Terrorism is a global issue and varied film-makers across the globe continue to make movies/documentaries/short films that expose the ghastly face and effects of terrorism. Apoorva Lakhia charters that path as well in MISSION ISTAANBUL.

One journalist from Aaj Tak along with a commando from Turkey combine to wipe off terrorism. No government support. Just these two guys on a mission to rid the world of terrorists and their activities. At least in Turkey and India. Whooa!! Welcome to a ‘reality show’ on cinema. Thank you Mr Lakhia for this wonderful ‘believable’ story.

It so happens that Vikas Sagar (Zayed Khan) is a talented TV journalist, he has the scoops and he even interviews terrorists in their den. He gets an offer from a television channel in Turkey (Al Johaara). These guys are so deep in their networking that they keep getting bytes from an Osama look-alike. In short, they go where no television journalists can reach. Rizwan (Vivek Oberoi) is a Turkish Commando who has lost his wife and daughter in a bomb blast and he wants to rid the country of terrorists. He follows Zayed and then lets him know that Al Johaara is nothing but a front for terrorist activities; that the channel is run by terrorists themselves. And they now want to set up office in India.

Then begins the battle to wipe off their data, download it on a pen drive (I don’t know what capacity it had) because I’m sure the data on the server will be too huge to be downloaded on a pen drive, release a virus and then kill them (terrorists) off one by one. Any journalist wanting to leave the channel is bumped off and his image hung in the ‘Hall Of Martyrs’ by the head honcho Ghazni (Nikitin Dheer) who explains that they died on duty!

MISSION ISTAANBUL unravels at a feverish pace and that’s most important for a thriller. The story travels from India to Turkey to Afghanistan to Turkey again, in the very first hour. The characters are well-established, the script is laced with incidents that seem straight out of newspapers. Coupled with Lakhia’s execution, top notch cinematography and stylish action, the film begins to grow as reel after reel unspools.

But, alas, the film goes for a toss in the second hour. Things actually stagnate as the two heroes turn into super-heroes and combat an army of villains on land, sea and air. By the way, they don’t get bruised even once! Lakhia and writer Suresh Nair seem to have substituted action for content and that’s the most glaring flaw. In fact, you feel that Lakhia and Nair must’ve decided to go on a vacation in the second hour, entrusting the responsibility on the stunt directors to conclude the second hour.

There’s not much scope for music in the film, but in terms of composition, just one track — ‘Jo Gumshuda’ — is easy on your ears. The Abhishek Bachchan track is such a waste. Even the tune is completely forgettable. Gururaj R.J.’s cinematography is top notch. Action, as mentioned earlier, is the hallmark of the enterprise.

Both Vivek and Zayed come up with competent performances. Vivek does a fine job, essaying his part with ease. But why does he sport a smirk on his face most of the times? The director could’ve avoided that! Zayed is equally charged. In fact, you witness a new Zayed in this film, the renewed confidence shows. Shriya Saran is wasted. Shweta Bhardwaj does well in stunts, but wears one expression all through.

Categories: Features, Mission Istanbul, Movie Review
Tags: Mission Istaanbul, Movie Review