Irada has its heart in the right place. Having picked up a subject that talks of environmental hazards, debutant director Aparnaa Singh’s conscientious streak shows. Her film that is being marketed as an eco-thriller (whatever!) draws inspiration from Hollywood thriller Erin Brockovich (2000).However, unlike the Hollywood film that managed to raise a red flag warning us of how pharmaceutical companies are playing with innocent lives, Irada barely scratches the surface.
The film's attempt to educate the audience on the perils of chemical contamination, reverse boring and groundwater pollution that is a harsh reality around urban townships is half-baked.
Actually the film’s failing is it’s amateur writing and execution. You can see that the maker is crushed under the weight of the material chosen. The treatment also yo-yos. On the one hand, you feel anguish when Naseer loses his daughter and when the ``cancer train’’ is brought on board to convey the enormity of the crisis looming over us. But on the other hand, the film leaves you stone-cold because of the consistencies in the character sketches and screenplay. While Naseeruddin and Arshad are perfect, the villain Paddy F Sharma (Sharad Kelkar) and his partner-in-crime, CM, Ramandeep Braitch(Divya Dutta) are absolute caricatures.
( 2.5 / 5 )