Maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has built himself into a brand name that is symbolic with sensible cinema. So naturally his 'Ab Tak Chhappan' does not disappoint. In fact, it makes you feel that finally you have seen an underworld film that is really different. And that's truly commendable considering all the recent releases based on the underworld have bombed. 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is based on the life of a sharpshooter, Sadhu Agahse (Nana Patekar). So 'Ab Tak Chhappan' is a looking into the mind of a guy who guns down criminals without batting an eyelid. The human side to him is brought out really well. The initial reels establish his character, his relationship with his wife, Namitha (Revathi), and son. It's fun to see the other side of the hard-hitter, especially scenes where he picks up vegetables for dinner, so typical of some Indian men. The scene in which Sadhu explains to his junior, Jatin (Nakul Vaid) and his fiancée, Vaishali (Hrishitaa Bhatt in a guest appearance) the exact procedure to make tasty sambhar is cute. Only Nana can do this with finesse. His sadistic and tongue-in-cheek humour provides enough relief in this otherwise grim film. He is truly in top form! A realistic, hard-hitting film, 'Ab Tak...' has the viewers hooked after the first half hour. Yes, the first half hour drags and makes you shift around in your seat. A couple of encounters shown in this time period are not very different from the regular fare that one sees in underworld films. But the third encounter is mind blowing. This is what distinguishes Ramu from the rest of the lot who indulge in underworld stories. He makes their films look amateurish. Also the climax scene in which Sadhu avenges his wife's death is brilliant. The film has some really great moments. If you think this is a hard-hitting film about the underworld, then you will be surprised with the emotional twist to it. The scene in which Sadhu's wife is shot at is heart wrenching. There is no unwanted melodrama. Sadhu is composed and controlled. The pain is conveyed only through his eyes and gait. The emotional bond that develops between Sadhu and his son after that is portrayed in a very sensitive and subtle manner. Sadhu's shift to the wrong side of the law is also dealt with very naturally unlike the 'badle ki aag' that typifies our Hindi films. Revathi is a perfect natural. (Imtiaz) Yashpal Sharma, a slightly jealous colleague is very convincing. Can't say if this film will be a commercial success but it will surely go down as one of the better films in recent times. One must add that the film has shades of 'Satya'. So while credit goes to director Shimit Amin for a well-made film, we would like to congratulate Ramu too. Because somewhere the Ramu touch is there. Much as he denies it, it would be impossible to imagine that the film would shape up in this manner without his special strokes. Surely a Must-See film for all cinegoers!