Director Major Ravi who has had first hand experience in commando operations in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] directs a feature film for the first time -- Aran in Tamil and Keerthichakra in Malayalam. Predictably, he concentrates more on the commando operations but fails to bring in elements that strike a chord with the viewer.

The film is supposed to be all about the bonding between a Major (Mohanlal) and a havildar (Jeeva). They are National Security Guard commandos in Kashmir. They battle various militant outfits. A Pakistan-based terrorist leader recruits prisoners from Afghan jails to execute his plan to blow up a mosque in Kashmir. Many of the terrorist group's plans are foiled by Major Mahadevan's elite force.

This angers the terrorist and in retaliation, he kills the Major's wife and child. The terrorist group takes over a house and sets up a device to bomb the mosque. A tip off from a passing CRPF escort patrol alerts the Major. He comes in with his men and attacks the house. Will he succeed? Watch the racy climax.

One need not go to town about Mohanlal's acting skill. He fits the role perfectly; his superb acting makes up for the film's lack of emotional content. Next in line is Jeeva. Unfortunately, this two-film-old actor is paired with one of India's finest actors. Major Ravi should have at least spared the young actor from coming in the same shot with Mohanlal because he can't match the emotions with Mohanlal.

There is a shot in which an emotionally charged Mohanlal keeps his cool, after loading the coffin that has the remains of a commando who died in an encounter, and turns his back on his men and a tear slips from his eyes. Cut to a close-up of Jeeva who is supposed to convey the same feeling and what you get is a blank look with wet eyes. But giving due credit, the young boy has given his best as an actor. Prakashraj as the commanding officer is his usual self. Gopika who plays Jeeva's wife fits the role of a rustic girl. Lakshmi Gopalaswamy does not have much to do.

On the flip side, the director has failed to create the so-called bonding between the Major and Jeeva. They work in tandem during the operations but has little contact otherwise. The Major seems to share a cordial relationship with all his team members except Jeeva. In the end, when the Major and the havildar talk about their bonding you wonder where it was all the time.

A commando who gets hysterical when he sees blood is probably the director's imagination running out of control. Later on, the same commando shown as being bloodthirsty! Some characters that don't jell are the human rights activist  (Swetha Menon) running behind the Major and asking him about human rights violations after each encounter and a top brass on a visit to Kashmir having a grudge on the Major. The Afghan recruits turning rapists while on a crucial operation is clich�d.

One of the strengths of the film is Thiru's cinematography. Superb visuals that go with the speed of the film. He does not waste his time to capture the scenic locales of the valley instead concentrates fully on the subject. Joshua Sridhar's musical score is average but his background score is excellent. A prolonged rape during the nail-biting climax is repulsive.

Having seen both the language versions, one feels Keerthichakra the Malayalam version of Aran is a much more sober and sensible version. The producer of` Aran' seems to think that Tamil audiences are less sensible than the Malayalee film goers.

So you have a Ganja Karuppu roaming in a sensitive area and a nitwit Ramesh Kaana who dreams of Rahasya who lands up the elite commando's barracks to strip and sizzle. In case the Tamil audience or fans (wonder if Jeeva has any) miss Jeeva's ability to do filmy stunts then you have him fight the eve teasers back in the village. Whether this additional masala will help Aran at the box office or not is to be seen.

In short, a great film for the NSG. They can buy and keep it in their library. Yet it is worth a watch for the technical excellence and Mohanlal's acting.

Rediff Rating: