Let's start with the good things. The concept of the film to start with, is excellent which has a tremendous potential for a great movie. A dream star cast only adds to the potential of the film. And when it's Mani Ratnam, you can be rest assured of good direction and acting. So you enter the theater with sky high expectations. But alas!! You find that most (if not all) of your expectations start falling straight on the face one after another. And by the time it ends you realize that the concept was the only thing remained good till that time.

The story, which should have been the story of struggle, set backs and standing again, realizing dreams at all cost, manipulations needed for success and then maintaining success is trimmed to fit in two love stories and some entirely unnecessary songs. You cannot stop wondering what exactly Vidya Balan is doing in the film. And when a mature looking Abhishek Bachchan stands a delivers a emotional cum strong speech to none other than the chief magistrate of the inquiry commission, the attempt to copy Amitabh is very clear. You expect a better job from Abhishek now. Aishwarya is decent in her role. Mithun Da leaves a mark. Cinematography is A grade. But music, always a high point of Mani Ratanam's film is a let down this time. None of the songs would leave you humming the tunes. Its time to pull up the socks for A R Rehman.

Overall a very average film. Its more disappointing since you go with hell lot of expectations. Don't expect too much and watch it, it definitely a one time affair.