Jun 07, 2008 07:35 PM
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Rajeev Khandelwal - A regular in television soaps for quite a while now became a mini TV God with his ‘Sujal’ in Ekta Kapor’s Kahiin To Hoga. With Aamir he faces the big screen for the very first time. So how does he do? Honestly, he tries his best and gives a good performance.
Aamir takes the viewer on a journey into the life of a man who is helpless, in a place he’s unfamiliar with and with a phone call that changes his entire life in a matter of a few hours. Talk about abstract thrill….Aamir has plenty of it.
Dr.Aamir Ali(Rajeev Khandelwal) lands in Bombay after a long flight from London. At the airport his luggage is flicked and he’s given a cell phone by two bikers. The phone rings and as soon as Aamir picks the call….his life changes forever. He’s catapulted into a life he’s never seen - tiny lanes and bylanes, dirty roads, filthy toilets, broken buildings, crowded markets, a whose house and just about everything he could never have imagined. What happens when an anonymous caller asks you to live up to your name? Watch Aamir to find out.
Rajeev Khandelwal is brilliant as Dr.Aamir. The helplessness, the frustration, the anger, the bewilderedness…….you name the emotion in the narrative and he has it in his eyes. The most expressive eyes i’ve seen in a long time. Excellent casting by whoever chose Rajeev for the role. He fits the character to perfection. I won’t mention other actors because all the other actors are firstly unknown and secondly they jointly don’t get as much screen time as does Rajeev.
The story goes into action almost immediately after the titles. Barely wastes any time in introducing the plot(since it opens up slowly but surely). Two things I need to mention are locations and background score. The film is shot in locations most multiplex junta would not have seen in real life. The meat market, the run down bylanes, the chawls, the filthy toilets etc. Superb choice of locations….it really helps show realism in the plot. The background score co-ordinates perfectly with the happenings in the film….the chases, the thrills, the surprises, the shocks, the helplessness….every minute has a background score made for it.:)
As I mentioned earlier, the film has plenty of abstract thrill. The viewer is made to feel just like the protagonist….helpless and clueless as to what is going on. As every frame proceeds, you wait for the next twist to come by and there are quite a few of those in Aamir. When Rajeev yells on the phone asking for the ultimate goal rather than making him run around, that is exactly what goes on in the viewer’s mind. Lots of thrill without knowing anything about anything. Very novel concept. The climax is unpredictable and is infact the high point of the film. It leaves you stunned for quite a while.
Some good scenes:
1) Discrimination scene at the airport.
2) Scene when Rajeev’s luggage gets flicked.
3) The sequence after the red briefcase gets stolen.
4) The climax.
A few cons:
1) Rajeev's past is not explored properly. They could've lent 5 mins to that.
2) Why is Rajeev chosen to do the task is also a mystery.
If you’re looking for lavish sets, beaches, skimpily dresses women, songs shot abroad or fancy cars, you’re wasting your time. I would recommend Aamir to viewers who like to see an abstract thriller with realistic locations and an excellent background score in the hands of an able actor - Rajeev Khandelwal.
