Terrible times, we're living in today. The continuous spate of bomb blasts in Bangalore (July 25, 2008) and Ahmedabad (July 26, 2008) have shaken me to the core. What a terrible, terrible waste of life!
The most shocking thing is that I'm not surprised today, just saddened and disheartened that the Indian government is not doing enough to combat terrorism. Totally disenchanted with the government and their milk-sop policies in dealing with the perpetrators of these atrocities, I decided to postpone going out this weekend. It's not that I'm scared, but so sad that I didn't feel like going outside.
Just tried out some new recipes at home during dinner. Dinner time means channel browsing. And Sony TV was showing its TV premier of 'Naqaab - The Thriller.'
Started watching it for some diversion, got involved, and was impressed. Here's why:
1. Plot: The story is based in Dubai and involves three primary characters: Sophia (debutante Urvashi Sharma), Karan (Bobby Deol), and Vicky (Akshaye Khanna).
Sophia, a beautiful middle-class girl, believes in earning for her needs by serving in Burger King! Totally besotted with her is a multi-millionaire tycoon, Karan Oberoi, who ironically is not shown working even once. Karan proposes. She accepts.
But wait! Not all is well in the love-birds' paradise. Why else would she be titillated by the attentions of another non-working Romeo, Vicky? Their first meeting is equally bizarre. On a hen's night out with her girlfriends she's persuaded, rather forcibly, by the restuarant owner to pick up a man from the diners for 'one last dance' to celebrate the end of her single life. She chooses Vicky, who was the only one more interested in capturing her on his videocam rather than posing for her. They have one beautiful dance and the third angle in the love story starts.
Now, Vicky pursues Sophia. She refuses at first, and then she gives in. And they have an affair.
2. The twist: Big deal! Yes, it is because it soon becomes apparent that the whole plot is actually engineered by someone. The entire life of the three lovers was being captured on the video cam, unbenown to them. Mysterious phone calls are made to Vicky to honor a "contract?" So what's going on?
To cut the long story short, Karan is none other than an egotistical, callous, materialistic director who's signed up Vicky for a film contract. Vicky is to play the third part in a love triangle, only that the people involved would be real and wouldn't know that their emotions are being captured live by a candid camera. But the deal is murkier than you thought. Nothing is more important than getting the film shot in a 'realistic way,' even if human emotions and feelings are trodden and lives are shattered interim.
The most shocking thing is that I'm not surprised today, just saddened and disheartened that the Indian government is not doing enough to combat terrorism. Totally disenchanted with the government and their milk-sop policies in dealing with the perpetrators of these atrocities, I decided to postpone going out this weekend. It's not that I'm scared, but so sad that I didn't feel like going outside.
Just tried out some new recipes at home during dinner. Dinner time means channel browsing. And Sony TV was showing its TV premier of 'Naqaab - The Thriller.'
Started watching it for some diversion, got involved, and was impressed. Here's why:
1. Plot: The story is based in Dubai and involves three primary characters: Sophia (debutante Urvashi Sharma), Karan (Bobby Deol), and Vicky (Akshaye Khanna).
Sophia, a beautiful middle-class girl, believes in earning for her needs by serving in Burger King! Totally besotted with her is a multi-millionaire tycoon, Karan Oberoi, who ironically is not shown working even once. Karan proposes. She accepts.
But wait! Not all is well in the love-birds' paradise. Why else would she be titillated by the attentions of another non-working Romeo, Vicky? Their first meeting is equally bizarre. On a hen's night out with her girlfriends she's persuaded, rather forcibly, by the restuarant owner to pick up a man from the diners for 'one last dance' to celebrate the end of her single life. She chooses Vicky, who was the only one more interested in capturing her on his videocam rather than posing for her. They have one beautiful dance and the third angle in the love story starts.
Now, Vicky pursues Sophia. She refuses at first, and then she gives in. And they have an affair.
2. The twist: Big deal! Yes, it is because it soon becomes apparent that the whole plot is actually engineered by someone. The entire life of the three lovers was being captured on the video cam, unbenown to them. Mysterious phone calls are made to Vicky to honor a "contract?" So what's going on?
To cut the long story short, Karan is none other than an egotistical, callous, materialistic director who's signed up Vicky for a film contract. Vicky is to play the third part in a love triangle, only that the people involved would be real and wouldn't know that their emotions are being captured live by a candid camera. But the deal is murkier than you thought. Nothing is more important than getting the film shot in a 'realistic way,' even if human emotions and feelings are trodden and lives are shattered interim.
3. The end suspense: The movie unfolds in myriad ways, creating a question on what construes on taking 'artistic liberty' and how we just need to justify our ends, whatever the way. But you reap what you sow. Vengeance raises its head and someone is shot. Who? Why? How?
4. The inspiration: Like all good suspense movies, this movie has also been "inspired" (read, lifted from scene to scene with minor alterations to suit Indian taste, like song and dance routine) from the 2003 British film dot the i. No big surprises, there. But now you know what to do if you accidentally come across the original version. Don't miss it! I've often found that Indian directors lift stories only from 'good movies.'
5. The cast:
Urvashi Sharma: Good job, could have been better. The key thing she's very easy on eyes---beautiful, translucent skin, fantastic screen presence. However, would advise her to go easy on makeup as she's naturally beautiful and has great complexion.
- Looks: 5/5 (She's a model with a high acceptance level in movies, as she's not reed thin and beanpole tall and has a very pretty face)
- Acting: 2.5/5 (Is her voice real? That's the first question I try to find out when models debut. With time, they do learn to 'act.' But their dialog delivery is usually below par. Good examples are John Abraham, Arjun Rampal, and Sushmita Sen. Bad examples are Milind Soman, Dino Morea, and Bipasha Basu.
- Looks: 2.5/5
- Acting: 3/5
As for acting, he's amazing. He's easily one of the most under-rated actors in Bollywood. He's expressive, knows when to go over the top and tone it down, and has a fluid face.
- Looks: 2/5
- Acting: 5/5
6. Direction: 2.5/5 (A good effort by the director duo Abbas-Mastan to make an 'inspired, Indianized' version of the original)
7. Music: I only remember 'Ek Din' dance number. Fantastic song. Beautifully choreographed.
- Singer: Javed Ali (5/5)
- Music director: Prittam (3/5 because though this song gets a complete 5, but the rest of the songs have faded from memory. Not a good effort for the album.)
- Lyricist: Sameer (4.5/5)
- Choreography: Beautiful, excellent Salsa number choreographed by Raju Khan (5/5)
Remain safe and sound and in peace and love!
Chao.
No comments:
Post a Comment