99: Off the 100 Mark! review

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99 is the fresh cinematic innings attempted by Raj Nidimoru in partnership with Krishna DK. Seldom do we come across a Bollywood flick that is playful with its narrative and this one falls in this bracket of exceptions. The thin line between fiction and reality, between reel life and real life is overtly pronounced in the start itself when the screen sprouts the words- "This is a true story. Well, most of it is true. Ok, some of it is true. At least we think that it is true."

The extensive shots of Sachin (Kunal Khemu) against the vibrant backdrop of Mumbai's Gothic architecture rolling the credits coupled with a great background score sets the right line and length for this comedy flick. The variation in the narrative from the present to freeze frames accompanied with voiceover is an innovative welcome into the film. The voiceover also indulges in some foreshadowing and introduces characters with an interesting angle especially his side kick Zaramud (Cyrus Broacha). And if you thought that the cricketing language in this review is the IPL hangover; let me confess my inspiration from the movie itself that weaves in the cricketing tongue into its very script; thus keeping the parallel between the pitch and real life alive all through.

The innings alternating between Mumbai and Delhi keeps sending in one crook after another to the crease. In the midst of this maddening scoring of the big bucks, two love tracks are thrown in, which charm the audience with its realistic touch if nothing else. Pooja (Soha Ali Khan) is not this sweet girl next door besotted by her charming lover but a floor manager who harbours equally ambitious plans as Sachin. What's more? She makes no qualms about it and towards the end, chooses to stick around with her job rather than leaping into the lap of her lover who is still devoid of any status or fame.

Jahnavi (Simone Singh) is the stereotypical, sweet wife of Rahul (Boman Irani) who is caught between the web of loving and forgiving her husband who is addicted to betting. Their apparently mundane telephonic conversations may not be great scripting material but definitely hits high on the scoreboard of reality.

So far so good! 99 strikes as a reliable team with players like the inimitable Boman Irani, the stylish Vinod Khanna, the homespun Mahesh Manjrekar, humorous Cyrus Broacha and the cute Kunal Khemu So where does this inning start losing its run rate one might ask?

An action packed match is the one where the running between the wickets is lightning quick and where the boundaries wield a punch. Similarly, a cop-and-crook story told for the hundredth (or should I say ninety-ninth) time should have some pace in its narrative and few twists in the plot that are knocked off with the right timing and vigour. Also, a thriller of a match is unfurled when each star player gets his due overs to face. When key actors like Khanna, Manjrekar and Broacha are sidelined; the responsibility to take the team through falls heavily on the tender shoulders of young Khemu and Irani. Although these two hold the audience's heart for most part, they come across as mere flash in the pan in the event of the film as a whole falling apart with its lack of pace and interesting plot.

With the T-20 mania high in people's hearts and minds, cricket betting was an interesting pitch to play out your best shots. Unfortunately, lack of clever camera work and shot variations fail to bring out the tension and excitement of the cricket fever. With a bunch of characters making this comedy of errors move forward; the confusion reaches a crescendo but fails to hit the right note.

The impressive opening progressively dwindles and wears out towards the end. The makers need to take a time out and re organize their strategies for future endeavours. The ingredients were not exactly lukewarm but unlike the protagonist, the film fails to hit the coveted century!