Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpai, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Amrita Rao

Direction: Prakash Jha

Duration: 153 Mins

Rating:* * 1/2

Cine delights based on politico-bureaucratic highhandedness leading to a social turmoil had always been a triggering point for our cine theorists to come up with one or the other cine concepts.

There are very few cine-man who have succeeded in fetching a repute of being master of the genre, but if we talk about Prakash Jha then he certainly an exception.

If we go by the cine journey of, Jha so far then most of the times he has succeeded in picking up a socially relevant issue and has always succeeded in erecting a structure with a potency to knock up the conscious of the masses.

Very much in consonance with his legacy Prakash has once again tried to manifest the home-truths of existing in politico-bureaucratic system plagued by the corruption.

And keeping in view the current social unrest prevailing in India, there wouldn't have been a better time to release this politico-social cine tale. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai and Amrita, "Satyagrah" which was rumored to be inspired from the "Lokpal movement" of, Anna Hazare opened with an occupancy of 17 % at the multiplexes.


Jha who so far had always picked up the themes which are socially germane, after exhibiting his cine prowess with movies "Gangajal", "Aarakshan" and "Chakrvyuh", has now chosen a theme which owns a huge social relevance especially in current scenario.

"Satyagraha is a sort of coming together of people from diverse background where, a senile teacher Dwarka Anand (Amitabh Bachchan), an ambitious business tycoon Manav Raghvendra (Ajay Devgn), a high profile political journalist, Yasmeen Khan (Kareena Kapoor Khan), a local leader Arjun (Arjun Rampal) et al, unite together to curb the prevailing malpractices in politico-bureaucratic system, in order to make it more transparent and masses friendly.

Probably no one can deny that there wouldn't have been a more appropriate theme that, Jha, could have picked to tailor his swiping cine idea.

When "Satyagraha" went on floor a debate about it's being something pertaining to, Anna Hazare's "Lokpal movement" also took off, but those associated with the movie constantly refused the buzz and tagged it as an "apprehensive rumor" surrounding the movie, because of the nature of it's theme. But truly speaking up-till an extent it is.

Although Jha has tried to blend ample amount of fiction with the facts, but even that effort of Prakash looks more of an inspired take adopted from some of the real life incidents which shook the entire nation at some point of time.

Certainly the script that Prakash has knitted along with his "Chakravyuh", "Aarakshan" and "Raajneeti" co-writer, Anjum Rajbali, has got ample potency to tickle the conscious of the masses, but it nowhere leaves you enthralled with a never seen before kinda feel.


When it comes to movie making then it's always difficult to not to be judgmental or decisive, but as far as Jha's, "Satyagraha" is concerned then it's narration nowhere tries to encroach your political banking or beleif and just serves the "said-unsaid truths" of political aisles on the salver called celluloid and leaves rest to discretion of the masses to make their perceptions.

Undoubtedly "Satygraha" has got a narration with which every Indian could relate to, but the intensity of the script somewhere diminishes the impact which could have been great otherwise.

There are numerous episodes in the movie which have got a thorough resemblance to some of the real-life happenings, but the manner in which they are knitted by Jha and Rajbali is surely praiseworthy. So in nutshell script of "Satyagraha" is a good blend of facts and fiction.

Well there is no denying the fact that, when you are dealing with something close to real life of masses then your responsibility as an executor increases tremendously, and Jha is one such man who has always remained well apprised with fact and and most of the times has succeeded in proving his adroitness.

Flow of narration in the first half which settles the foundation stone for the upcoming proceedings is top rated, although after seeing so many mass-revolution movies you will not feel it to be something new, but it keeps you captivated within the charm of onscreen dealings.

Whereas contrary to this, second half becomes a bit melodramatic momentarily, but it's OK till the time you have your pop-corn pouch full. The only drawback which I guess many of you may find in "Satyagraha" is that, despite dealing with one of the most realistic and relevant topics of the hour, Jha uptil an extent fails in inculcating the intensity, which could have done miracles for this otherwise entertaining cine tale.


While working with his own "tried and trusted" band of actors comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpai and Arjun Rampal, Jha always seems to be playing on his home turf, and this time again he has quite conveniently succeeded in extracting best out of his protagonists.

Be it emotional expressiveness or onscreen camaraderie, everything seems to be falling on place for, Prakash in, Satyagraha. And yeah how can one overlook Jha's ability to paint a sub-urban India on celluloid, even on that front he has not left anything to the "will of the fate" and has got everything designed according to the taste of the movie.

Besides the intensity of onscreen proceedings in the socio-political cine delights, the thing that matters is it's "rhetoric strength", so on that "Satyagraha up-till an extent passes the litmus test and leaves an impact on masses who are die heart fans of Prakash Jha's socially awakening movies.

Cinematography of Sachin Krishn who owns a thorough expertise in dealing with offbeat cinema has once again been as good as it had been for "Chakravyuh." But unfortunately same could not be ingeminated about the editing of Santosh Mandal which had been sluggish up-till an extent.


Well as far as performances are concerned then before getting in to the individual details "Kudos for the entire star-cast of Satyagraha for being at their best."

Starting with Amitabh Bachchan, the iconic star of Bollywood has once again looked to be in his best acting raiment. Be it emotional expressiveness or his onscreen bonding with his fellow stars Big B has not only succeeded in doing a thorough justice to his character, but had also raised the bar drastically.

After "Himmatwala", it had been a home coming of a sort for Ajay, who not only proved his mettle as a sinewy performer, but also performs his part with utmost excellence. In somewhat a novel avatar Kareena seemed to be in her comfort zone and performs her part effortlessly.

Manoj who had now become a regular in Jha's panel, to play a vicious ruffian again performs his character of Balram Singh with firm control and aplomb. Arjun with every passing cine flick of Jha (of which he had been part), seems to be heading towards the league of a seasoned actors.

Besides this even rest of the supporting cast comprising Indraneil Sengupta, Vipin Sharma, Girish Sahdev very well supplements the leading league of antagonists in order to leave an impressive impact.


Made at an approximate budget of 50 Crore, this taunting swipe of Jha, which is up-till an extent inspired from the current state of affair prevailing in India, has got all the condiments to shake the conscious of the masses, but unfortunately due to that "lack of emotional intensity" which we are habitual of seeing in the cine chronicles based on social revolutions, it could end up being an average BO grosser.

To sum up, decorated with some of the marvelous performances a genuinely appealing script, Satyagraha no where tries to encroach your socio-political belief and banking, and could have been a path breaking success due to it's socially relevant content, but up-till some extent it fails in being so. In nut shell, Satyagraha would have been great, had it taken a different path!