404 - Error Not Found

Cast: Nishikant Kamat,Imaad Shah,Satish Kaushik,Tisca Chopra

Rajvvir Aroraa

Director: Prawaal Raman

'404' is not a film which was anyways made for universal audience. With an eye at the thinking audience which has been exposed to cinema coming from the West, especially the kind that Manoj Shyamalan specialises in, Prawaal Raman has consciously worked towards making this as a niche film and he more than succeeds in doing so.

With the setting of a medical college which is unlike anything that one sees in a regular Bollywood flick, '404' (thankfully) doesn't have any cool dudes and mini skirted girls filling up the frames. Instead, it is all realistic with the bunch of freshers going through the ragging ritual that falls somewhere in between the fun element of '3 Idiots' and dark mood of 'Hostel'.

However for the first 30 odd minutes one keeps wondering whether the film is about ragging, what with a newcomer (debutant Rajvvir Aroraa) being the chosen one, or about paranormal, supernatural and bipolar disorder, something that the visiting faculty (Nishikant Kamat) keeps talking about in his lectures, interviews as well as thesis detailing. This is what that keeps one thinking along practically every minute and while you know that there would be something explosive sooner or later, the waiting period is as enjoyable as well.

The film maintains it's pace (on a slower yet haunting side though) as the college senior (Imaad Shah) and his gang of friends bring Rajvvir to such a state that it begins to seem like a point of no return for the youngster. Psyched to such an extent that he loses all rational about 'reality v/s perception' that he had built over the years and instead begins to talk on the contrary, Rajvvir sees a journey down the bottom of the barrel before Nishikant and his wife (Tisca Chopra) take it upon themselves to revive him. However, by that time it is hard to distinguish between the sufferer and the saviour. '404' is the kind of film that has to be listened to and not just seen quite closely. The film is verbose and for all the right reasons because every scene that explains the bipolar condition is pretty applicable to the scenes that unfold towards the latter half. Yes, this also means that for many out there who prefer a viewing which is comforting and akin to spoon feeding, '404' is the kind that threatens to go totally over the head. Also, quite a lot of reasoning that is provided is in English which further restricts audience.

Moreover, there aren't any gimmicky camera angles or background score that threaten to take over the proceedings before the script is allowed to speak the language of it's own. Also, it doesn't come across as a regular means at any juncture and hence is devoid of any hero, heroine, villain formula. The strength of '404' lies in the fact that it makes you play the guessing game right from start to finish. Yes, you do crack one of the twists 20 minutes before it is revealed but the finale is something that no one can indeed see coming. Nishikant Kamat gives a solid account of himself as an actor. A cross between Irrfan Khan and Amol Palekar when it comes to looks as well as acting style, he is fantastic. Rajvvir Aroraa is quite good as well and looks every bit the college student whose personality takes different shades as he goes through some trying times. Imaad Shah is simply superb as a carefree and lethargic young man. Despite the negative traits, you love him whenever he appears on screen. Tisca Chopra is efficient yet again and it is hard to believe that 20 years back she was dancing in the rain in 'Platform' while seducing Ajay Devgn. Satish Kaushik as the college warden is perfect as always and brings in welcome laughs at number of places in this beauty duty drama.

Really, it is impossible to not stop thinking even as the end credit title rolls. Now that's quite an achievement for director Prawaal Raman who manages to keep your interest level alive till the end. In fact last two minutes of '404' reminded me of 'The Sixth Sense'. Staying true to the film's inherent theme of 'what you think as real could well be just a perception', the narrative takes such a shocking twist in the concluding reel that you can't just help but stare at the screen in disbelief. In one word, stunning! That's the impact of Prawaal Raman's supernatural thriller. No creaking doors, no Dolby driven demoniacal sound effects, no half-naked girls running around with banshee shrieks and provocative protests, none of the trappings of the horror genre. And yet "404" is one of the most terrifying movie experiences in recent times.

Leaving behind the gross audio and visual excesses of the horror genre, "404" creates a universe of subdued and muted terror within the normal milieu. The music never rises to a crescendo even as the narrative peaks to an all time high of smothered terror. "404" is the most natural supernatural thriller you are likely to see in Hindi. The excesses of the genre are quietly set aside for a tone of narration that constantly favors understatement. Raman is not new to the supernatural-horror genre. In "Darna Mana Hai" and its sequel "Darna Zaroori Hai", he never got it so right. In "404", he goes for the jugular and clamps a terror-band around your throat with the fear of the unknown stalking the mind rather than the film's physical landscape.

