Deepal Shaw shows promise -Kalyug

Cast: Kunal Khemu, Smilie Suri, Deepal Shaw, Emraan Hashmi
Director: Mohit Suri
Rating: * * *

The recent news item about a honeymooning couple's clandestinely shot video finding its way into the po*n market is used as the base of Mohit Suri's Kalyug. Taking inspiration from 8 mm, the film then follows the furious protagonist as he enters the den of vice to find out who wrecked his life. Though Kunal (child actor Kunal Khemu grown up) and his wife (Smilie Suri) are victims, they are accused of selling blue films — the torture and humiliation in prison causes the wife to commit suicide.

Kunal goes to Zurich where he enlists the help of po*n shop owner Ali (Emraan Hashmi) to try and reach the kingpin —who happens to be Indian media baron Simi (Amrita Singh, impressive). Of course Suri makes the search and the quest for revenge very easy. He also does not try to exploit the shock value of his subject too much — the fear of censors could have been the cause.

The subject is dark, but Suri's treatment goes for the thrill rather than the sex element. Pity that Deepal Shaw as a po*n star forced into the trade comes in too late, she has a powerful role and a strong screen presence. For Bollywood, Kalyug is an unusual and novel subject, and with its clever use of reality (the flashback of the Deepal Shaw character brings up the Gujarat earthquake), the post interval portion makes for fairly interesting viewing.