Review of 7 Hours to Go

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Cast: Shiv Pandit (Arjun Ranawat), Sandeepa Dhar (ACP Nandini Shukla), Natasa Stankovic (Maya), Varun Badola (Ramesh Dhadke), Vipin Sharma

Directed by: Saurabh Varma

Produced by: Nitika Thakur

Production Company: Krian Pictures

Music by: Hanif Shaikh, Sugat Shubham

Cinematography: Milind Jog

Edited by: Nitin FCP

Release date: 24^th June, 2016

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2 hours

7 Hours to Go, is another thriller released this week, which is directed by Saurabh Varma. Though the plot had great potential to be an investigative thriller, but the effort fails. Although all the characters are introduced with their name and specific role in the film, this appeared a bit lengthy. The screenplay has lot of loopholes.

The film begins with a shootout effort by Ramesh Dhadke’s (Varun Badola) and his team in Khemka Towers, when intruders entered the premises. After an odd 6 months, the frames move to Arjun (Shiv Pandit), who comes to Mumbai City to support his girl friend Maya in Mumbai High Court, who is a witness in a high profile case. Arjun takes 7 passersby as hostages at Mumbai High court itself, when Maya is shot dead in front of his eyes. Within few minutes, Arjun is able to set up the hostage site in high profile technical manner. Ramesh tries to have a conversation with him, but Arjun wants ACP Shuklaji within an hour and he is adamant that he would have conversation only with Shuklaji.

Shuklaji is basically ACP Nandini Shukla (Sandeepa Dhar), whose entry in the film is by chasing criminals. She comes to strike a conversation with Arjun. Arjun feels that only ACP Shukla can give him justice. He gives her 7 hours to arrest Kabir Khemka (Rohit Vir), a rich businessman, whom Arjun considers to be responsible for Maya’s slain. Otherwise, he threatens to kill one hostage every hour. The clock starts ticking, but the film moves forward in a forced speed.

How ACP Shukla handles the case? How Ramesh becomes a part of the investigation? How other characters viz. childlike psychopath serial killer becomes part of the story? What happens to the hostages ? How does Arjun yield? Does he kill any of the hostages? What is the real enmity between Arjun and Kabir ? Is ACP Shukla able to gather evidence against Kabir and arrest him ? The film tries to weave the answers to these questions very loosely.

There are many scenes in the film which makes it absolutely unbelievable. Usage of high-tech gadgets and security vaults are unjustified. There are two scenes in the film where the female characters ACP Shukla and Maya change their tops in front of a male colleague. What was the intention behind these scenes? What happens to the character of ACP Shukla, whose energy falls in the second half of the film?

As far as the performances are concerned, Varun Badola and Shiv Pandit are good, but poor screenplay makes their performances falter. Sandeepa looks good. Vipin Sharma as one of the hostage has a brief role. Music is loud.

7 Hours to Go, although had potential to be a good investigative thriller, falters due to poor screenplay, loud music and forgettable performances.  

Rating : 1 / 5 (Poor)