Bail review: This Shiva Rajkumar thriller is entertaining but lacks intelligence

A Shiva Rajkumar film comes with anticipation. The latest release, Bail, came with even more anticipation because of its promising promotional material, especially the announcement teaser. What added to the excitement was the trio of Shiva Rajkumar, Sai Kumar and Jayaram – three close friends – playing three decorated personalities of society.A well-known director like Pavan Wadeyar and an interesting ensemble cast, including Dheekshith Shetty, Yogesh and Sanjana Anand, certainly make Bail sound promising on paper. But what matters is what the film does with those ingredients. Does Bail manage to translate that promise into an entertaining watch? Let’s find out.Watching Bail feels a lot like driving on a long, flat highway. There are no thrilling stretches that make you sit up and enjoy the ride, but thankfully, there are no traffic jams or terrible patches that make you want to give up either. For the most part, it is a smooth drive, with a few pleasant views along the way, some good music playing in the background and barely any bumps. There are a few rough patches where you might find yourself cussing the road, but for the most part, it is a fairly comfortable, passable ride. That, in many ways, is Bail.The story introduces Shiva Rajkumar as Vijay Kumar, a retired IAS officer who leads a simple life with his strict wife, played by Sangeetha, and his niece Naina, played by Sanjana Anand. His closest companions are Robert, played by Jayaram, a retired scientist, and Ali, played by Sai Kumar, a retired High Court judge. The three share a deep friendship, and it is during Vijay’s retirement party that their seemingly quiet lives take an unexpected turn. While the trio are having a drink later that evening, news breaks that an individual with terrorist links, accused of being the mastermind behind a recent terror attack in Karnataka, has been granted bail due to a lack of evidence. The news does not sit well with Vijay, who decides that if the system cannot deliver justice, he will find his own way of doing it. Robert and Ali, despite knowing what they are getting themselves into, end up joining him.And so begins Bail – the story of three “vigil-uncles” who take it upon themselves to deliver their own version of justice. What exactly drives Vijay to take such an extreme step? Why do Robert and Ali choose to stand by him? How does the trio go about delivering this ‘alternate justice’? And when their actions begin to affect their families, what complications follow? Convenient answers to these questions, which are entertaining to an extent but lack the intelligence needed to be convincing, make up the plot of the film. The ‘vigil-uncles’, their antics and the chemistry between the three actors are what the film primarily stands on. The three characters, each with a strong and distinct background, add plenty of entertainment to the film. Their quirky comebacks, nostalgic references to famous dialogues from their iconic films, and contrasting perspectives on the drastic actions they take give the narrative some much-needed character.The core of the story – a commentary on the justice system of the country and the law of the land – goes well with what the story presents. A land where law is what we get and justice is not guaranteed is symbolised by the fact that a criminal can still get away from arrest by using loopholes in the justice system – getting out on bail. However, good intent and a message are not enough to make an engaging film.This story required a lot of intelligence in its script and screenplay. Having three distinguished personalities from three different fields cannot be the answer to everything. It is what they bring to the table with their experience and expertise that gives these characters depth.Similarly, the detailing in the crafting of scenes is just as important. Something as simple as wearing gloves, or at least using a handkerchief to avoid leaving thumbprints on planted or tampered evidence, is just one example of the many moments where, as an audience, we know that this is a very simple mistake through which a perpetrator could be traced, but writer-director Pavan Wadeyar conveniently ignores them. The subject deserved a lot more depth, smarter writing and far less reliance on the god of convenience.Shiva Rajkumar impresses once again with his layered performance. He is funny when needed, but has a screen presence like none other when matters get serious. However, in Bail, he impresses the most during the emotional moments, especially in one particular segment when he is vulnerable both physically and mentally. In that moment, Shivanna’s acting simply pinches your heart.Jayaram and Sai Kumar also bring all their experience to the table. While their characters’ contributions to the action are treated as a means to an end, the actors bring their A-game to moments of banter as well as conflict. Dheekshith Shetty and Sanjana Anand also do well in their limited appearances. The same goes for Gopalkrishna Deshpande and Ramesh Indira.Yogesh, aka Loose Maada Yogi, impresses as the antagonist. He gets the best entry scene among all the actors, even beating Shiva Rajkumar. His menacing presence on screen is nicely utilised, and Yogi’s performance makes it feel like the 'vigil-uncles’ team has finally encountered a fierce hurdle. The character, brief as it is, also reminds you of his ‘Loose Maada’ days from 2007’s Duniya.When it comes to the technical departments, Ajaneesh Loknath impresses with his background score. A key component of the comfortable ride is the music. Cheluve Kele Cheluve has already been well received, while the rest of the songs aren’t as engaging as this one. They are decent enough, though. The background score, no matter how much it reminds you of recent chartbusters from Tamil and Telugu cinema, works well with the pace of the storytelling. The film’s production value, however, leaves much to be desired. It is not simply about how much money was spent, the quality of the gadgets used or how clean the visuals look. Production value should add depth to the story and amplify the emotions through the visuals. Here, it does neither. The cinematography and editing are also far from impressive.Bail is an interesting case. Even when its potential is obvious, and the fact that it doesn’t fully live up to that potential is evident, the film isn’t particularly disappointing. The performances, some quirky moments and the fast-flowing screenplay keep you engaged, even though there are several underwhelming aspects and the convenient writing can be off-putting.- EndsMUST WATCH: