Eklavya - The Royal Guard

Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Boman Irani

Vidhu Vinod Chopra returns to direction with Eklavya after a hiatus of seven years. He deals with a story of relationships, love, greed and betrayal. It is a tale about following one’s dharma, However, Chopra adds a progressive thought to the concept of dharma.

Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan) is a royal guard whose generations have for years looked after the security of the royal family. However, apart from guarding the blue-blooded people, Eklavya also guards a secret. He is the father of prince Harshvardhan (Saif Ali Khan). Since the king could not impregnate his wife Suhasini Devi (Sharmila Tagore), it fell upon the royal guard to do the needful so that the family got an heir to the empire. Because of this, the king hates Eklavya and plots to murder him. Instead the king is brutally killed. Dejected, that he couldn’t protect the king, Eklavya now takes upon himself to nab the killers.

Although the film is based on an entirely original plot, and that Chopra has chosen an original backdrop to unfold his story, one must say his screenplay along with writer Abhijit Joshi is not up to the mark. They fail miserably in weaving an interesting drama around a thin plot. The film’s major revelation in the early reels is the biggest mistake. What’s more, both, Eklavya and Harshvardhan know this fact, although the former is unaware that the latter knows it. Besides, the pace of the film is so slow that even the 1 hour 45 minutes seems long.

Emotions absolutely fail to touch the heart. Comedy is missing. Dialogue is ordinary. However, cinematography is splendid. Sets are magnificent. The haunting score is apt.

Amitabh Bachchan does a fine job. It is around him the whole drama is woven. Interestingly, Mr. Bachchan isn’t given too many dialogues in the film. His eyes are particularly very expressive. Saif Ali Khan is average in the role of a prince. He looks disinterested. Vidya Balan is wasted. There is absolutely no scope for her. Sanjay Dutt plays to the hilt in a special appearance. Boman Irani is miscast. Sharmila Tagore has no role to perform. Jackie Shroff overacts. Jimmy Shergil, Raima Sen and rest of the cast lends adequate support.

On the whole, Eklavya will be acclaimed critically but its chances at the box-office are shaky.