Movie Review: Special 26
Special 26Starring: Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Music Director: M.M. Kreem
After the brilliant A Wednesday,
expectations were high from Neeraj
Pandey. But the good news is that he doesn’t disappoint and
delivers yet another sparkler, this one inspired by a chain of
real life incidents that took place in India in the early 80s.
Special 26 is about a group of conmen, led by Ajay Singh (Akshay Kumar) who, posing as CBI men, raid the rich and famous and make off with loads of black money stacked in their homes. The twist in the tale comes when the real CBI gets wind of this and sends the honest and no-nonsense Waseem Khan (Manoj Bajpayee) on their trail. Thereafter begins a gripping cat and mouse game.
The only sore point in this intelligently written, racy thriller is the romantic track between Akshay and Kajal Aggarwal. Silly and superfluous, it only serves to impede the pace of the proceedings. The songs, too, are redundant and could easily have been done without, though Mujh Mein Tu is a nice number.
The crackling script and consummate performances by the ensemble cast are the high points of the movie. Shorn of all starry trappings and morphing into an authentic character, Akshay Kumar is a revelation. This surely is his most restrained act yet. Anupam Kher and Manoj Bajpayee, as usual, are in total command. So are Jimmy Shergill and Divya Dutta. Kajal Aggarwal doesn’t have much to do, except smile every now and then!
Bobby Singh’s cinematography is splendid and captures the India of the 80s wonderfully.
Highly recommended, Special 26 is special indeed!
TOP 10 SONGS
1. Lat Lag Gayee (Race2)
2. Mujh Mein Tu (Special 26)
3. Fevicol Se (Dabangg 2)
4. Jiya Lage Na (Talaash)
5. O Radha (Student of the Year)
6. Bezubaan (Any Body Can Dance)
7. Aashiyan (Barfi !)
8. Inkaar (Inkaar)
9. Oye Boy Charlie (Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola)
10. Crazy Lover (Akaash Vani)
TOP 10 MOVIES
1. Race2
2. Special 26
3. Vishwaroopam
4. ABCD – Any Body Can Dance 3D
5. Jab Tak Hai Jaan
6. Dabangg2
7. Talaash
8. Raaz 3
9. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola
10. Inkaar
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