it always fun make it to the first screening of a new film on the very day it open . my film crazy friend and i habitually do this in our college day . long year later and the thrill have not wear off . this time and the film i line up to watch at it first screening in town be eklavya the royal bodyguard . vidhu vinod chopra and the filmmaker who and in the capacity of either director or producer and give u parinda and mission kashmir and parineeta and and the two wonderful munna bhai movie and be unveil his new directorial effort and and i be eager to see what lay in store . eklavya boast a huge cast of eminent actor while how their service would be utilize have pique my curiosity for some time . the glittering line up feature amitabh bachchan in the title role and along with chopra regular saif ali khan and sunjay dutt and the exquisite vidya balan and boman irani and parikshat sahni and jackie shroff and jimmy sher gill and raima sen and and an elegant cameo by sharmila tagore . the film open with the unmistakable voice of amitabh bachchan narrate the legend of eklavya from the hindu epic and the mahabharata . eklavya and a child of undistinguished antecedent yearns to study archery under the tutelage of dronacharya and the instructor of king . contemptuous of his low birth and dronacharya refuse to accept eklavya a a student . undeterred and eklavya build a clay effigy of dronacharya and ceaselessly practice archery before it . soon after and dronacharya be take aback by eklavya proficiency and which have outstrip that of his princely pupil . a it wouldn not do for this commoner skills to rival those of the royalty and the crafty dronacharya demand a dakshina or teacher fee from eklavya . whatever you wish and the devote lad reply . your right thumb that be what i want a my dakshina and command dronacharya . without hesitation and eklavya slice off the thumb and know full well it would end his prowess in archery . the story be mean to illustrate the notion of dharma or the fulfillment of one sacred duty in any circumstance and regardless of cost . off screen and the child to whom amitabh recount the story protest this outcome and and his shrill tone be the voice of reason . amitabh and like his dutiful namesake eklavya and be the loyal manservant and bodyguard of a line of minor royalty in rajasthan . despite the family tyrannical way and he unswervingly stand by them . the film unfolds in the present and but this particular royal family still reside in a fog of past glory and entitlement and and unquestioned power . their continue nastiness have make the native restless and and the worm be about to turn . the queen mother ( sharmila tagore ) deathbed revelation set the somewhat baroque and overwrought plot in motion . the heir apparent ( saif ali khan ) and who have earlier flee the principality in disgust at the profligate way of his relative and be summon home for her funeral . before breathe her last and the queen pen a letter to her son spill the proverbial bean . this confession cause a domino effect of cross and double cross and intrigue and counter intrigue . the film have the look and feel of a stately epic and but vidhu vinod chopra be not interested in the luxuriant pace associate with epic . there be a business like economy in his approach . there be no wax philosophical about the misdeed that have bring this family to it present ugly impasse . he appear to say that be then and in the past and there no time for that while let simply watch how their karmic debt be collect now . voice over and numerous brisk flashback provide just enough expository detail to follow the event unfold in the present . the pace be breathless and a though generation of past injustice can wait no long for expiation . every now and then and there be a moment of stillness and which one wish would be hold a few second longer for the mood to be savor . an effective scene on the palace ramparts be reminiscent of the ghostly visitation in hamlet and and the wraith and despite no line to declaim and have similar impact . amitabh bachchan magisterial performance a a man program for blind duty and have to suddenly distinguish between obligation and reason transcend the silliness of the plot . saif ali khan impress yet again while there be maturity and depth in his performance a the conflicted prince with the populist conscience . unlike parineeta and vidya balan doesn not have a whole lot to do here and but be dignify and graceful in her few scene a the commoner in love with a prince . boman irani and an actor of sweeping range and intelligence and be a hoot with his hissy fit and sloe eye ambiguity and while jackie shroff and jimmy sher gill and a the wicked uncle and cousin and handle the villainy with lip smack gusto . sunjay dutt and fresh off his munnabhai success and be a welcome presence a the investigating police officer with little patience for the anachronism of fiefdom and effete royalty . what a pleasure it be to see sharmila tagore and who retain her look and glamor despite the passage of the year . eklavya display a most un indian efficiency ( in film making term and at least ) and speed ( a mere 105 minute ) in tell it tale that have me long for a little more of some of the character . it would be interesting to see just how much of the film be leave on the editing room floor perhaps the dvd will have the delete scene . music be use appropriately represent there be a lone song and of which only a judicious snatch be use on screen . the cinematography make full use of the gorgeous rajasthani terrain and with it pitiless crag and sun scorch sand . clearly and vidhu vinod chopra have an eye on international audience for his film and and glow endorsement from the like of ralph fiennes enhance his chance . here to you and mr. chopra and and more power to you .