Kisaan - Movie Review

Cast: Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Jackie Shroff, Dia Mirza, Nauheed Cyrusi, Romeo, Dalip Tahil, Sharat Saxena, Vishwajeet Pradhan

Director: Puneet Sira

Producer: Sohail Khan

Rating: **
 
At a time when Bollywood is talking of experiments in storyline and formats of filmmaking, ‘Kisaan’ plunged right back into the 50s and 60s when films focusing on the farmers’ plights were the order of the day. ‘Kisaan’ has a newer angle to it – special economic zones (SEZ) but the bottom line is the same battle of shrewd modern minds of the industrial sector against the ‘sons of the soil’.  
 
‘Kisaan’ appears a low-budget, larger than life fare, shot completely in farms and rural areas, including the songs. It is a story of a father Dayal Singh (Jackie Shroff) and his two sons Jigar and Aman played by Sohail and Arbaaz Khan respectively. The father sends his elder child Aman to study in the city so that he is capable of making better decisions when he grows up. Years later, as his son grows up, an industrialist Soham Seth (Dalip Tahil) tries to acquire all the land in the village for his business expansion. Aman, who has conveniently studied law, interferes to save his village. Hence Soham decides to divide the family.
 
It is not a landmark piece of writing in anyway, considering there is nothing new. The dialogues go with the rural scene. ‘Kisaan’ is by no means a stylish representation. It is meant to be rustic and it is so. However, in the process, the film almost looks amateurish. The music is forgettable.
 
The film takes the age-old formula of son gone wrong coming back to the family fold and then overcoming the evil together. It has enough hand to hand action and emotional scenes to make it quite a watch for the small town audiences.
 
The film has some good performances to look out for. Jackie Shroff is delightful as a Sardar and a father. This is probably one his best performances in recent times. It has been quite some time since he actually did a decent role. Dia Mirza too gets one of her better roles. Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan do well as the angry young men.
 
Overall, ‘Kisaan’ is not the weekend movie you would like to go out and watch at a multiplex paying Rs 150. But it is entertaining enough for the DVD.