It isn't easy to create a sense of foreboding from within the intangible places in the characters' mind and heart. From the first frame when the film opens at a medical college in a quaint hill station ah terror in tranquility, that's one chicle from the horror genre you don't mind the narrative generates a feeling of darkness and danger lurking in the imposing corridors. And yet the film is never gloomy or dull in mood or visuals. Maybe it's the luscious art work. More likely, it is just intelligent writing rather than cheap and gimmicky horror tactics that are usually applied to the genre. The smartly written screenplay about a doughty medical student who befriends the boy who killed himself in the same room has echoic shades of Kiran Rao's "Dhobi Ghat", which had the painter Aamir Khan moving into the house of a woman who commits suicide. "Dhobi Ghat" romanticized the link between the present and past.

"404" imbues a sense of tragic regret and doom in the relationship that forms between the present and past roommates of the hostel room. Lording over the eerie link is a professor of psychology battling over his own demons, struggling to keep the wall between the supernatural and rationale up firmly in place, watching it collapse in a noiseless but horrific heap. In the role of the professor, who is rapidly losing a grip on reality film maker, director Nishikant Kamat turns in the kind of evolved and involving performance. He builds the character's troubled inner world with evocative gestures. His nervous restless eyes and fidgety body language suggest a profound bonding between the terror in the mind and its manifestation in the outward physical world.

Tisca Arora as his supportive colleague and wife is as usual, excellent. As is the newcomer Rajvvir Arora, student who can 'see' the dead. The film opens as a look at the sorry repercussions of ragging and then builds into an elegant but emphatic treatise on the guilt, memory, regret and grief. The cinematography by Savita Singh is richly layered suggesting deeper meanings in even the most routine moments. The editing by Sarvesh Parab is tight. But economy is not an obsession here. Getting the mood and pace right are predominant. In many ways, "404" is an exceptional journey into a mind that sees beyond the physical world. The narrative is blissfully freed of humbug. The shots, even the ones expressly designed to generate horror, are remarkable for their aesthetic precision, warmth and emotional austerity. At the end of this highly original and engrossing work you are left with thoughts on mortality, after-life, death and other jokes.

"404" takes the cruel joke that's life and converts it into a forceful and spirited comment on the world of the spirits. The film takes us on that journey into the unknown with such confidence and warmth that you start believing in an after life. And that after life is called cinema. Though this movie hasn't witnessed heavy promotion but it surely chose an innovative manner to spread awareness. And that was by having the quotes of many renowned celebs who've spoken great things about it after watching. So does this apparent psychological thriller actually instill any chill? 404 is the story of a medical student Abhimanyu (Rajvvir Aroraa) who defies his seniors and the practice of ragging.

Professor Aniruddh (Nishikant Kamath) is impressed with Abhimanyu's rationality and tenacity when he decides to dispel all rumors and moves into a room that has been forbidden for years with the rumors of it being haunted. What follows is an intriguing story about a Professor who denies the paranormal and believes only in Science, and a bright young student who battles with his conflict of illusion and reality. Prawal Raman who has Darna Mana Hai and Darna Zaroori Hai to his credit tries too hard to showcase his finesse in direction with unconventional film making techniques however, apart from certain scenes which are splendid he falters overall in creating a sticky content. The length of the film is one of the main truants making it tedious. Moreover, the haunting background music proves to be the biggest deterrent of the film. Despite it being a psycho thriller the background score forever gives the feel of watching a horror film.

The film however has its fair share of goods as well and most importantly it is the crux of the story that deserves applauds. Never has such a mind-bending thriller been attempted in the past. The only thing that mires it is the vagueness in its execution. Had there been some clarity in the narrative the film could've come out well. The camera work throughout the film is commendable and so is the acting by each and everyone. Nishikanth Kamath deserves a special mention for the excellent performance he put ups through out the film. Naseeruddin Shah's multi talented son Imaad Shah is at his casual best. He also shows great potential as a music composer. Rajvvir Arora is decent in his part. Tisca Chopra as Aniruddh's wife acts well. To sum it up, 404 surely plays with you psyche. The film definitely deserves a watch and should be encouraged for its efforts.