Desperate, rain, Mirzia..Bollywood somehow loves to launch its kids on horses. Abhishek Kapoor’s Azad The latest addition to the list is where Ajay Devgan’s nephew Aman Devgan and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani get a chance to take up horse riding because of their lineage.
In the drama set in feudal India, the horse becomes the protagonist, leaving newcomers in supporting roles. It beats them both in terms of screen presence and emotional appeal.
Another rule of this launch drive is to surround the newcomer with a strong supporting cast. Ajay, in an extended cameo, adds some weight and Piyush Mishra chews the scenery, but, somehow, the drama doesn’t take off.
There is a special kind of honesty and warmth in Abhishek’s films. One can feel it in the build-up and dialogues that set the ball rolling for a Lagaan-like experience. The desire of the landlords to dress and speak like the British promises a new discovery of the times. The weakening of a stable boy’s spirit (Aman) to ride the majestic beast sets the stage for a test of intelligence and courage.
Azad (Hindi)
director: Abhishek Kapoor
mold: Aman Devgan, Rasha Thadani, Ajay Devgan, Piyush Mishra, Mohit Malik, Diana Penty
run-time: 145 minutes
Story: When circumstances bring together a stable boy and a magnificent horse, it creates turmoil at the estate of the local zamindar and his colonial masters.
There are some heartening moments, such as when Azad struggles to deal with grief, but the film abandons ambition and sticks to the tried and tested. The dacoit-insurgent discourse has taken over, and the idea of greedy landlords serving the interests of colonial masters has failed to take hold. So too is the forbidden romance between the rich and the poor and the loyalty of an animal to its master. The predicted layers come together to form a thread eaten by the moth.
If the youth had brought something else to the table besides buckets of enthusiasm they might have caused an uproar. They feel as if they have arrived for a big budget fancy dress competition. Mohit Malik is better suited for this kind of high-pitched drama, but then another rule says that the influence of any other young actor on children should not be seen in the film.
Country slang comes and goes, and the frenetic dance activities don’t fit into the sepia-toned 1920s. Impressive Azad is perfect for Ajay. They are both larger than life. When circumstances bring Aakash and Azad together, the pace slows down. As Amaan fails to hide the body double, one feels sorry for Azad as the proceedings turn false.
Azad is currently running in theaters
published – January 18, 2025 04:29 PM IST
