Rustom - 2016

Rustom is a 2016 crime thriller Bollywood film starring Akshay Kumar, and Ileana D’Cruz in the lead roles. The film is directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, written by Vipul K Rawal, and produced by Aruna Bhatia, Nittin Keni, Akash Chawla, Virender Arora, Ishwar Kapoor, Shital Bhatia, Deepanshu Mishra, Prerna Arora, and Arjun N. Kapoor. 

The story revolves around Naval Commander Rustom Pavri, who is accused of murdering his wife’s lover. The film explores themes of love, honor, and justice as Rustom’s trial unfolds in the court. It’s a gripping courtroom drama that delves into the complexities of morality and the pursuit of truth. Rustom’s actions are ultimately justified by the court, highlighting the importance of justice and the rule of law. 

The movie holds an IMDB rating of 7/10 and Rotten Tomatoes rating of 45%. The film has won a number of accolades including the National Films Awards and was nominated in Filmfare. The movie is available to watch on Zee5. 

Table of Contents

• Details
• Plot
• Reviews
• Casting
• Crew
• Character Analysis
• Songs
• Behind The Scenes
• Box Office Collection
• Awards
• Interesting Facts

Details 

Plot

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Rustom Pavri (Akshay Kumar), an Indian naval officer, and Cynthia Pavri (Ileana D'Cruz), who is blissfully married, are the central characters in the late 1950s drama. When Rustom learns that his wife is having an affair with his friend Vikram Makhija (Arjan Bajwa), their marriage is put in jeopardy. Rustom finds Vikram's love letters in Cynthia's cabinet after arriving early from his ship's deployment. Rustom spots them together while searching for her. When Cynthia comes home, he waits for her to return before confronting her with the love letters, but he leaves before she can give an explanation.

Then, after getting a gun for himself from the Naval Ship's Armoury, Rustom calls Defence HQ in New Delhi on a trunk line. After that, he looks for Vikram twice: once in his office and once at his house. The servant runs to the bedroom after hearing three gunshots and finds Vikram dead in a pool of blood with Rustom exiting the room holding the revolver in his hand. As soon as Rustom turns himself into the police, Inspector Vincent Lobo (Pawan Malhotra) begins an investigation.

In order to get Rustom the harshest penalty possible, Vikram's sister Priti Makhija (Esha Gupta) meets with public prosecutor Lakshman Khangani (Sachin Khedekar). A commotion is made in the city when a local newspaper, Truth, publishes the news with some spice added. The Parsi community lends assistance by paying a strong defense attorney, but the Navy stands by its officer and requests the police to turn him over to them. Rustom declines everyone's assistance, opts to take the case on his own, and desires to be kept in police custody. 

Although Rustom's senior Naval officer Rear Admiral Prashant Kamat (Parmeet Sethi) sends two thugs to his residence to look for a set of documents, they are unsuccessful in their search. This is because Erich Billimoria, Editor in Chief of Truth (Kumud Mishra), is portraying Rustom in public as sympathetic. Cynthia, who hasn't spoken to Rustom since he was taken into custody, is terrified and hurries to the jail to tell him. When Rustom eventually sees Cynthia, he listens to her account of how lonely and distraught she was when he left for several months in London. Cynthia fell in love with Vikram after he exploited her loneliness with Priti's complicity. But Cynthia had already broken up with Vikram on the day of his death in order to save her marriage. Vikram gave her a strong slap after becoming angry at her rejection of him. She left Vikram's residence after being hurt.

Rear Admiral Prashant Kamat is blackmailed by Cynthia for Rs 5 crore on Rustom's orders in exchange for the crucial data he needs. Rustom unexpectedly enters a not-guilty plea before Judge Patel (Anang Desai) during the court proceeding, which results in a 9-person jury trial. Rustom is declared not guilty by the jury at the conclusion of the case because he shot Vikram in self-defense. Vincent Lobo was discovered to have approached the Ministry of Defence's office secretary while in Delhi in order to obtain the recording of the trunk call that Rustom had placed.

Back in Bombay, the trunk call is played, virtually persuading everyone that Rustom is guilty, and the trial concludes so that the jury can render its verdict. On the eve of the court hearing, Rustom comes clean to Vincent Lobo in the police station: he spent several months in London inspecting an aircraft carrier that the Navy wants to buy, but upon inspection, Rustom discovered that the carrier's hull was corroded, necessitating repairs and modifications before the carrier could be transferred to India. He tried to pay Vikram, who was in charge of the aircraft carrier, to certify that the vessel was seaworthy. The defense secretary tried to pay Rustom to get the carrier to India when he tried to alert him of the situation in London. Rustom smacked Vikram to demonstrate the strength of his uniform after the latter tried to convince the former. The jury found Rustom not guilty, and he was released the next day.

