Corporate

Director: Madhur Bhandarkar

Cast: Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Raj Babbar, Rajat Kapoor,

Payal Rohatgi, Harsh Chhaya, Javed Akhtar, Deepshikha, Achint Kaur, Lillette Dubey, (Sammir Dattani, Minissha Lamba)

5.5/10

In the 70s and 80s many Indian films collectively called parallel cinema, high in ‘anti-establishment’ spirit, probed the deadliest malady of our society ? corruption. From Govind Nihalani’s Ardh Satya to Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug to Ramesh Sharma’s New Delhi Times, subjects were widely varied as were backdrops. But most had a common theme. Individual’s struggle against a ruthless, often dangerous, socio-political system that rendered her/him a victim, scapegoat or mute witness vis-a-vis unholy alliances among powers that steer and control lives of us ordinary citizens.

In the same tradition director Madhur Bhandarkar (Chandni Bar), with his expose-style storytelling, keeps telling us about the murky stuff we already know goes on in politics (Satta), media (Page 3) and now business (Corporate) in a kind of trilogy on this new power nexus that’s running our new globalised Indian lives.

Why? Because he wants to shake up our languid consciences, apathetic and desensitised by excess of such realities? Well, then, get this, for his latest film Corporate, he’s got brand-dad Allen Solly to sponsor (and clothe the entire cast) his noble cause!

Corporate deals with the world of big business and petty power games played to win at any cost. Business tycoons Dharmesh Marwah (Raj Babbar) and Vinay Sehgal (Rajat Kapoor) are arch enemies who own rival companies that compete for everything from MNC tieups and government PSUs to excellence awards in a constant battle of one-upmanship. Eventually their enmity turns ugly and dangerous over the launch of a spurious soft drink named, Just Chill. Heated controversy ensues involving politicians media and public, and leaves a trail of victims and tragic consequences.

Bhandarkar’s screenplay is too predictable and his treatment simplistic, almost naive. Because, frankly, in this age of well-publicised cola wars, corporate takeovers and cosmetic makeovers, even our viewing culture’s transformed into an over-informed over-exposed experience. So it feels like we’ve seen these images/stories a million times, thanks to television soaps about warring business families and news and lifestyle channels that give us glimpses into lives of bigwigs from boardrooms to bedroom decor.

Technically, too, Corporate seems patchy, inconsistent. Cinematography is slick in places (chrome-and- glass office interiors), but shoddy in others (hotel interiors, homes). What works really well together is the film’s ensemble cast comprising a motley group. From seasoned TV star Harsh Chhaya to theatre person Lillette Dubey, from method actor Kay Kay Menon to newcomer Minissha Lamba show their craft precisely (despite being underutilised). Bipasha Basu as Nishigandha Dasgupta gets to play a role with range (read: two patriarchal female types within one part) from hard-core ambitious Viz-prez who spies, seduces and bribes her way up corp ladder, to weeping wimpy company scapegoat who readily sacrifices herself for ? love! Of course, what else, she’s a woman after all, right, Mr Bhandarkar? Anyway, Bipasha seems more comfortable acting as tearful love-sick martyr. But she definitely looks better as corporate virago (thanks again, golly, Allen Solly).

But the performer who stands out is Rajat Kapoor as the suave high-flying and insidiously treacherous entrepreneur who’d stoop to the lowest level for his gain. And as he states with arrogance and utter conviction, “In business the bottomline is profit”, you wonder if that’s Bhandarkar’s sentiment exactly?

Mandira Mitra