Manoj’s Tragedy Continues: Great Story but BO Doubtful?

What happens when the home you call yours becomes the one thing standing between an entire community and a better life? Last Man in Tower takes that uncomfortable question and turns it into a tense Mumbai drama. In short, there are no clear heroes or villains in this story.

Based on Aravind Adiga’s novel, Ben Rekhi’s film follows retired teacher Yogesh Mishra, played by Manoj Bajpayee. He’s a person who refuses to accept a redevelopment offer that his neighbours are eager to grab. What begins as a disagreement over property soon becomes an ugly battle of egos, money, memories and survival.

Early reactions have particularly praised Manoj’s acting. Many viewers and critics called his performance restrained, layered and perfectly suited to a man who slowly finds himself completely isolated.

Divya Dutta has also emerged as a major highlight, with her character’s desperation and shifting loyalties adding considerable emotional weight. Many have described her as a scene stealer, while Sukant Goel has also earned praise for bringing credibility to the generational conflict.

The response, however, is not unanimous. While some reviews call the film powerful and thought provoking, others feel its brisk 95-minute runtime leaves certain characters and conflicts underdeveloped.

Still, the film’s biggest achievement is its moral ambiguity. Yogesh is neither a flawless hero nor a stubborn villain, while the greed of all residents is rooted in very real hopes for their families.

That makes ‘Last Man in Tower’ less a story about redevelopment and more a sobering look at what happens when progress comes at the cost of belonging.

The problem is that the film had a theatrical release, despite everyone knowing that stories like this do not work at the box office. Its for a very niche audience, and the makers should have realised this fact long before the film was rolled out.