Aarakshan

Aarakshan could have been a well-marshalled case of caste-and-conscience, but it turns out to be more light-weight cash-and-carry.

It is marred by the usual bolly-excesses: an inordinate length, unnecessary songs and the miscasting of real-life royal-blood Khan as a 'dalit' (untouchable). Well acted, though.

While its questions of affirmative action and charter schools could theoretically resonate with American auds, the pic's corny theatrics, talky, preachy approach and taxing 164-minute running time will not translate.

At times it's so heavy-handed and clunky in laying out the arguments for and against quotas that it resembles a high school debate rather than a quality drama.