A Real Encounter Movie Review

A Real Encounter revolves around a college student, Muskan (Bratuti Ganguly), who is caught up in a terrorist attack and later killed in a police encounter. The film poses a significant question: Was Muskan an innocent victim, or was she involved in a larger, more sinister plot? The story takes inspiration from real events related to Gujarat’s anti-terrorism operations in 2002, blending reality with fiction.

Plot Overview

The narrative is split into two parts:

First Half: Focuses on intense police encounters and the broader socio-political landscape.
Second Half: Becomes more personal, exploring Muskan’s character, her motivations, and her gradual descent into potential radicalism.

Section	Description
Opening Scene	Introduces Muskan’s simple college life before the chaos unfolds.
Encounter Sequence	Depicts a high-tension standoff where Muskan and three others are shot.
Flashbacks	Show Muskan’s interactions with key characters, questioning her innocence and true intentions.
Climax	Tries to address the ambiguity surrounding her involvement but leaves viewers with mixed feelings.

Critic’s Rating: 1.5/5

Cast and Performances

The film features a mix of debut and seasoned actors:

Bratuti Ganguly as Muskan: A competent debut, though her character lacks depth due to an underdeveloped script.
Ehsaan Khan as ADG Rathore: Delivers a believable performance as a senior police officer, though his role could have been more nuanced.
Shahbaaz Khan as Arjun Ranade: Plays a steadfast officer, but the lack of emotional range affects the portrayal.
Rishikesh Tiwari as Varun Barot: An intense but somewhat stereotypical performance.
Akhilesh Verma as Waseem: Predictable character arc as Muskan’s friend who introduces her to the world of terrorism.

Supporting Cast:

Mushtaq Khan as Muskan’s uncle: Adds emotional weight but is underutilized.
Raza Murad as the advocate: Provides some depth but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

Direction and Screenplay

Director: Sabir Shaikh
Screenplay: Lacks cohesion, with abrupt shifts that undermine the film’s potential.

The first half of the film is action-packed, but the second half falters. The pacing is inconsistent, making the film difficult to engage with emotionally.

Key Issues with Screenplay:

Abrupt Transitions: Disjointed cuts between scenes disrupt the viewing experience.
Character Development: Muskan’s motivations are never fully explored, leaving her character feeling incomplete.
Plot Holes: Certain narrative threads are left unresolved, reducing the overall impact.

Strengths:

Engages with relevant socio-political themes.
An intriguing premise that attempts to explore the blurred lines between propaganda and truth.

Choreography and Action Sequences

The action scenes are a mix of successes and shortcomings:

Aspect	Description
Gunfights	Poorly choreographed, lacking realism and intensity.
Police Operations	Tense but marred by shaky cinematography and overuse of close-ups.
Use of Props	Limited, with a lack of visual flair in crucial scenes.

The choreography fails to create a lasting impression, with scenes feeling unpolished and unrealistic.

Cinematography and Background Score

Cinematography: Shaky and inconsistent. The overuse of close-up shots makes action sequences confusing rather than exciting.
Background Score: Loud and intrusive, often clashing with the intended mood of the scenes.

Pros	Cons
Captures some tense moments well	Shaky camera work disrupts key scenes.
Urban landscapes are well-filmed	Background music overpowers dialogues and scenes.

Acting Performances

Bratuti Ganguly: Shows promise but is hindered by the script.
Police Characters: Convincing but one-dimensional.
Supporting Cast: Underutilized and not well-integrated into the main plot.

What Worked:

Efforts to portray complex socio-political issues.
Some intense scenes that raise real questions about justice and morality.

What Didn’t Work:

Lack of character depth.
Over-dramatic and forced emotional scenes.

Box Office Performance

The film struggled to make an impact at the box office, facing tough competition and mixed reviews. The lack of star power and weak word-of-mouth didn’t help its case.

Aspect	Details
Opening Weekend	Disappointing numbers, below expectations.
Overall Earnings	Minimal, failing to recoup the production cost.
Audience Reception	Mixed, with many criticizing the film’s execution.

What Makes This Movie Special?

Despite its flaws, A Real Encounter touches upon a sensitive and thought-provoking subject. It attempts to shed light on the controversies surrounding police encounters and the thin line between justice and oppression. However, the execution falls short of making it memorable.

Special Elements:

Socio-political Themes: A rare attempt to explore complex societal issues.
Character Ambiguity: Raises questions about Muskan’s true role, although underexplored.

Conclusion

A Real Encounter had the potential to be a gripping film, but poor execution, an underdeveloped script, and technical flaws undermine its impact. The shaky cinematography, loud background score, and disjointed pacing make it a less engaging watch.

Pros:

Relevant and thought-provoking concept.
Some intense and dramatic moments.

Cons:

Weak screenplay and direction.
Underdeveloped characters and predictable arcs.
Technical flaws that detract from the viewing experience.

Final Verdict: This film is not worth your time unless you’re intrigued by the themes it attempts to address. Otherwise, you might want to skip this encounter.