Neeraj Pandey, who bagged accolades both from audiences & critics for his debut movie “ A Wednesday” ( 2008 ) is back with another “special” movie based on a notorious true-life incidence. The sleeper hit of 2008 ” A Wednesday ” which helped Pandey to bag so many awards (including Indira Gandhi award for best first film of a director ) was considered as a path breaking movie for its realistic treatment and social importance of the subject. The way he treated the story line of a Wednesday to deliver his ideology on the punishment of terrorists, shows his definition of social justice .
The logic of using special26 as the title for the movie may be questioned until you watch the 3rdact of the Movie. The story is about four dare devil con men addressing themselves as the CBI officers and loot the black money from politicians and businessmen. Ajay Singh ( Akshay Kumar) is the mastermind behind the operations whereas P.K. Sharma ( Anupam Kher) leads the operations as the senior officer. Even their operation spread from Delhi to Kolkatta and to various other city nobody claimed any complaint against them . It was then when an honest policeman Ranveer Singh ( Jimmy Shergill) who was fooled by the Cons, join hands with CBI to trap them the looters journey becomes much tricky and risky. When the efficient CBI officer Whaseem Khan ( Manoj Bajpayee) comes across their way the story line goes forward like a cat-mouse chase.
The movie takes us to the 80’s golden era of Bollywood. The 80’s style is reflected from the very beginning of the movie by using big bold cut outs for the titles. The production designer Sunil Babu has given a periodic look for the movie by making realistic sets for the 80’s Indian cities . The periodic touch is visible in the clothes and props ( the cars, the interiors of hotel etc.) as well. Even the background music used for making the scenes thrilling, will make us feel like we are watching a real 80’s movie.
Akshay Kumar is out of his stereotypical Khiladi and comic character through this movie. You can see a matured and realistic middle class man who fights against the corruption through his character Ajay Singh.Manoj Bajpayee has done complete justice to his well characterized role of CBI officer Whaseem Khan. The real show stealer of the movie is Anupa m Kher who delivered a fabulous performance by giving life to his character P.K. Sharma. The performance of Jimmy Shegill, Divya data and Kajal Agerval where appreciatable.