The flashback then reveals that Vikram had dated Cynthia not for her beauty but to demonstrate to Rustom his financial might and get revenge on him. Lobo is informed that Rustom refrained from telling anyone about the aircraft carrier since everyone would assume that the navy is corrupt and would stop believing in them as a result of a small number of officers. The movie cuts to the closing credits as Rustom and Cynthia exit the courtroom with pride. In the end, it is demonstrated that India does away with the jury system following Rustom's trial. Additionally, K.G. Bakshi, the defense secretary, shot himself to death on the INS Vishal.

Reviews

Rustom released in 2016, is a Bollywood film that garnered attention for its intriguing premise, inspired by true events. The movie presents a compelling story of love, honor, and justice, revolving around the character Rustom Pavri, a naval commander portrayed by Akshay Kumar.

One of the standout features of Rustom is the captivating performance of Akshay Kumar. He convincingly portrays the character’s complexities, combining stoicism and vulnerability as he navigates a tumultuous journey following the murder of his wife’s lover. His portrayal of Rustom Pavri’s moral dilemma and his pursuit of justice is commendable.

The film successfully immerses viewers in a period setting, beautifully recreating the 1950s and 60s. The attention to detail in the costumes, sets, and overall production design adds authenticity to the narrative and enhances the viewing experience.

The courtroom drama in Rustom is a major highlight, offering a gripping and suspenseful narrative that keeps audiences engaged. The legal proceedings are well-executed, and the tension in the courtroom scenes is palpable. The film skillfully examines themes of morality, ethics, and the pursuit of truth through the lens of the legal system. 

However, Rustom is not without its flaws. Some critics found the film’s pacing to be uneven, with occasional lulls in narrative. Additionally, the film’s approach to the real-life case that inspired it has been a point of contention. Some viewers felt that it oversimplified the complexities of the actual events and characters, leading to a less nuanced portrayal of the story.

Despite these criticisms, Rustom managed to perform well at the box office and found a dedicated fan base. It offers a mix of suspense, drama, and emotion, making it an entertaining watch for those interested in courtroom dramas and historical-inspired narratives.
In conclusion, Rustom is a Bollywood film that stands out for its strong performances, particularly from Akshay Kumar, and its engaging courtroom drama. While it may not fully capture the intricacies of the real-life events it draws inspiration from, it succeeds in delivering an entertaining cinematic experience with a dose of moral contemplation. 

Casting 

Crew

Character Analysis

Akshay Kumar as Rustom Pavri

Akshay Kumar played the role of Rustom Pavri, the protagonist of the film. He embodied the role of a naval commander with a combination of stoic determination and emotional depth, effectively conveying the moral dilemmas and conflicts faced by Rustom. Akshay Kumar made the character appealing and intriguing. His performance was a key factor in the film’s success. 

Ileana D’Cruz as Cynthia Pavri

Ileana D’Cruz portrayed Cynthia Pavri in the movie Rustom. Her performance in the role was commendable, bringing depth and emotion to the character. Cynthia’s role conveyed the emotional turmoil of a woman caught in a difficult situation. Ileana’s portrayal of Cynthia displayed a range of emotions, from love and longing to confusion and despair, as her character grapples with the confusion and complexities of her relationship with Rustom. 

Songs

Behind the scenes

Watch this behind-the-scenes video of Rustom

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Box Office Collection

Awards

Interesting facts

• The role played by actor Kurush Deebo in the 2003 movie "Munna Bhai MBBS" was known by the moniker "Rustom Pavri."

• Based on the legal case of K. M. Nanavati. The government of India eliminated jury trials, hence the case was the last to be heard as a jury trial.

• A real newspaper headline from the Nanavati murder case vs. the state inspired the tagline "Three shots that shook the nation" that appeared on the movie's poster.

• After Special 26 (2013) and Baby (2015), this is the third time that Akshay Kumar and Neeraj Pandey have worked together. Both of these films were critically acclaimed and were huge successes.

• By receiving 3 million views on the Internet and 100 million views on television via the Zed network, where it was shown simultaneously across all of their stations, Rustom smashed records. This was the first movie to gross over $100 million, and it did so in just one day.

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