Qayamat: City Under Threat is a Bollywood action-filled thriller, which is filled with patriotism, suspenseful and high-stakes drama. The movie is based on the determined CBI officer Akram Sheikh whose gritty determination takes him through a foot race with time to avert what terrorists who are holding Mumbai as their hostage have planned. The storyline has been densely designed and it is a web of conspiracy comprising of Pakistani agents, corrupt officials and a deadly virus, which reaches its peak with a daring rescue mission. The main conflict of the story is the endless fighting of the hero in order to rescue innocent people, and that is why stakes are personal and monumental. The fact that the movie depicts terrorism and political corruption is a social commentary that provides it with a modern touch.
The movie is a cinematic thrill, particularly when it comes to the infiltration of the Elphinstone Jail, a moody, dark, claustrophobic and tunnel-filled area filled with explosions. Rachit, played in a very believable way by Ajay Devgan, is the emotional support of the film, as his complicated back story of betrayal, loss, and trauma gives the action relentless depth. The ensemble cast of the film including Sunil Shetty and Isha Koppikar adds to the tense atmosphere and there are some points of real suspense in the middle of the actions. The urgency is increased by the score used in the film, and the pace is incredibly fast and is kept by the editing, ensuring that the viewers remain engaged throughout the film.
The most striking to me was the transformation of Rachit -the mute haunted man into the brave hero who can tear down plans of the terrorists by himself. The emotional sequences, particularly those with Sapna, are also a touching contrast to the loud action, and the stakes become personal. Although at some points the plot appears to be a bit melodramatic, the unstoppable energy of the film, the sense of patriotism and the victory of the main character, Rachit, in his speech and in his fight made me experience a combination of adrenaline, hope, and the glory of the power of the human spirit to fight any odds.
