Malvika Chauhan (Sushmita Sen) is one of the most talked-about sleuths in the entire CBI. She, along with her assistants Satya (Sushant Singh) and Rafique (Dinesh Lamba), has a new challenge in the form of the mysterious death of a rich business tycoon who has been killed in a unique fashion.

Malvika gets to the task of nabbing the criminal, when Ritika, a famous actress in also murdered in her make-up room on the sets. She soon realises that someone is out after her too. When she follows the clue, she zeroes down of a most wanted criminal, but when they try to nab him, he is found dead.

Debutante director Robby Grewal has opted for a theme that sounds interesting, but when viewed in totality, the outcome falls flat. The screenplay meanders from plausible to implausible at regular intervals. The climax, as mentioned above, is its biggest flaw.

'Samay' has certainly not been designed as a musical and neither are there any full-fledged songs in this movie, which has just one item number - 'Laila Laila' to boast of. This is the reason why the album has mainly instrumentals and some borrowed numbers in the shape of 'Aaj Ki Raat' and 'Jab Andhera'. So, in the end, maybe there is something for someone out there but in totality the album just doesn't appeal massively to an average music lover.

On the performance front, it is Sushmita's film all the way. Be it the execution of action sequences, the chase sequences, or the emotional sequences with her daughter -- Sushmita is just brilliant. Sushant Singh proves yet again why he is considered one among the finest actors around. He is impressive. Dinesh Lamba makes his mark. Jackie Shroff in a cameo delivers. The rest of the casts lend able support.

On the whole, SAMAY - WHEN TIME STRIKES doesn't 'strike' due to a weak climax mainly, which is the backbone of any suspense-thriller.