Om Trinetra Films’ Accident Or Conspiracy: Godhra (A) is about the train burning incident at Godhra in 2002, in which 59 people died. The film touches upon the communal tension that broke out thereafter but it is mainly about the prelude to the riots which actually sparked off the riots. It traces the journey of the kar sevaks who were returning from Ayodhya in the Sabarmati Express train, many of whom were charred to death in the train when miscreants set the train on fire at Godhra.
M.K. Shivaaksh has written a slipshod story about the Godhra train burning incident which continues to haunt the collective conscience of India. His screenplay is so poorly written that the horrifying drama doesn’t have even a tenth of the impact it should’ve had on the viewers. The court room drama, which should have been the high point of the screenplay is so dull that it makes one wonder why the film was even attempted. The two judges hearing the arguments of the two advocates look so disinterested that it could frustrate the viewers enough to throw them into the burning bogies of the train. Also, many among the audience would not like to relive a story which they have read about and seen unfold on news channels. Vanshika Tomar’s dialogues are ordinary.
Ranvir Shorey looks disinterested in his work. He acts poorly in the role of advocate Mahmood Qureshi. His unpreparedness is evident when he doesn’t even read his dialogues (which he should’ve actually memorised) in a proper flow. Manoj Joshi is earnest as advocate Ravindra Pandya. Hitu Kanodia does a fair job as Deshpande. Denisha Ghumra acts ably as Devki. Akshita Namdev holds her own as Turshi. M.K. Shivaaksh is ordinary as Abhimanyu. Ganesh Yadav has his moments as Hamid Bilal. Gulshan Pandey is reasonably good as Ravi Mohan. Makrand Shukla is alright as Rajdeep Singh Baghela. Rajeev Surti is okay as Shri Ram. Bhaskar Manyam (as Mansukhbhai), Avyan Alpesh Mehta (as Manu), Pankaj Anand (as the maulvi) and the rest lend average support. Sharad Kelkar’s voice-over is impactful.
M.K. Shivaaksh’s direction is dull. Music (by V. Rakx and Yug Bhusal) is functional. Lyrics (Sahas Pareek and Aman Pratap Singh) are ordinary. Manan Munjal’s background music hardly adds anything to the drama. Shankar Awwate’s camerawork is routine. Action and stunt scenes (Ameet Naikar) have been poorly picturised. Sanjiv Waman Rane’s production designing and Anant Motiram Sutar’s art direction are dull. Santosh Mandal’s editing leaves something to be desired.
On the whole, Accident Or Conspiracy: Godhra is a flop show.
Released on 19-7-’24 at Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay by Cinepolis India thru August Entertainment. Publicity & opening: dull. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.