Obsessive hunting loses its purpose

Neeraj Pandey’s Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is a dilemma shrouded in mystery. Can Mumbai police officer Jaswinder prove that a software engineer is guilty of stealing diamonds when evidence shows otherwise? And can Pandey, an experienced purveyor of compulsive hunts in which morally righteous hunters always end up getting the ethically compromised hunted, can challenge himself?

Both answers are In until the end Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, what is based on it an original story by Pandey and a screenplay shared with Vipul K Rawal. Only one thing is somewhat satisfactory.

The 143-minute Netflix film balances tension and ambivalence for at least half of its running time. Jaswinder (Jimmy Sheirgill) is called upon to investigate the robbery of solitaires at a gem exhibition and becomes fixated on Sikandar (Avinash Tiwary) and Kamini (Tamannaah Bhatia) as the perpetrators. Jaswinder spends 15 years pursuing his beliefs, which comes at a personal and professional cost to him.

Sikandar and Kamini also suffer. Jaswinder resorts to dubious methods beyond legal parameters because he believes his “manovritti” – or instinct – is always right against criminals. Could Jaswinder be wrong just this once?

The film requires close viewing, especially in its first, swinging scenes. This is bad news for the attentive viewer, who spotted the plot early on and must wait until the frustrating climax for the details to be worked out.

For the observer who has signed up for a postponed unveiling, Pandey keeps key information out of sight and keeps the pace steady. But it’s missing Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Is the kind of psychological detail available in other such compulsive chase films, from The usual suspects To heat And memories of murder To Zodiac.

Jaswinder, Sikandar and Kamini are pieces on a chessboard, nothing more and nothing less. Nevertheless, these half-realized characters are skillfully brought to life by the actors.

Jimmy Sheirgill has the purring demeanor of a cat being handed an extra-large ball of string. Sheirgill’s effortless charm almost manages to excuse the “ghar mein ghuskar marenge” tactics he uses on his victims.

Avinash Tiwary is also very good as Sikandar, who is bullied relentlessly by Jaswinder. Tamannaah Bhatia is controlled and effective as the unfortunate Kamini. There is a third suspect, played by Rajiv Mehta, who is quickly and mercifully forgotten.

Like Jaswinder, who boasts of a “100 percent track record,” the film is far too confident in its cleverness to be entirely believable. Jaswinder’s complacency informs a plot that may say something about those presumed guilty until proven innocent.

The real “Sikandar ka Muqaddar” or the controller of Sikandar’s destiny is ultimately the director. Given his own track record, there’s no danger of being surprised here, just disappointed at how innocuous the revelation turns out to be.

Also read:

Neeraj Pandey on reuniting with Jimmy Sheirgill in ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’: ‘A fantastic talent’