Begum Jaan

Such a waste of a talented bunch of actors. And of Balan, who tries hard to invest some feeling into a role which turns into a cliché the moment the film opens.

Each scene feels consciously staged than unprompted and the flow from one sequence to the next is perennially jerky leading to way too much chaos on- screen.

Begum Jaan's place is more of a multicultural madhouse - full of screechy women that sound like they've escaped Arkham Asylums for Failed Actors from every region.

Watch this only if you are fan of Balan.

The film isn't devoid of passages that crackle with promise. But, alas, not only are these hope-inducing moments too few and far between, they fizzle out all too quickly.

Begum Jaan's intriguing basic concept deserves a writer who could have expanded on it to better effect. And the lovely Vidya Balan deserves better than this soulless film.

In its preoccupation with drama, Begum Jaan neglects to reveal its soul. As a consequence, you feel nothing for the characters, their cause or fate.

Having the 11 women in one frame becomes nothing but a screech-fest. Having Vidya in a film is an asset though. She is an audacious actor, who merits an extra half star for her ability to shoulder a film.

While the movie does get a lot of things right, it just lacks a little conviction in presenting its powerful ideas.

Mukherji doesn't seem to be able to tie together the twin themes of partition and the exploitation of women.