Review by Faisal Saif, Mumbai: Director Prakash Jha had earlier given Touching, Hard hitting and some well made and explained Sensitive Films, Chakravyuh, unfortunately, is not one of those films.

The story, inspired by actual news stories from the past two years (As claimed by Prakash Jha in his interviews), seems interesting. Adil Khan (Arjun Rampal), a highly-ranked police officer, is transferred to Nandighat, after a band of Naxalites led by the charismatic Rajan (Manoj Bajpayee) massacres 84 policemen.

Adil Khan is soon convinced by his childhood friend Kabir (Abhay Deol), a short tempered idealist, to send him into the forest to join the Naxalites as his secret informer. This reminded me of Martin Scorsese's The Departed and Al Pacino's Donnie Brasco. Kabir's ability to intercept police communications impresses Rajan as well as his comrade Juhi (Anjali Patil), and they soon accept him as one of their own. The backdrop of this entire story is a familiar controversy, involving a corporation called Mahanta Steel.

Chakravyuh does get a few things straight. Some performances, such as those by Manoj Bajpayee and Anjali Patil, are really good. Arjun Rampal goes a little over board this time. Abhay Deol is convincing as much as he could. Esha Gupta plays another officer who is not convincing at all. Om Puri is another Naxalite leader and is amazing.

The proceeding of the film is little slow. The character's has their own self introductions in the film. The camera work is good. But this is a film of few performances.

To cut the review short, There are better films to watch.

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee, Abhay Deol, Esha Gupta, Anjali Patil and Om Puri.

Directed By: Prakash Jha.

Ratings:  *  *