Pull the trigger and shoot 'em! Enter the world of pistol popping hoodlums in this desi take on Reservoir Dogs but with a little more depth of a story than the original. But make no bones, this one definitely owes its very existence to Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992), which provided a shot in the arm to the gangster film genre and put Tarantino on the maverick map.



In the vein of SUNSET BOULEVARD and AMERICAN BEAUTY, the film begins with the voice-over of a dead man narrating the story. The tautly shot opening prison sequence gives us a glimpse in the lives of Major (Bachchan), Ajju (Dutt), Mac (Gaurav), Marc (Shetty), Balli (Manjrekar) and Mac (Ali). Each has a cross to bear. Major needs to make big bucks for his dying wife, Mac has to prove to his estranged wife that he is not a loser and so goes the story.

So Major draws up an elaborate plan to loot a bank, but the bank heist goes wrong for the thieves, resulting in a descent setting in. Tempers run riot as the six discuss the possibility of there being a traitor amongst them. Style is king here, but often sacrificed for content. Using deft camera movements, long shoots and granny lighting, director Sanjay Gupta shifts between the preparations for the ill-fated heist and its bloody aftermath. The non-choreographical manner often makes the story confusing. The fatal flaw, however is the script (or the lack of it). If Gupta's story and screenplay had been better fleshed out, maybe one would empathise with the characters.

Moreover Gupta takes his look-at-me visual dexterity too seriously. Also,what was that bit about Columbians having cartels and Italians running the mafia? Is that enough reason for a group of Indians to rob an American bank? Mahesh Manjrekar waiting to make himself halka and Sanjay Dutt talking about his "Baburao" and condom are a bit off-colour too. Milap Jhaveri's dialogue is crisp and witty, but sometimes downright vulgar.

The lighting and cinematography by Kurt Brabee is particularly effective and a highlight for a Bollywood flick. Sanjay Dutt personifies the wry gangster with dollops of humour. Mahesh Manjrekar, despite hamming outrageously manages to gain our affection. Amitabh Bachchan, as always effortlessly moves from agony to affection to anger, showing us one more time who's the big daddy among the boys. Amidst the asinine carnival of films, the off-kilter Kaante is worth a visit. Caveat: the squeamish should stay at home. This one does not shy from blood and guts violence nor cuts any shots on the swearing. Overall a good movie that's different (apart from it being a copy) and one worth a salty popcorn price.

Rasika Iyer