Cast: Ajay Devgan, Akshaye Khanna, Urmila Matondkar
          Writer & Director: Anees Bazmee
          Producer: Nitin Manmohan
          Music: Ismail Darbar
       
           The Film: Ajay Devgan is once again back in a negative role. Written and directed by Anees Bazmee, Dewangee is a well-conceived thriller with Ajay in the central role of a musical genius-cum-thriller. Matching wits with him is Akshaye Khanna playing a young, principled lawyer. Together with Urmila Matondkar, they form a love triangle, from which is born a great thriller-cum-romance.

          Others in the cast are Farida Jalal, seema Biswas, Tanaz Currim, Vijayendra Ghate and Rana Jung Bahadur, among others. Farida plays Akshaye Khanna's mother and Tiku Talsania fills the slot of her brother in marginal role. Seema's psychiatrist is a tough one, but manages it well.

          The film shows the emotional relationships between Ajay and Urmila since childhood, when they are separated. While Urmila grows up to become a successful singer in the city, while Ajay also develops a love for music, being the son of a classical musician. He reaches the town one day and meets Urmila. This reunion strengthens their emotional bonds or so it seems. Ajay agrees to train her up for better performance. She is singing for a music company, when one day its boss is murdered.

          Raj Goal (Akshaye) had already struck friendship with Urmila and was courting her, but Tarang Bhardwaj (Ajay Devgan) case - he is held on the suspicion of murder - upsets her and she keeps urging her lawyer to save her guru who she believes is innocent. There are long- drawn court scenes taking the story to gripping heights.

           The most interesting part of the film centres on Ajay's so-called split personality - Dr Seema Biswas has several sessions with him and comes to the conclusion that he has two personalities. Tarang and Ranjit. One is a mild, stammering, miserable looking singer and the other an aggressive and violent person. Tarang when provoked beyond a certain point is transformed into Ranjit.    

        It is a tough role which Ajay manages with ease. But he is not very convincing every time. On the other hand, Akshaye has no less a complex character to handle. He is a conscientious lawyer, an investigator and a lover. Coping with all the three sides of his role, he proves once again that he is no mean actor.

           In a scenario of big budget flops, Deewangee shines with a silver line. It makes for a promising entertainment fare. The audience seems to have got bored with syrupy family dramas and chocolate heroes falling head over heels with 'innocent' heroines, rich versus poor and such other stuff.

          One may raise doubts about some of the characters and situations, but nobody can deny the credit for presenting to the audience a gripping thriller and you are unable to decide which way your sympathies lie.