SANGHARSH is a film which has no identity of its genuiness in today's world. Who has the time for 'bali' and other such horrendous rituals and religious insanities? The maker of this film has a primitive mind and a storyline to match. No one needs such kind of films today when brainless entertainment is the order of the day.

It is the story of Lajja Shankar Pandey (Ashutosh Rana) who believes Goddess Kali will be too happy with him and grant him immortality if he sacrifices the lives of children to Her. This is the reason he kidnaps children and kills them.

Now this thing needs to be taken care of. So CBI research trainee Reet Oberoi (Priety Zinta) has been assigned the task of tracing Lajja Shankar. But he is somebody CBI knows nothing about and that's the reason Professor Aman Verma (Akshay Kumar) a criminal going through hardcore imprisonment is taken into consideration. He can be of great help to Reet in finding Lajja.

As it is, Prof., as he is called because of his wide knowledge of things and more about criminals, is adamant in helping Reet. But eventually he is overcome by her beauty and charm and agrees to help CBI. Finally, as it turns out, Lajja is a religious fanatic and sacrifices children to Mother Kali who, he believes, will bless him immortality. This is the reason he kidnaps Chief Minister's son. This fanatism comes to an end mercifully (for audiences) when both Lajja and Prof are killed. Coming from a lady director like Tanuja Chandra, there should have been more to SANGHARSH than just the idea of immortality and sacrifices. But Priety Zinta has looked good in her crop-cut role of a CBI research trainee. But she has a lot of drawbacks as such. She is scared of darkness and so carries a small torch with her. Her brother was a terrorist and so she had had a traumatic past and wanted such a profession. There come so many questions in your mind that they remain questions till the end.

Akshay Kumar has a nice role as a professor-who-knows-all but should have put more punch and glamour in the role. One thing, his acting has come good and now he can be put in the bracket of actors. Through out the movie, he is seen inside his cell sketching photographs of Priety Zinta and fantasizing about her in the snow-capped Swiss Alps.

Ashutosh Rana has again given a class performance. People will forget his performance in 'Dushman' and remember him for this. He is so good that sometimes one wonders whether this man is for real or just playing his part. 'The role' of his life, should we say?

The music of this film is given by Jatin-Lalit and two of them have already become big hits. Everyone right from Preity Zinta, Akshay Kumar and Ashutosh Rana have done a fairly good job but there should have been more to the story.

Songs of Sangharsh
1. Pehli Pehli Baar (Sonu Nigam & Shradha Pandit)
2. Mujhe Raat Din (Sonu Nigam)
3. Naaraz Savera Hai (Kumar Sanu)
4. Manzil Na Koi (Remo Fernandes & Jaspinder Narula)
5. Hum Badi Door Chalen Aaye (Sonu Nigam & Shradha Pandit)


- Jubilee Mukherjee.