'Batla House' Review (3.5/5): John Abraham’s class act lifts this gripping tribute to police officers

10 years after Batla House encounter, John Abraham and Nikkhil vani bring on screen controversial and political event on screen. case still has t got its closure and answer to 'was it real or fake?' is t clear yet. Does this aptation resolve this 10-year mystery? Re furr.

• Director: Nikkhil vani
• Screenplay: Ritesh Shah
• Cast: John Abraham, Mrunal Thakur, Ravi Kishan, ra Fatehi, Manish Chaudhari, Rajesh Sharma and ors 
• Genre: Action, Thriller
• Date releasing: August 15, 2019
• CBFC rating: U/A
• Duration: 146 minutes 
• Reviewer Rating: 3.5/5

Setting scene 

Blasts have ravd Delhi, killing 30 in September 2008. A few days later, based on an investigation, Delhi Police Special Cell decide to raid a flat at Batla House where alleged terrorists are hiding. However, things don't go as per plan as two alleged terrorists get killed in encounter, two escape and one is arrested, while one police officer also loses his life.  

Plot 

'Batla House' traces story of ACP Sanjay Kumar (John Abraham), who hes investigation team that conducts operation, resulting in encounter. However, residents of area, media and politicians term it as a fake encounter of 'incent students'. Kumar, who is alrey facing a troubled time with wife (Mrunal Thakur), t just is attacked with allegations in a media trial, a departmental inquiry for fiasco, but also suffers a mental breakdown over deaths, including of his colleague (Ravi Kishan). His rollercoaster journey, strategising  way to get hold of one of escaped terrorists, proving aunticity of incident to his seniors, ministers and towards end, to court, while battling his own demons, forms rest of story. 

Verdict

re is a t a single dull moment in 'Batla House'; movie is gripping from word 'go' till end, and credit goes to direction and editing. 

It goes without saying, 'Batla House' rests on bro shoulders of John Abraham and he uplifts it with a stupendous performance. From portrayal of his troubled equation with wife, hallucination scenes, investigation of terrorists with verses from Quran, or beating up accused,  actor nails role to T. It won’t come as a surprise if he is finally houred with an award, after a string of patriotic roles. 

supporting cast is outstanding too. roles of police officers and terrorists are all played convincingly. From supporting cast, Ravi Kishan impresses even in his brief role, Manish Chaudhari never quite gets its wrong. 

Mrunal Thakur and ra Fatehi don’t have much to do, but y do ir job fairly well. Rajesh Sharma as overconfident lawyer is one of highlights. 

writing by Ritesh Shah, kwn for movies like ‘Pink’ and ‘Raid’, deserves a special mention. Dialogues do justice to story, though it might seem heavy at places. 

action sequences are extraordinary and entire sequence of John chasing one of terrorists, right till point he fails to catch him, is marvellous.  picturisation of sequences d to build-up, though movie isn’t much about action, but more about what happens after encounter. 

background music is brilliant as it mans to keep tempo high throughout movie. songs, two of m, do justice to plot and ra’s ‘Saaki Saaki’ act will be something that’d draw audiences to atres. 

On flip side, John’s equation with his wife might seem as deviating from plot for some, while hallucination scenes might have mixed reactions. mologue towards end might seem too preachy. Some sequences like scene in Nepal was out of blue and more focus could’ve been given to facts that brought Special Cell to Batla House. reason why Kumar and Co waited one year to go to UP to nab accused was t justified. Like ‘Talwar’, Batla House tries to present various versions of incident, but this one does take a side.  

However, overall, 'Batla House' is an impressive action thriller, aided by impressive performances and fine direction, that gives a fitting tribute to police officers. 

What works: Direction, performances, action sequences 

What doesn’t: Could’ve been crisper and more detailed