There is plenty an inspiring movie when it comes to convicts planning and plotting in a jail cell. In fact, I had thought of far more interesting and apt titles like Lucknow Central..the not so great escape or Lucknow Central - far from redemption. However, it would've been blasphemous to name this rather ordinary offering in the presence of these greats so I kept it simple and boring (pretty much like the movie).
The issues with Lucknow Central are several - not enough mystery and intrigue, no connect with any of the characters, not even the protagonist, trying to do or show too many things and not a thrilling enough build up or climax. And then, there's the pacing that finishes whatever little hope remains.
While it starts off at a brisk pace, the set up feels too contrived - as if this is only a flimsy sequence to land up the protagonist in a jail cell and that's when the real story begins. Even so, the sequences feel disjointed and over-extended. In the hands of a more seasoned director, it may well have been presented with a lot more finesse. As it stands though, it all feels like it came together too easily. Unfortunately, this feeling continues pretty much till end-credits
One of the biggest challenges of the movie is the protagonist - Kishen himself. A small town guy with big dreams - he seems far too sure of himself irrespective of the situation he is in, making him closer to Michael Scofield than an Andy Dufresne. Its almost like he has a free hand to decide which direction he wants to take his life and hence the movie, while plot-wise he is supposed to be in a desperate situation. While Farhan performs Kishen earnestly, the character itself lacks depth.
The songs are somewhat of a saving grace with Meer e Karwan sounding particularly melodious. Rangdaari is the opening song, but by playing it in the background, every few minutes in the first half, it loses its charm. The other big support is the supporting cast who still seem to believe they have a good thing going, and give it their best. There is a particularly inspired bit with a superimposing of Kishen while the movie Agneepath plays in the background. While not perfectly executed, its a novel touch and you wish there was more such novelty on offer. Apart from that, the humor provided largely by the supporting cast is a welcome relief amidst the tedious and slow proceedings on-screen.
I guess this criticism is particularly harsh because I've seen the TV series Prison Break. If I hadn't, I'd probably be okay with not knowing back stories and a more fleshed out version of the supporting characters, expecting meticulous and deep planning at every step of the heist and even then facing a fair number of unforeseen challenges and situations. However, I am pretty certain that even if I hadn't, with its rather convenient plot developments and absolute lack of urgency despite the supposed heist Lucknow Central would still have fallen woefully short.
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