SIDDHARTH THE PRISONER
OF BEIGN IN PRISON FOR NO REASON
by Vishal Verma

A Walkwater Media & Alliance Media & Entertainment Pvt.Ltd. film in association with Vistaaar Religare Film Fund Presentation of Moviescrop Production. Produced by Pryas Gupta, Rohan Gupta & Sandeep Hooda. Story and Direction - Pryas Gupta. Screenplay - Pryas Gupta, Anadi. Genre: Parallel. Target Audience: festive goers, students & niche.

Starring
Rajat Kapoor - Siddharth Roy
Sachin Nayak - Mohan
Praddip Sagar - Amin Bhai
Pradip Kabra - Aseem
Gulab C. Soni - Krishna
Geeta Panchal - Maid
Ava Mukherjee - Old Woman
Ramesh Rai - Atul Bhai
Deepak Dadhwal - Lawyer
Krish Bhatia - Young Boy
Radhika – Geeta

Technical Analysis
Jury members of the APSA 2008 (won the best picture) & OSIAN CINEFAN 2008 ( Rajat Kapoor won the best actor) should be detained for passing this judgment.

The helmer Pryas Gupta just could not narrate his own story based on the ancient text of the Rig Veda - the theme of renunciation (of desire) as the true path to enlightenment and freedom, Pryas in his prayas actually rubs the philosophy & gives an immensely tedious film.  

Even the noble intention to pass on the message of Buddha & the Rig Veda could not save this confused project. How can anyone earn the best actor’s price for sleepwalking in the whole movie without saying much is a mystery which Ramuji, Vikram Bhatt sahib & all the current Ramsay & Hitchcock of Bollywood put together cannot solve.

Theoretically, the helmer had the potential of churning a decent dark comedy, but fails in the process and adds spirituality to it unreasonably that waters down the whole process.
The only possible plus point which comes out from this so called ‘parallel’ attempt is the lense work of Mrinal Desai.

The picture gets one point out of five only for Cinematography.

The Story
Just released from prison (why was he jailed only God knows) ,Siddharth Roy (Rajat Kapoor), a once famous writer, completes a new manuscript. He re-engages with the outside world, hoping that the new book will restore his reputation and also reconcile him with his estranged wife, Maya. Fate has other plans for Roy, when his briefcase gets exchanged at a cyber café with a  similar briefcase containing a large sum of money. Roy looses the only copy of his new manuscript, while Mohan (Sachin Nayak), the cyber café manager, comes under pressure from mob bosses to recover the lost money.
In the midst of growing despair about the lost manuscript, Roy is reconciled with his three year old son through a scheming housemaid. Unable to find happiness in the money he has found, Roy begins to desire the custody of his son. Meanwhile the pressure mounts on Mohan as he looses his job and is forced to go into hiding from the mob. He must find Roy and money at any cost.

Promotion
It has already done rounds of festivals and surprisingly won accolades at APSA & OSIAN CINEFAN. Which may bring some select audience at plexes.

Business Analysis
Neither for the masses or classes, Siddhart The Prisoner will die an untimely death at the B.O. cause every movie is made for making some money.

Other Credits
Executive Producers - Abeer Gupta, Pryas Gupta. Cinematography : Mrinal Desai. Dialogues - Pryas Gupta, Hitesh Kewalya, Anadi

Music - Sagar Desai. Art Direction - Dipali Kane, Abeer Gupta. Sound Recordist - Anita Kushwaha. Sound Editing - Boby John. Editing - Pryas Gupta. Media Promotion: Spice. Reviewed at Famous Preview Theatre on February 26, 2009. Running Time: 90 min. (approx).

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