Director: Sachin Bajaj
Producer: Akshay Bajaj
Starring: Sunny Deol, Viveik Oberoi, Sameera Reddy, Jackie Shroff, Mridula Chandrashekhar
Music Dir: Pritam, Anu Malik

Festivities are back in the Deol family. Not many will remember as to when Sunny Deol gave a super duper hit film. The name that comes to everyone's mind is 'Gadar-Ek Prem Katha', or if one becomes a bit liberal then 'Hero- Love Story of A Spy' can also be counted as an above average film. But, after this there has been a complete lull in the life of Junior 'He Man'. Sunny has taken six years to present 'Naksha'. All his films post 'Gadar', from 'Kasam', 'Indian', 'Maa Tujhe Salam', '23rd March 1931-Shaheed', 'Karz- The Burden of The Truth', 'Kaise Kahoon Ke Pyaar Hai', 'Jaal- The Trap', 'Khel', 'Lakeer', 'Rok Sako To Rok Lo' and 'Jo Bole So Nihaal' had miserably flopped at box office.

But, Sunny Deol is one actor who rises like Phoenix from the ashes every time the trade and the critics write him off. This time debutant director Sachin Bajaj comes to his rescue and full marks must be given to Sunny Deol who has emerged victorious in a film that has least expectations in the season. Given the fact 'Naksha' revives a genre that has not been touched in recent times in the Hindi cinema that has been busy making comedies and films based on relationships, this film is sure to click among masses who have been feeling starved to see films like 'Victoria No. 203', 'Chor Machaye Shor', 'Choron Ki Baraat', 'Jagir' etc.

'Naksha' may sound like a take off from Hollywood film, 'National Treasure', or as some claim 'Indiana Jones'. However, Sachin Bajaj has very cleverly presented his plot in the Indian context. Screenplay writer Milap Jhaveri and Tushar Hiranandani are the main crusaders in 'Naksha' because it is this team that has intermixed adventure, heroism and mythology so well in the story that the people who come to see the film, feel awful. Lavish locales, strong visual effects and edge of the seat action sequences make 'Naksha' an entertainer that can compete with 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' at the box office.

The film also tries to revive two brothers' theme that used to be crux of filmmakers like Man Mohan Desai. 'Naksha' meaning "map" is actually a property of Professor Kapil (Tirlok Malhotra). He sees a doom in invite with the map and chooses to die than let the map go in wrong hands. He believes that it is this map which can change destiny of all human beings. Professor Kapil has two sons but they are not real brothers; they are born from different mothers. The story unfolds with younger son Vicky (Vivek Oberoi) chancing upon the map and starting a voyage to find out what went wrong with his father. Little did he know that he is entering an area where even the most dare not tread.

Vicky is soon targeted by the same gang that killed his father and taken hostage. Vicky's mother has no one to depend upon but for Veer (Sunny Deol), her stepson. Veer throws his life in danger and saves Vicky, buy Vicky is not too happy with this obligation. He prefers to slip out again but Veer will not let it happen.

The duo is oblivious of the fact that they are still being hunted by bad fellows (headed by none other that Jackie Shroff). And in the midst of all this chaos, drops in RIA (Sameera Reddy), who is a TV host for some travel magazine. The story may look very simple but the execution is the key of the film. Director Sachin Bajaj has taken the story into the fantasies that every one dreams of while reading adventurous novels.

Leading a team of actors like Sunny Deol and Jackie Shroff is not an easy task at least for a debutant director . But these senior actors have shown their full faith in this new director and have thrown themselves into his hands. The character of Sunny Deol has been developed very beautifully and his progression is so sleek that after some time when Veer does impossible things, it looks natural. Sachin has an excellent technical team too.

If cinematography of Vijay Arora creates just perfect ambience in the film, it is the work of Allan Amin that lifts it to the ultimate level. In fact, if one says that action sequences are heart of the film, it won't be wrong. Timing, perfection and action choreography is at its best in the cliff sequence. Nitish Roy has contributed wholeheatedly in creating the correct aura and even music director Pritam doesn't remain behind as he delivers at least one superb number in U and I.

Among actors, Sunny Deol has played full to his potential after a very long time. This Jat puttar has immense capabilities to win the hearts of masses and at a time when every producer is hell bent to please multiplex audience, heroes like Sunny and Salman can only make shows in single screen theaters going. Sunny Deol delivers a performance that is a treat to watch and he looks perfect in the role of a forest officer (his father played a role like this long back in 'Pratigya').

Jackie Shroff too created bad mark very well and he matches goodness of Sunny's character with his evil designs. Sameera looks sexy and does her part aptly. The only weak link of the film is Vivek Oberoi who looks firm to finish his career in every film he has been doing in recent days. On the whole, 'Naksha' is a full entertainer for masses. And, Sunny Deol's fans will be more than happy to spend three hours in this film.