Cert 12A
127 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, sex references, suicide references
"Excuse me for asking but do you know that a Bollywood film will be playing here?".
I wish I had £20 for every time a fellow audience member had been incredulous at the presence of Mrs W and me at an Indian movie screening.
If I am honest, I glow when people talk to us because it gives me a chance to recount the everyfilm experience and invite folk to read the blog. They are always enthusiastic.
In this case, the chap was agog because I was aware that Dharmendra's Ghayal Once Again was a much-awaited follow-up to the famous Sunny Deol movie of 1990.
When the film began it became clear that its history was an impediment to immediate enjoyment.
In fact, the disjointed combination of modern movie and flashbacks to the past prompted me, after about 25 minutes, to whisper to Mrs W asking whether she understood what was happening.
And then it all became clear.
It turns out that Deol is playing a journalist who trades on his honesty and pursuit of justice.
In Mumbai, where corruption is rife from ministers downwards, he is up against the most powerful people in society.
But when a mentor is killed, his thirst for retribution becomes overwhelming and when it transpires that a group of young film-makers had unwittingly recorded his murder, the movie really takes off.
Narendra Jha is the movie's villain, a businessman who has built up such a corrupt network he thinks he is untouchable.
Ghayal Once Again's second half is that of a high-revs action movie with some spectacular chase scenes.
Time and again, it appears as if the good guys are backed into a corner of hopelessness but somehow they manage to get on the front foot.
However, the film lets itself down when its crescendo turns into a clumsy cliche right at the end.
Overall though, were were more engrossed the longer it went on.
Reasons to watch: its gripping chase scenes
Reasons to avoid: Reduces itself to corniness at its finale
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit; none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7/10
Star Tweet
soha ali khan #GhayalOnceAgain hits the theatres in a few hours guys! It's furious it's frantic it's fabulous 
don't miss it! @IAMSUNNYDEOL @Ghayalagain
don't miss it! @IAMSUNNYDEOL @Ghayalagain