Done Abba and Welcome To Sajjanpur were stitched, Zed Plus warms the cockles of the heart with its simplicity and integrity, ingredients that are fast disappearing from our cinescape. Far from the gloss and fakery of larger-than-life stories which rely on flying kicks and superheroes living next door, director Chandraprakash Diwvedi creates a scenario rooted in socio-political reality and gives it a satirical treatment.