Homam (film)

Homam is a 2008 Indian thriller film written and directed by J. D. Chakravarthy. Filmed in Telugu, the film deals with the story of an undercover policeman. The film stars Jagapathi Babu, Mamta Mohandas and Mahesh Manjrekar in the leading roles while director Chakravarthy, Madhurima, Pradeep Rawat and Sakshi Sivanand portray the supporting roles.

Released on August 29, 2008, the film opened to good reviews. Rediff.com thought that Chakravarthy fared better as an actor than as a director. While continuing in its discussion, it specifically commends Jagapathi Babu and Mahesh Manjrekar for their performances. The female actors, Mamta Mohandas and debutant Madhurima were added to the glamor quotient.^[1] Another such review equally praised Babu and Chakravarthy for their histrionics. While discussing the technical aspects of the film, the reviewer thought that Chakravarthy "scripted the screenplay with perfection and did not lose grip on the story at any point of time."^[2] From certain scenes and filming methodology, another review thought that Chakravarthy's direction was influence by his mentor Ram Gopal Varma. While the music was termed as tasteless, cinematography and editing were acceptable by the reviwer.^[3] Overall, the film was rated as hit and the review suggested that its plot was inspired by the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs (which this movie was remade as 2006 Hollywood movie, The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese). Director Chakravarthy corroborated this fact in an interview where he said that the movie The Departed (remade based on the original Infernal Affairs) was inspiration to some extent, but his film varied a lot in its narration and treatment.^[4]

Plot Summary

Malli (Jagapathi babu) is a Cop. Though he is an orphan, DIG Viswanath (Pradeep Rawat) brings him up like his own son and makes him an undercover police officer and hides his identity in a database. However, to nab an international mafia gang led by Daddy (Mahesh Manjrekar), Viswanath sends Malli in undercover to the mafia gang and the latter turns a trusted worker for Daddy. He almost believes Malli as his right hand. With the help of Malli, Viswanath and his team tries to corner Daddy and his gang, but could not arrest them due to lack of evidence. Malli falls in love with a doctor (Mamata Mohandas). He takes him to his ailing mother who was in the hospital. At this juncture, Daddy reveals that his person was in the police department when he is cornered by Viswanath's team without evidence. Chandu (JD Chakravarthy), who is also a Cop was raised by Daddy. Chandu is in love with his new neighbor (Madhurima). Chandu is the one who was helping Daddy's gang. At the same time, Viswanath also tells Daddy that his man was also with Daddy's gang. So both the teams break their heads to find out the black sheep. But they could not do so. Malli once visits the hospital and doctors tell him that he should keep his mother happy always. Malli reveals his identity but is mother did not believe it. To prove his words correct, Malli tells Viswanath to visit his mother once. At the same time, Daddy's gang attacks the building and in the melee, Viswanath dies. After a few days, Chandu, in order to escape from the blackmailing tactics of Daddy, shoots him to death in an encounter. Chandu's still evil. Malli realizes that Chandu was working for Daddy. Malli proves that Chandu's evil. Malli also proves that he's an undercover police officer. One of the officers kills Chandu. Malli's mother gets released from the hospital. Prasad wants Malli to go undercover again. This time, Malli's going undercover in Pakistan.

References