This Ajnabee no Stranger. Review on Ek Ajnabee

Ek Ajnabee (1/2)

Released: 9th Dec 2005

Genre: Thriller

Director: Apoorva Lakhia

Cast: AB, Arjun Rampal, Baby Rucha, Perizad Zorabain

( Exceptional, Brilliant, Good, Average, * Avoidable)

---New Review--- after watching it for the second time :)------------------

This movie should be liked by all who put entertainment over everything else. An average audience is not expected to dissect the movie in terms of technical finesse and art-value.

Second half tends to slow down in most movies nowadays. This is because the stories if directed at good pace would not last more than 1 hour 30 mins but an average audience wants 'paisa wasool' so producers want it to be 2 hours at the least. Apoorva has done much better than his previous venture.

With this in mind, I would rate this highly entertaining movie (for those who may have been fortunate enough to not have seen 'Man on Fire' already, which supposedly is the inspiration of this movie) as a good movie that 'could have been' brilliant. AB's performance is outstanding and baby Rucha has done extremely well too.

In short:

Entertaining fare. Though a bit weak on story telling (read screenplay) front this movie is watchable and likable for Amitabh Bachchan's sterling performance.

The highlights:

1. Mr Amitabh Bachchan rocks! He is UNarguably one of the best actors in the world.

   
   




2. The way wrong-doers are executed are funny and hilarious at times and totally brutal rest of the times. Most of us would find these executions by Mr Bachchan's character amusing.

   
   




3. Apoorva as a director is almost there. He has, sadly, missed the bus as the writer. He has given movie the feel that is international in bits and entertaining on the whole. Music score may not be very original but complements the mood.

   
   




4. All actors have done well. They convey their emotions properly though one may argue that it makes you easier to guess who the real culprit may be. Full points to director again.

   
   

The let-downs:

1. Screenplay. The story telling is not all that great. Normally people see direction only as story telling but what really director does is maintain the overall conceptual integrity of the movie and makes sure that actors act well and in conformity with the 'screenplay'. Screenplay is not power packed and could not back this highly stylized effort of Apporva Lakhia [who also happens to share the mis-credit for weak writing with another guy(don't remember his name)].

   
   




2. Background score becomes a bit loud at times.

   
   




3. Editing is not consistent. It is razor sharp at places and not so sharp at others.

   
   

The limiting factors:

This movie is not getting very good word-of-mouth publicity. This may limit the movie as the audience today (even if entertained well) wants to behave like a critic when asked about it. This movie will, for obvious reasons, be difficult for people to recommend as they may think - what if it is not liked by him! My credit goes down! I still place my two cents on this movie.

A little more about the movie:

Plot is simple and I would not ruine your experience by telling you anything that is revealed only in the end of the movie. AB is a bodygaurd who has his own past and it just haunts him every now and then. He is a thorough professional and does not like to befriend anyone. He rarely laughs but starts doing so in the company of this little angel who he is a bodygaurd to. This happiness is cut short by some unfortunate event. The rest of the story is about how this Ajnabee reacts to this situation. Rather, to put it plainly how he punishes the evil-doers.

Action is like one pulled out of a hollywood flick - stylized. AB's dialogue delivery is immaculate and he sends adreline soaring sky high with his punch-packed lines.

Rucha is a talented actress. I wouldn't compare her with the child actress of Black but she is still very good. Some of the best moments of the movie involve AB and this little girl. Thumbs up!

All other actors have done their work honestly and I am happy to see Arjun do well. Here, people may not agree with me but Arjun has done well. You may compare him with AB and find him not-that-good. Also, anyone's performance looks diluted in front of big B.

A decent movie. Heard that Mr. Bachchan saw this movie in the hospital. We must be proud of this young man in his 60s :)

From Critic's Eyes

Look out for the scene where Rucha tries to make AB laugh. AB is totally natural and I am sure anyone can relate to the expressions on his face. You must have tried not to laugh and have been caught laughing/smiling and then tried to defend yourself. Also observe his eyes and you will marvel at this man's genious.

Although most people will tell you that the best scene of the movie is the swimming scene but it is the one where Ek Ajnabee meets the little girl's father towards the climax and the scene following it. It has so much in it. Observe the underplayed outburst of Perizad and AB's poise in the whole sequence.

Some scenes are gory but who cares. You can close your eyes when this Ajnabee kills someone brutally. Anyways, everyone's execution (death/killing/end) comes about differently and is symbolic. Try to relate how every one is killed and what role he/she played in the wrong-doing. You will find a relation why someone is killed that way.

The end of the movie is a little weak. It is not weak because the real suspect was rather easy to spot. It is weak because the mastermind does not get a well-deserved brutal execution. I am not sure why Lakhia or the screenplay writer decide to have it that way!

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Earlier Review: ()

First things first, this movie is worth a watch for AB alone forget story and direction. This one might be an inspired plot but has enough to appeal to both masses and classes.

In short:

Watch it atleast once. You may want to watch it again very soon.

The highlights:

1. Amitabh sir. He is rocking even at 63. Time to learn from him guys!

   
   




2. Action. Slick and power packed.

   
   




3. Direction. Apoorva is almost there. Second half tends to slow down in most movies nowadays. This is because the stories if directed at good pace would not last more than 1 hour 30 mins but an average audience wants 'paisa wasool' so producers want it to be 2 hours at the least. Apoorva has done much better than his previous venture.

   
   




4. All actors. There is something about Big B that just rubs onto other actors and they perform well. Akshay kumar gives his best with him. Rani gave her best with him. Arjun is not that good an actor in my opinion but he has done well too.

   
   




5. Background score. It is of high quality.

   
   

The let-downs:

1. Story seems to lose focus somewhere in the second half but gets back on track rather soon enough to keep the interest alive. The finale is also a little short of a gem which it easily could have been.

The limiting factors:

I don't see any factor limiting the success of this movie but as you know 'janta ka' mood cannot be predicted. My two cents on this movie doing well!

A little more about the movie:

[…had discussed abt the plot…have to delete it as review exceeds 8000words limit otherwise]