EMRAAN Hashmi is back with his trademark brand of sensational cinema accompanied by a practical storyline. With witty dialogue and some decent performances, Raja Natwarlal enthralls the audience – but only in parts.
Plot
Raja (Hashmi) and Raghav (Tijori) are partners in crime who hustle their way through city life. During a crime, Raghav is murdered and Raja’s life takes a critical turn as he seeks revenge.
On his journey, he meets up with Yogi (Paresh Rawal), a renowned con artist. Forming a team, Raja and Yogi work together to pull off one massive con that will bring all of the perpetrators’ riches and reputation to the ground.
Verdict
Raja Natwarlal falls short of being an emotional entertainer through its laborious pace and the largely menacing villains. The script has a few loopholes which restrict this film from going beyond a one-time-watch.
The scenes in the second half when the cat-and-mouse game ensues introduce a turnaround with some interesting consequences. Since the movie is set against the backdrop of Mumbai, there are overdoses of urbanisation which offer a vibrant feel to the film. The movie ends on an unconventional note.
Among the cast members, Hashmi and Malik light up the screen with their earnest portrayals. Hashmi yet again plays a character for which he seems to have developed a niche, and does full justice yet again.
Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon have substantial parts and are impressive.
The musical score by Yuvan Shankar Raja is melodic but does not make a lasting impact.
Recommendation
Even though the movie falls short of being a complete entertainer, it is worth a watch for the positives outlined.
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