Director: Jagmohan Mundhra

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Brian Cox, Om Puri, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Laila Rouass, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Gulshan Grover, Greta Scacchi, Ralph Ineson, India Wadsworth, Arrun Harker

Rating: 3 on 5

Terrorism is definitely becoming every film-makers' favourite subject. A Wednesday, Aamir, Mumbai Meri Jaan and Khuda Kay Liye were all based on the subject.

The latest terrorism based offering Shoot on Sight asks one question: is it a crime to be a Muslim? We live in a world where all Muslims are not terrorists but sadly, masterminds behind most terrorist activities are Muslims. One attack puts authorities under immense pressure to nab somebody, anybody who seems even remotely suspicious, that they sometimes kill the innocent common Muslim man.


Tariq Ali (Shah) is a Commander in the Central London Police. He has a British wife Susan (Greta Scacchi) and two children - rebellious daughter Zara (India Wadsworth) and a football crazy son, Imran (Arrun Harker). Meat shop owner Yunus (Gulshan Grover) is his childhood friend. His British boss Daniel Tennant (Brian Cox) has made him in-charge of investigating the case of Hassan: a Muslim man who cop Marber ( Ralph Ineson) shoots on sight because he suspects him to be a terrorist. If Ali succeeds in cracking the case, he will be promoted. Ali ropes in his subordinate Ruby Kaur (Laila Rouass) to assist him on the case. Meanwhile, his opinionated nephew Zaheer (Mikaal Zulfiqar) comes from Pakistan to study engineering in London and takes a keen interest in Islamic study circles conducted by the fanatic Junaid (Om Puri). They are nothing but mujahideen training camps; brainwashing impressionable Muslim youths to fight and destroy any threat to Islam.

I am not revealing any more of the plot because that will ruin the fun when you watch the film. But one thing is for sure that although Shoot on Sight is slow initially, its pace quickens in the second half. Thankfully, the movie is not over-dramatic or over-stretched. Pay attention to the film. Some of it may seem confusing but it all falls into place towards the climax.

The scene when Kaur uncovers the truth keeps you on the edge and the climax scene is handled well. We have already seen the brainwashing scenes in Khuda Kay Liye.


The performances are excellent and attention is paid to detail. Notice Grover's and Shah's accents while Junaid and Zaheer lack an accent. Shah is brilliant and effortless as usual and looks very fit. Ineson as the 'realist' cop and the gorgeous Rouass as the promotion-seeking officer who risks her life for her job make a mark. Cox is good too. Om Puri is fantastic. Debutant Mikaal Zulfiqar is perfect. Scacchi is consistent as Susan and I liked her Indian-ness and the scene where she shares her suspicion about Zaheer with her husband.

This well-made movie is your best bet this weekend.