Rann is Ram Gopal Varma’s best film since Sarkar. It’s an interesting film that delves into the machinations of news channels. That the film stars known faces is an added bonus.

The story of Rann is inspired from Irving Wallace’s novel The Almighty. Purab (Ritesh) is an aspiring journalist married to Nandita (Gul Panag). Incorruptible journalist and channel head, Harshvardhan Malik (Amitabh Bachchan) is his mentor. Jay Malik (Sudeep) is his go-getter of a son who is living in with Yasmin (Neetu Chandra) and in-charge of his father’s media empire. Nalini (Suchitra) plays the COO of the same channel. Anant Trivedi (Rajpal Yadav) is a presenter who loves to dramatize everything. Jay wants to squash competition, headed by Amrish Kakkar (Mohnish Behl). He takes the help of his industrialist brother-in-law Navin (Rajat Kapoor) and neta Mohan Pandey (Paresh Rawal) to ruthlessly take his news channel straight to the top. Purab smells something amiss and sets out in search of the truth.

RGV pokes fun at the tamasha that news channels are and the variety entertainment programmes they churn out in the name of news. When the competition is ruthless, news channels will create news just to stay afloat. Rann depicts the deterioration of journalistic ethics and how the medium of television is being misused by powerful people just because they have a market; just because people cannot identify the difference between real news and fabricated news, that they will buy anything as long as it is packaged well. News is just another commodity and it is adulterated and exaggerated to make it sell. The film also exposes the nexus between the media and the politicians, how everything is PR-driven today and how corrupt and selfish politicians are.

There are several memorable moments in the film, like the one where Ritesh reveals the truth to Amitabh, the way he grills Paresh Rawal and others. However, some things are unexplained. The character of Paresh Rawal’s mother is not explained. We assume she doesn’t approve of her son’s ways. Paresh has a dangerous looking right-hand-man who you think will rise to the occasion in the end but he doesn’t get his due.

Rann is technically slick. Amit Roy’s camera captures grey is the dominant colour but there are splashes of vibrant hues as well. The focus on the female anatomy is thankfully reduced. The music and angry lyrics will make no sense to you (if you listen to the album) but it fits in seamlessly with the narrative of the film. The humour is well-placed and appropriate and the dialogues are sharp. The film is riveting, intriguing and interesting, moving at a steady pace. You have to pay attention from start to finish for understanding the numerous characters and developments.

The performances in Rann are impressive. Everybody knows that Mr. Bachchan is an effortless, sincere and versatile actor who pulls off any character. It is a given that his performance in Rann is stellar. Two scenes stand out in particular: the scene where he senses everything is too good to be true. He conveys his resignation beautifully through his eyes, followed by a tired smile and his monologue in the end is seeped in emotion.

Sudeep is quite a find. He looks like Ritesh Deshmukh and Jaaved Jaaferi and has a mean, druggy vibe, yet there is something likable about him. With his tall and lean frame and wheatish complexion, he looks like Bachchan’s son. His performance is flawless and natural and he holds his own opposite Mr. Bachchan. One minute he is smooth and confident and the next, he is vulnerable and defeated. He will stick around in Bollywood.

Ritesh Deshmukh has few dialogues in the film and he is wonderfully restrained. This suits his character of an investigative journalist. He holds his own opposite Mr. Bachchan and proves he is more than a comic talent. As the opportunistic salesman of a TV head, Mohnish Behl is energetic from his first scene. He is back on screen after ages and you can see he is enjoying every minute. He should be inundated with offers now.

Neetu Chandra sticks out like a sore thumb. She is a Muslim but doesn’t look like one at all. More often than not, she is pouring out of her clothes and her acting is pathetic, the worst we have seen in a while. Gul Panag doesn’t have much to do but is natural and looks fresh and pretty. Simone Singh and Nina Kulkarni (as Mrs. Malik) are aptly cast. Rajat Kapoor is natural looks the part of a dashing, smooth-talking, unscrupulous and high-flying businessman. He smirks throughout the film as Paresh Rawal delivers his implausible speeches. Paresh Rawal makes you loathe his greedy, quintessential neta character. It has been a while since we saw him in a good film and in a role worthy of his talent. Suchitra Krishnamoorthy is sufficiently deceptive and her chic, functional wardrobe deserves a special mention. Rajpal Yadav is truly entertaining for a change, as opposed to do the silly roles he has done in slapstick comedies. He provides comic relief and you identify with his character as that is how several TV presenters are.

Rann is a well-made film for people who like to watch serious, meaningful films. RGV is in his element after a long time and finally delivers an engrossing film. Watching it would be time and money well spent.

Janhvi Patel / Hill Road Media