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NOTE: My review concentrates a lot on the plot leading to the murder that is so that you are interested in the film and see if it's meant for you.
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Abbas-Mustan’s Baazigar, a psychological thriller that it is, leaves the audience unprepared for the twists and turns the story develops. It gives the Bollywood Film Industry a new, fresh look.
.::The Title::.
‘Baazigar,’ is a word that is not used daily by people but will be after they have watched this suspense thriller. The title itself means, ‘Magician’ or ’Conjurer’ and is effective in it’s own way as it link’s deeply to the story.
.:: The Plot ::.
The film begins with a young boy whose mother is extremely ill. Apparently, she has suffered from a nervous breakdown or massive shock, which has left her in this state. The boy swears he will get revenge from the man who made her like this. The scene is dark and nightly as this itself is effective as it shows this is an interesting film.
The film moves on 15 years as he find the young boy Ajay, has grown into Shah Rukh Khan. He is still taking care of his mother who has not yet recovered. She asks how ‘Munni’ is doing, and he replies she has become very naughty. The audience is left puzzled on who she is and where she is.
Ajay stands alone waiting for the bus to Bombay when a car stops beside him. It’s his child hood friend Vicky who tells him he will give him a lift. Vicky asks Ajay why he is going to Bombay, he replies seriously, ‘In the search of success.’ Ajay learns that Vicky lost both his parents in a plane accident, 3 years ago.
Comedy is added to the film as Babulal (Johnny Lever), the head-servant picks up the phone where a man starts laughing. Finally, after a minute of laughing the man says he wants to speak to Mr. Chopra. Babulal, goes around the house looking for Mr. Chopra when he forgets about the phone and then blames the other servants. He picks it up again and says, ‘Hello’. The man on the other end assumes its Mr. Chopra and tells him he would like to come to ask for Seema’s hand in marriage for his son. When he realizes that it’s the head-servant again, he asks for Mr.Chopra. At that point, Seema (the new-comer, Shilpa Shetty) makes an appearance. She tells Babulal she is going to College and he picks up the phone and tells the man on the other end that Mr. Chopra has gone to college. These hilarious scenes pick up the mood of the film.
Seema is late meeting her secret boyfriend Ajay, who is angry and locks himself in his book. At that point Seema sings the song, Kitabein Bahut Si, to win him over.
Back at home, Priya (Kajol) has returned from Shimla and is furious that no one bothered to come to pick her up from the airport. She stands with a whip in hand and the servants in a row infront of her. When she asks Babulal about her father, he replies he was in a helicopter when he became cold so he decided to turn the fan off but didn’t realize that he would die. Priya becomes even angry and asks whose father. Babulal replies mine. At this point Priya has had enough and tells all the servants to Get Lost!
Madan Chopra, the wealthy businessman and father of Seema and Priya, takes over a garment factory that he names after his elder daughter Seema. He tells both daughters that he is going to Madras where he will participate one last time. Seema tells him that she can’t make it because she has her exams.
Madan Chopra is warned by his friend that he may end up losing the race since a new racer, Vicky Malhotra is extremely fast and has won many times. The audience is shocked to see that Vicky Malhotra is the exact same face of Ajay. What’s the story behind this? Both M. Chopra and Vicky are neck to neck when Vicky decides to lose. M. Chopra is impressed as Vicky worships him as a guru and it would be selfish winning. In an instant, Priya falls for this unknown man.
Back home, the man from the phone brings his son for the possible marriage between him and Seema. Humour is again added just after the suspense as Babulal forgets to put the tea in the water and put salt instead of sugar.
Seema panics when she learns she is going to marry someone other than Ajay. She meets up with him at their secret place. He tells her that the only path left for them is suicide. He tells her to write a letter and he too writes one. When she’s done he tells her that it would be coward ness to commit suicide and they will meet at the Registrar's office the following day where they will marry in secret.
The office is closed for lunch so Ajay takes Seema to the roof. The audience is astonished when the see that Ajay pushes Seema of the roof and she lands DEAD!…
.:: The Finest Performances ::.
The new, fresh Shilpa Shetty delivers a huge performance playing Seema. She plays her character well and adds innocence to her. We are sympathetic towards her character, as the man she loved kills her.
The villainous role of Shah Rukh Khan is played from the heart. His innocent face covers the viscous creature of Ajay inside. He performs more than well and natural acts all through the film. He brings his character to life.
The bubbly Kajol, although not too much said about her in the plot adds emotion to the film. It was the first time her and Shah Rukh Khan were paired up together, and both work exceedingly well. Kajol again fits into the film as it is brought to life.
.:: The Music ::.
Music is supposed to flow perfectly from the story and this is exactly how Anu Malik does it. Each song whether it’s sad or happy fits into the film and delivers the story through it. The title song, ‘Baazigar O Baazigar’ creates a cheerful atmosphere when Priya falls in love with Vicky yet again at the end the much slower pace touches the heart of the audience.The songs themselves are average but not so good.
.:: The Director Duo ::.
Whenever, Abbas-Mustan pair up the audience is in for shocks and surprises. The story is always turned so that whatever the audience thinks that does not happen. Both directors add emotion, suspense, laughter, anger and love into the film. The film flows nicely from one scene to the other as the audience can easily follow and understand it; yet not predict the right ending until near the end.
Abbas-Mustan bring tears in the eyes of all people watching the ending of the film. It is one film to remember.
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