Having made action filled Hindi films like ‘Ghajini’& Holiday’ in the past, popular tamil film director AR Murugadoss is back with his new Hindi film ‘Akira’, which is also remake of a tamil film ‘Mouna Guru’ released in 2011. Like his previous films, ‘Akira’ is also filled with action; but is more focussed on leading actress Sonakshi Sinha, who plays a memorable role, which is also worth considering her for next years popular awards.
The story of the film revoles around Akira, who hails from a small town in Jodhpur. She shows her bold and daring attitude right from her childhood. Her mute father admits her to a training school of martial arts, to make her more stronger. But, when Akira teaches a lesson to a criminal, she is sent to children’s remand home. When she returns, she is already 18. Her mother takes her to Akira’s elder brother’s place in Mumbai, as her father is no more. In Mumbai, Akira acquires admission to an educational institute, as well as in their hostel. Over here, she gets trapped into an fateful incidence and is arrested by the Police, due to mistaken identity . Akira and two others are taken at an unknown place by three police officers, on the advice of their senior, for fake encounter. The team of these police officers have their own story, running parallel in the screenplay. Akira escapes, but is rearrested by Police, proving her mentally unstable.
The young lady fights back, to prove herself normal. A pregnant lady police officer who is posted to the same police station of the four officers involved in fake encounter, investigates the case. But, we find not so convincing climax, which fails to inspire the audience. The writer director takes you into the era of 80s and 90s, only to show how the police department works under the pressure of politicians. They have also shown the characters of Akira and Konkona Sen helpless in the concluding part. But, this film belongs to Sonakshi Sinha, who has worked very hard not only to display her emotions, but also her quick reflexes in action scenes. For her, this is the most memorable role out of the 13 films she has performed in lead roles.
There is no hero as such, in the film, but good support comes from Konkona Sen, Anurag kashyap, Nandu Madhav , Uday Sabnis, Lokesh Gupte, Smita Jaykar and others. Atul Kulkarni has very little to do in this film, in the role of Akira’s father, during her childhood. Music does not find scope in this film, but Cinematography by R. D. Rajasekhar is good. The film has turned out to be a typical action filled south film. Overall direction of AR Murugadoss is fine, except for the disappointing end.
Rating (***)