IFFI 2010 got underway today with a screening of Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti, attended by the director himself and Bollywood star Gul Panag. There is a full line-up of great films every day until Monday night and a gala dinner tomorrow night at the Hilton Hotel in Rathmines. Contact the festival via the main site here if you would like to attend the dinner (which will feature music by DJ Aleem and Indian dancing) as there are a small number of tickets still available.
On with the film previews! Gangaajal, Holy Waters, is a 2003 film, directed by Prakash Jha, and starring Ajay Devgn, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari.
A new police superintendent of police, Amit Kumar is assigned the task of taking charge of Tejpur Police Headquarters, and is immediately horrified by the level of police corruption he uncovers at the station. Bribery and nepotism is rife and widespread and to make matters worse, his investigation into this issue pits him against influential local politician, Sadhu Yadav.
Amit is undeterred by Yadav’s power, and arrests his brother, Sunder Yadav, and his men. While Sunder is quickly released, some police officers, frustrated with the system, pour acid into the eyes of two of Yadav’s men. They are left blinded. A media storm is ignited, crime drops to almost nothing and the police are regarded with sudden respect.
With an official inquiry started, Amit is suspended and ordered to appear before the court officials, where he must make a decision whether to back the corrupt police or admit the truth of Yadav’s account. Based on a true story in Bhagalpur, where 30 or so prisoners were blinded by prison guards and police in the 1980s in India, Gangajaal is a powerful tale of power, betrayal and corruption, with a great central performance by Ajay Devgan.
