Ram Gopal Varma: Stop

How did it happen? There must be some explanation. Anyone who could make Satya cannot be a bad director. And yet, in the last few years, Ramu has been delivering dud after dud. I hadn’t had the opportunity of watching his magnum opus but the movie has been panned so badly that I don’t expect any surprises. Sarkar Raaj left me underwhelmed–there are only so many closeups and violent camera movements can one tolerate in a movie. Also, the script has gaping holes and Ramu’s habit of building every shot as a ‘’scene” is irritating. He doesn’t seem to direct a movie anymore but puts together a collage of shots.

But I had some hopes from Contract. Ramu was returning to familiar territory–Mumbai underworld–which he has managed to capture on screen better than any of his contemporaries.

After 30 minutes of Contract, I gave up. Its not just bad–its terrible. It almost seems like a spoof of his own gang war movies. So you like a nagging wife? Here it is! But Shefali Chaya’s character in Satya made sense because it told a story; it helped our understanding of the main protagonist–Bhiku Mahatre. In Contract, on the other hand, it is placed just for effects.Similar is the case of encounter cop. Remember the guy in Satya? He was awesome!

The script is completely nonsensical; acting competent to childish; background music jarring; and it is more predictable than Karan Johar’s last. Or latest. That is a damning indictment because Ramu above all always had the ability to surprise his viewers. Even when they knew what was coming.

Now the only reason you might be surprised is when you realize this C grade revenge drama–a throw back to the eighties–has been allegedly helmed by Ramu!

The man should take a break before he completely destroys his own legacy.